So listen, anyone that knows me knows I LOVE fashion. It has always been a passion of mine but I wasn’t able to really express myself through what I wore until I moved to New York City. I mean I grew up in Maine and let’s face it, it isn’t a very fashion forward place. I wore a trench coat, a baggy sweater, leggings and my slippers to the grocery store once and people were stopping me saying, “Wow, you look so fancy!”. Nope, I was just too lazy to throw on actual shoes and I put on the first coat I could find. So as you can imagine it was amazing to move to NYC and be able to actually wear what I wanted and have it be appreciated! With my newfound freedom in terms of what I was able to wear a took a major liking to Fashion Week. It is a huge deal in New York City and it is so much fun to see the individual style of the designers, models and of the people who work and go to the runway shows. It was my dream to one day work backstage at fashion week and be immersed in that world. So I was astounded when I got the opportunity to work backstage for Carmen Marc Valvo last February and again when I was able to work for Patricia Field this September.

So I have had two very different experiences working backstage at NYFW. When I worked for Carmen Marc Valvo it was exciting because it was my first time being in that environment. I was just so incredibly happy to be there but it wasn’t that welcoming. I didn’t exactly expect it to be warm and fuzzy because it is a super important and stressful time for the designers and everyone involved. But I did expect to at least be appreciated and as it turned out I did absolutely nothing for the 6 hours they had me scheduled for. I stood and I stood and then I sat and then I stood again, it was not a fantastic first experience. And I promise I am not bashing Carmen Marc Valvo as a person or as a brand! The clothes are incredible and I'm sure other people have had very different experiences with the brand! But overall I learned that you really do have to work your way up the ladder to be respected and even valued at all. It really opened my eyes to the reality of the fashion business and the seriousness that everyone involved has about it.

Next I worked for Patricia Field and I have to tell you that I had the completely opposite experience. First of all I was asked to do fittings the day before the shows to make sure all models had their looks assigned, all the clothes fit and that they were packed and labeled properly. This alone was more responsibility than I could ever have thought of getting at Carmen Marc Valvo. I walked into Pat’s cute little studio with clothes everywhere and met two women who immediately took me under their wing. They were so nice and I was put to work the second I walked in which was truly appreciated. I would have much rather worked my butt off all day than stood there bored. I learned so much about the preparation that must be put in for the shows to happen which is knowledge that I can take and apply to many jobs in the fashion industry and otherwise. I also was able to meet Pat herself that first day and she was sososo sweet. She welcomed me with open arms which was completely unexpected, I never even met Carmen Marc Valvo when I worked for him. So then the day of the runway shows came and as soon as I arrived at the venue I was again put to work. But this time it was different because I was already acquainted with the other employees, the models and the clothes. I was given a great deal of responsibility because I knew what model wore what, I knew how it was supposed to look and I knew the way the clothes were organized. I ended up being a dresser for the models during the shows. I had to make sure, along with two other employees, that all models were dressed properly and I had to make sure that all models with second looks got through their quick changes while the actual show was happening so there was a seamless transition. I could not believe that I was actually a working component in making the shows go off without a hitch. I was respected, my thoughts and ideas were taken into account and I was not just an extra person to grab coffee if needed but I was a valued part of the process. I am still in awe of the experience. To work so closely with Patricia Field who was the costume designer and consultant for Sex and the City, The Devil Wears Prada and Younger AND who has been nominated for Academy Awards and Emmys AND was an influential guest judge on America’s Next Top Model was such a dream. I learned so much from her and everyone that she surrounds herself with. She truly is such an inspiration and she accepts everyone which has certainly been shown in her business and the way it is run. I learned so much from the experiences I’ve had working for her and I plan to continue those experiences.

These two very different experiences show the two polar opposites that can happen in business, especially in a field as competitive and fast moving as fashion. I am so grateful for both experiences but am truly in awe of Pat and everyone involved in making her shows happen. So listen, sometimes you may not have a great first experience with something, whether it be for fashion week or even in school. Give it a second chance because it is very likely that there is a place out there where you will fit in perfectly. You just have to find it!