Fashion Week
The past week, I was once more working Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.
Like the past season, I was assigned to the VIP Mercedes Benz Star lounge.
I learned that most of the Fashion week events are by invitation only. I know for sure that entrance to the VIP lounges (just 3, Amex, ING and Mercedes Benz) are definitely by invitation only.
I never see models in the VIP lounges, unless they are supermodels (How many are there? 4-5?)
I learned, talking to one of the longue door keeper, that models are at the lowest in the fashion food chain.
-“They are just walking mannequins”.
-“How bad are they treated?”
- “Poorly, they are here about 12 hours a day, they don’t get food, they don’t have a holding room, and they have no voice. If any dare to complain about the abuse, they are just release. Sometimes, if the designer who release them is a bitch, they can make sure that the models doesn’t work again in NYC”
-“Do they get paid well?” - I asked hopping to justify the abuse
-“They get paid ok money. is not great but is not bad, usually they get paid a flat fee per day, so if they have to stay 15 hours, they will get paid the same as if they stay 2 hours”
- “Do they get access to special events?”
-“Unless they are banging a designer, they don’t”
Once upon a time I wanted to be a model. I had an agency, and did a few gigs, but I lost interest and concentrated on college. I am glad I did.
By the third day, I was watching a show in the large plasma screen they have in the lounge and noticed a model that wasn’t a clone, he had long blond hair and a beard. He seem cute. Soon after, the same model walked in the lounge! He wasn’t as cute in person, but he was tall and skinny (Aren’t they all?). He was settling in when a gate keeper came to him, holding a clipboard and asking for his name.
-“I work with Calvin” - he replied, with a bitchy tone of voice.
-“Only guests are allowed in this lounge” -
-“I have been working here all week!, Perry Ellis, Calvin Klein and Ralph Rucci!”
-“SIr, please come outside with me”
The (bitchy!) male model followed the hostess and that was the last time I saw him.
Later on I learned that this was his first time working Fashion Week.
-“And probably his last one. His little hissy fit was reported to the organizers”
I didn’t see that many celebrities. A real house of New York (Ramona), Nigel Barker (American’s Next Top Model) and Beyonce. Beyonce is such a beautiful woman.
At the end of the week, the organizers say goodbye to us, and promised us to request us again (they did already for this season) when the next fashion week comes (February 2012)
I like working fashion week, I get to wear whatever I want (as long as is all black and fashionable), none of our bosses are around stressing us out, and at the end of the week, we get to keep a lot of stuff (most of the product is donated, so there is no account for it)
Now that fashion week is over, is back to reality. lets see how the Company works for me.
