Diary of a model girl

As 'fun' and 'amazing' and that Cape Town Fashion Week was for guests (see any Cape Town blog for details), let's not forget the main characters of this affair: the models. Think what you will about them, but Jess Hull kindly shared her fashion week diary with me and let me in on all the behind the scenes secrets.

Sunday 10 July

It's 8am and fittings start at Cape Town Convention Centre. It's a lot of waiting around but such a good chance to get to know all the girls and plus I get to try on many beautiful clothes. 

Fittings go on until Tuesday and each day ends at about 4 or 6pm depending on which designers you do fittings for.

 
Wednesday 13^th 

It's the Foschini Fasttrack shows. I have to be at the venue at 8.30am for rehearsals, and hair and make up call time is 2.30pm. Breakfast and lunch are provided– amazing food, pies, chips, salads, soups, desserts, all round amazing (which all the models actually eat– a lot). I am out of the venue at around 9pm-ish but am far too tired to go out. Doing the fasttrack show is really cool because it showcases young designers and it's good to see the potential and talent SA has. 

 

Thursday 14^th 

I am at the cticc again at 8am for more rehearsals, make up again at 2.30pm, then the first show kicks off with TART/Michelle Ludek, 2^nd show is Habits, 3^rd show Gavin Rajah and last Abigail Betz (definitely found my future wedding dress in her collection – such elegant and beautiful stuff). I'm especially nervous for the Rajah show because of the seriously high heels, but thank goodness it went fine. (I have a fear of falling off the runway – but if you do, just laugh it off, smile and carry on). This is one of the longest days as we literally have about 10-15 mins in between shows to change our looks completely for each designer. My hair and face take strain but it is well worth it, GHD and MAC are amazing! Am home at about 23:30. 

 

Friday 15^th  

Today is a little less hectic but it's still another early morning nonetheless (8am). We are off to rehearsals at the Land Bank in Queen Victoria road – the venue for the Dr Rey lingerie show. Very cool to meet the Doctor and his wife after seeing them on their reality show Dr 90210, and his lingerie and swimwear are beautiful. I am a bit nervous for his show because 1 of my outfits is a gstring and I've never worn one in public (eek!) but it was fine! 

Next: back to the CTICC for Lalesso/Lisp/Nucleus rehearsals then makeup call at 2.30 again… The Dr Rey show ends around 23:30 and a few of us girls head to The Fez for a sneaky unwind but it has to be an early night as it's the David Tlale show the next day (which I am only informed about that day!!).  

Dr Rey and me

 Saturday 16^th 

Another early rise (8am- blegh) for rehearsals and fittings (I'm a bit late) for David’s show at The Bromwell. This show is interesting as it's rather a showcase than a ramp walk of his designs in different rooms and the crowd moves from room to room.

Then it's on to the City Hall for a retrospective show at the Madiba event. That's my final show but I stay behind to watch Stefania Morland, also very beautiful.  Afterwards I'm off to the after party with the girls which is held at the Land Bank – good to have fun after a week like ours. 

I need my beauty sleep!

After getting about 6 hours sleep per night, it's safe to say I'm ready for my Sunday in bed.  

After all the makeup and hair ironing, I definitely need some serious beauty care. When I get home I like to use the Roobois facial wash its t works really well for me. I also make sure to lather on the moisturisers so my skin doesn't dry out. The hair stylists from GHD gave each of us a bottle of an amazing treatment to help our hair get its moisture back after all the GHD-ing. 

The horror...

The worst part of the whole week: they bleached all the models' eyebrows (even the dark girls) but thank goodness they dyed them back to normal at the end of the week – mine had turned orange!

Plans:

I had so much fun this last week and have made some amazing friends. Starting varsity again on the 25^th then I'm off the Joburg on the 27^th for the Elle Macpherson lingerie show for 2 days. 

Thanks Jess for sharing your fashion week with us!