NEW YORK – Outlandishly dressed people, check; celebrities and their entourage, check; paparazzi and camera men for every magazine and online fashion outlet, check.
Freshly painted runway, check. Cue the blaring house music, turn off all the lights and start the show.
What was the freezing room, suddenly becomes warm with the lights that line the runway.
The first model appears from the back and struts down the catwalk as everyone directs their gaze upon the creation that they are wearing.
At times the clothes are crazy and abstract with sequins, tulle and latex, other times I found myself saying, “I could really see myself wearing this.”
For a show that can run from seven to 20 minutes, its hard to imagine that the four hours you worked to set up a show can pay off. Believe me, it does.
There is nothing like seeing a designers collection for the first time, especially during New York Fashion Week.
New York Fashion Week occurs twice a year, once in February to showcase fall, and once in September to uncover spring and summer.
Most people who attend are related to the business either as designers or through a magazine or public relations.
It is however, possible to get tickets through connections and I was told if you stand outside the event and there is room, you can actually get in to see a show.
Being a volunteer at Fashion Week was an experience of a lifetime.
I decided to volunteer because of my love for fashion as well as my dream of attending the show.
As a volunteer, you were responsible for literally setting up the show, start to finish: we placed programs on seats, labeled chairs and made sure everything was neat and tidy.
I had no idea what it meant to plum line a row of seats, until I was asked to.
For those who don’t know, you hold a string (one person on each end) in a straight line while others line the chairs up, making a neat and straight row of chairs.
I’m not saying that plum lining was the highlight of my volunteering experience, but it goes to show how each event must be as close to perfect as possible.
Right before the doors would open to guests, we would be assigned sections to help and aid people who couldn’t find their seats or needed assistance.
Luckily the sections that I consistently got were front row, which is the most exciting.
I got to see all kind of celebrities: J. Alexander (as you would know him from America’s Next Top Model), Shannon Elizabeth, Rachel Zoe and Sarah Jessica Parker.
I even got to fill in a seat front row at the Prabal Gurung show, which was a 41 Looks show, filled with bright blues, orange, creme and crystal studded gowns and dresses.
Some trends that I saw for spring/summer 2011 were digital prints, sheer and flowy fabrics and eye-popping color: oranges and blues, neutrals, simple silhouettes and long and loose pieces.
Amy Brown can be reached at laurel.albrown@spartans.ut.edu.