I am so excited to share with you all that I recently attended Fashion week in New York City this past week! As you can imagine it was a dream come true for me and many other stylist. It has all begun for me as part of Keune’s education department. We have all seen Fashion shows, read about them in magazines, watched a little project runway. Those flawless models owning that stage, looking effortless, I was so excited to finally get the chance to have my work shown on one of these beauties. However, behind the scenes look to the runway shows is anything but flawless, it is a crazy turn of events that you have to be on point and ready for, I had no idea what to expect, but it was completely transforming to me.
This is what I did know before I began this crazy fews days. Keune and their “family” values; true, dedication,elegance, and together. Their mission is “together we dedicate ourselves to the creation true elegance”. Knowing this, I was ready for any challenge that lied ahead. To prep I read about Sophie Thaellet the designer we represented, and her philosophy. She believes that each woman has their own identity, a subtle sexiness, beauty, substance and style. I knew this was going to be an amazing collaboration!
So it began, first an invitation to a select ten Keune stylist from around the country, and a small team of five from Sweden and Holland. Once the team was in place the communication continued, when to arrive in NYC, what tools to bring, where we would be staying and where the venue would take place. No detail was left out, I was really getting excited!
The international team arrived Tuesday and the US team arrived Thursday. A Keune team dinner was set for Thursday evening where we could relax, catch up and meet new friends. The next day it was show time! We began with breakfast and team meeting. This is where our global director IIham Mestour gave us our directions. She had previously met with Sophie and decided natural beauty would be the theme. We were off in our many Uber cars headed to venue, 20 Exchange Place. The show would take place in the financial district of NY in an old bank, very cool!
We arrived at 12pm and model call would begin at 2pm plenty of time for set up, coffee and lunch before “go” time. Sophie had 50 models of all ethnicities to be finished for the show that would begin at 5pm. So it begins, the models show up IIham consults with us and we get to work. For me, my model had come from a previous show, and her hair was chalked full coconut oil (yikes!). One of our assistant had to actually go the drugstore for shampoo it was a "make it work" moment. Everyone hustled with their models while we waited. When she returned we went straight to the kitchen for a washing, with cold water. This old building had no running hot water, sorry! The glamorous life of models, HA!
Finally it was on to beautifying this beauty. We chose salt mist spray for her blow-dry which gives the air amazing texture and “lived in, day after" feel we needed. Then I assisted with another model that had showed up late, at this time there were directions being shouted from all over the room. Keune was a team of 20, a makeup team of at least 10, photographers I could not even count! A coordination team, jewelry people and as I mentioned 50 models. Organized chaos would be the term, and with that you could see the true professionalism in everyone. We all knew why were there and we never lost sight, as orders were being barked out we all fell in to place an did what had to be done. Shortly after 5pm the models took their places and the show began. We watched from a small screen in the basement in total awe! Just as quickly as it started it was over, a standing ovation for Sophie and her beautiful collection.
Photo by: Vogue Magazine
When the dust settled and I got to really think about this experience, it was amazing. With many of my clients when they asked about celebrities, I joked that I would be held up in the basement until the show was over. Ha, thats exactly what happened! I would be lying if I didn't say I wished I could have done more, however what I did find out is my model is a big deal. The face of Chanel to be exact. So with that, I am pretty thrilled! I can certainly cross this off my bucket list, but NOW my list of goals have grown to the max. I want to keep doing, keep seeing and keep experience. Life is exciting and I cant wait to see what the next adventure brings.