You see beautiful, long-legged creatures radiating fearlessness, as they make their way onto the glowing runway and you find yourself thrusted into their own little shiny world. High heels, state-of-the-art outfits, eccentric hairdos and ubiquitous presence; need we say more? Models represent the glitzy façade of fashion, beautifully correlated with that of designers and editors. It looks pretty easy at first glance, right?But what most people don’t know is that the work that goes behind the scenes is beyond our wildest imagination. It’s all fun and games until time gets tighter and responsibilities grow wider.

The fashion army is burning the candle at both ends to put together the perfect show, without any chunk in the armor. As such, months upon months before the show, producers set up the stage, along with the lighting and all the construction, while designers work day and night to create the perfect collection. Come the big day, the systematic trance marks a symbolic debut to yet another hectic day, full of last-minute changes and quick fixes, from the beauty squad to the stylists and models. Many scenarios go horribly wrong, squeezing the fashion pack into a tight schedule as they try to make ends meet. Models, designers, publicists, stylists and hairdressers gather around to prepare for an eventful night and of course, the hottest runway looks! Picture tailors trying to fix stripped hemlines, hairdressers fighting that stubborn upward hair on models’ heads. Picture managers trying to find a replacement for that one missing model! Pretty much exhausting, right?

Indeed, tuning in backstage makes for a jaw-dropping turn of events, as everyone seems to be in a hectic circle, getting ready for the fashionable sprint. So if you think the fashion world is trouble-free, think again! You’re in for a cartwheeled ride my friend!

Cindy Menassa