The Devil Wears Prada
– and sat five feet away from me.
One of the most upscale, stylish and surprisingly eye-opening experiences I have ever been a part of was walking in the Vogue/CFDA Fashion Fund Fashion Show. Quite a mouthful, I know.
On October 20, my mom and I made the early morning caffeine-fueled trek up to Chateau Marmont on Sunset Blvd to be there for the early call time. As she dropped me off onto the steep hotel driveway, I shut the car door and effectively left my suburban life behind me, unaware of the door to the world of immense glamor that I would be opening next.
Two women at a desk checked me in and gave me a colored hair band to identify what designer I would wear. Vogue identifies ten up-and-coming designers annually to show off their looks in the CFDA Fashion Show. There is a “winner” and a couple runner-up’s who all receive thousands of dollars and the name recognition needed to jumpstart their careers. I had the opportunity to walk in CG by Chris Gelinas. My inner wannabe chic Parisian girl came out that day as I strutted around in a striped top, bright orange-red lips, and beret perched on my head.
I felt so powerful walking around with Smashbox’s “Fireball” lips and luscious curls – though modeling sometimes has a bad rap I lived for finding these moments where I could fully embrace my feminine power. I also lived for meeting all of the new people. Yes, cool photos and free merchandise are such big pluses, but I really enjoyed connecting with people that I wouldn’t have otherwise met – even just for the small moments where they sprayed product into my hair. Makeup artists and hair stylists always had the most interesting stories; so many that I met were small towns in the Midwest, made it big and ended up in Hollywood.
The show itself was very short but entirely unforgettable. It was my first runway and happened to be in front of Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, and Anna Wintour, no less. I can only remember the haze of their aura – my tall frame was pumped full of adrenaline.
However, through all the glitz and glamour, I realized during this show that one person cannot do it all. Sitting in hallways chatting with the other models, getting my nails done with my hair in curlers, turning for different pants fittings, and opening my eyes for mascara reapplications – no chance this could ever be a one-man show. And it made me realize – I was always the girl who would take the lead in group projects and never needed anyone else, but I was slowly changing into a young woman who understood that nothing productive comes from ignoring the abilities of others.
Relying on other people for help, whether it be for a group project, photo shoot, or real-world problems isn’t a sign of weakness. It is instead a sign of strength and self-knowledge. Even Anna Wintour, the queen of fashion, needed my sixteen-year-old help in putting on the show. Tapping my flats onto the tiles of the courtyard in front of so many celebrities who had created something out of nothing, but not without the help of so many people, humbled me.
Realizing your weaknesses is actually just acknowledging your humanity. Lean into them, because that’s where you can find your strength.
By Alex Hansen
UC Berkeley student, lover of carbs, and proclaimed knower of all rap lyrics.