One of the OTHER things I love about summer is that you never quite know what it is going to bring up or in. For example, the grand openings of so many businesses in the area and the ensuing events that come with them. And within those examples, perhaps, the grand opening of the Ash&Ember studio owned by my friend Ryan. @caitcd, who works with him at his photography studio, asked me in early June if I wouldn't mind lending a hand for the grand opening event. I of course said... of course...? What I didn't know at the time was that it would lead to something else I could cross off my merry little list of Golden Things, but alas it did and here goes another blog toward my commitment:
#12 Hit the Runway; walk in a fashion show.
Earlier this spring when I tagged along with @markstyleme to a photo shoot I was able to "model" and get paid for it, so the natural progression of that would be to storm the runway, right? Maybe in a pair of heels, maybe not. Ended up being a resounding "not" but I'm cool with that. @caitcd contacted me to let me know that Ash&Ember would be having a grand opening at the end of June (yes I know I am writing this in July, back off already!) and it would incorporate photography, video, and fashion in a multi-media filled night of fun and frollicking. I added those last two verbs on my own, natch.
June kind of pranced by quickly as it tends to do and before I knew it the time had come for me to enjoy two days off of work that weren't REALLY two days off, as they were spent working for the studio. On the 28th, @caitcd and I joined Ryan and a few others at Atomic Katz in Oshkosh, a fun vintage clothing store that was supplying some of the clothing for the fashion show. Ryan had dubbed the evening "A Fashion Frenzy," so a specific theme needed to be adhered to. Not too strictly so as to exclude the fun pieces (like the crazy 80's pants we picked out for @markstyleme to wear,) but mostly for the sake of the outfits fitting into the songs they were chosen for. The first section of the show was Americana inspired, so that was fun in particular for me to pick clothes out for because I love classic American. It ended up being a little skewed but most of the outfits were fairly iconic. I myself got to wear an awesome cognag leather jacket and a navy blue fisherman's sweater from another store up in Green Bay called Beselli. The second portion of the show was "Dream," and dealt with more eclectic and funky pieces.
Boy these blogs start getting dry, don't they? I need something to bitch about again! Anyway, keep reading, there'll be a treat later.
Okay, so we spent a good chunk of that day pulling outfits. We goofed around a lot and joked a lot, and that was really great because it kept the mood light. There was a lot of tension because there was a lot riding on this. A couple hours spent in Oshkosh, lunch in Green bay and then a couple more hours pulling there. Then we move on to the 29th and the day of the show.
I drove over to pick up @markstyleme from work around 1:30 and then together the two of us scooted on over to the studio in Menasha. @markstyleme was one of four gents walking in the show, myself included, and there were about 15-ish or so girls walking in it as well. Most of them were under 18, so that made for GREAT jokes throughout the day about innocence... and how the gays corrupt it. Represent!
We put together a board of photos (seen above) that would end up being the "Go-To" for the rest of the show. Every outfit, what shoes were to be worn, accessories with it, etc. Then we had to train these kids on how to walk on the runway. How to pose for the camera at the end of it. All the while they are getting their hair styled, makeup applied, and the clock is winding down to our 7pm opening of the doors.
It was a very stressful 5+ hours of prep work, on a day that was hotter than shit and with the airconditioning in the studio not really doing a satisfactory job. We were still forcing the girls up and down the runway when the doors opened and the obligatory early birds started pouring in. So it was off to the backstage area where the dressing began. We had an hour of final prep before Ryan went out and gave a sort of commencement speech to the crowd. it was followed with a music-video he had made for the evening, and then the show started.
I can't really tell you how stressful and CRAZY it is backstage at a fashion show, at least one not held in New York by people that have been running them for years. It was chaos for us. I saw 17 year-old girls in bras and panties, tearing through the room to get changed in time. I realized what it felt like to have sweat dripping from every pour on your body, worrying about the makeup on my face, and all the while putting on clothes that are loaned out and that I don't own. Enjoy having my DNA on them, Atomic Katz and Besselli! When it was time for me to walk the runway, I did it with a face of stone the first two trips down (refer to the above.) Then I found out no one else was taking it as seriously as I was and I suddenly couldn't stop laughing during the second act of the show (refer to the below.)
The runway was a blur... it was a fairly surreal experience to have that many people looking at you at once. Judging you (I would have been.) Sexing you up (again, I would have been.) You walk, hit your mark and turn, then walk again. You get to the end of the runway, pose (somewhat, I sucked,) and turn and leave. I remember hearing the cheers and screams, some of them from my friends that were spackled throughout the room. When the lights dimmed and the show was over, I had a few moments to change my clothes and run out to the floor. A lot of people had left pretty quickly but my friends remained. I greeted them, soaked with sweat, and noticed the looks coming from the people I didn't know.
Common folk, you know.
That's when they started telling me I got the loudest cheers, to which I shrugged and said no I didn't. And then other people told me and I couldn't help but blush (I maintain the cheers were because I was like a man-wall coming down the runway.) And @caitcd was there and said my parents had come, which almost got me to cry because I hadn't expected them to make it and didn't make a huge deal out of the event to get them to come. But they did... and it meant a great deal to me. Made my night, actually. So whatever, we took some pictures, popped champagne to celebrate, and the night was over. With it, another item on my list of 26 Golden Things was over as well:
#12 Hit the Runway; walk in a fashion show.
Oh hey, wait, one more thing. I very briefly mentioned in the last blog that I have been working on a video project. The full details will wait until the end of the year, but suffice to say, I have been cataloguing everything. My next blog post will likely include a short trailer for the video, but until then, enjoy a snippet from the finished product. This one of course documenting the fashion show. A very special thanks goes out to my lady Mo for taking the camera and filming the whole thing at the last minute. Loves you! Also a shout out to Anagen Eleven (Chris and Jess) for the fantastic hair and makeup!
Ciao, kiddos (c:
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