Backstage Diaries

Backstage, fashion shows are the size of a shoebox, a size 5 shoe box. In this confined space you’ll find 11 models, 6 dressers, 4 make-up artists, 8 hairdressers, 1 photographer, 2 stylists, 2 festival coordinators, 5 fashion designers and lastly, the film crew. If you’re familiar with Murphy’s Law then you will recognise the saying “whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.”

The teams are ready, the models arrive. Well, most of them. One is sick, one is late and one is drunk. You’d think they’d keep the free champagne away from those who actually have to walk in a straight line down the runway. Nevertheless, it’s far too late to replace her now.

Boobs, bras and sticky shit. Did you know that those silicone chicken fillet things lose their stick? This even happens right before a show begins. The model demands another pair, immediately. The hunt begins for a new stick on bra, her size, her skin tone on a Wednesday evening.

Found new bra. Check. Model sobering up. Check. All seems well, too well. As the team starts to breathe again and think it’s all over, a model’s top falls down on the catwalk, front and centre. Although, she still maintains her grace while looking like a Hooter’s employee, impressive.

The night comes to a close but not without more mishaps. Garments break, people leave early, models disappear and designers argue. One particular designer, wants to make the male models hold hands and skip down the runway; he couldn’t understand why the director didn’t dig it?

Ignore the cliché that the fashion industry is glamorous, backstage it’s a whole other story. It’s stressful, fast-paced and as photographer, Ian Golding, states “unstaged.” But then again, isn’t life?