Submitted by Kassandra Borhi on the 2019 winter session study abroad program in Paris, France sponsored by the Department of Fashion & Apparel Studies…
I can’t believe it has only been a week since my last reflection, as this week has been one of the busiest, most exciting weeks of my life. My entire week centered around fashion, the true reason for me coming to Paris on the Fashion study abroad program run by professors Lopez-Gydosh and Roelse.
This past week, I was given the opportunity to work at three fashion shows during Haute Couture Fashion Week and work at the Rick Owens Showroom. My experience at Rick Owens led me to think about what I want to do after college, and opened up a new job as a seller to me. Sellers are responsible for selling a designer’s garments to the buyers who then sell at their own stores. I had never thought of the seller’s job before and it got me thinking that there are so many other things I can do with my degree instead of just becoming a buyer. It is safe to say that if I was just at Rick Owens for the week, I would have been content with coming to Paris and learning what I did. However, I also worked as a dresser at three fashion shows.
While my job as a dresser at the fashion shows is not all that glamorous, it was the first real look I had into the behind the scenes of a fashion show. The first show I worked at this week was Georges Hobeika. Backstage, I felt a mix of excitement, for being among the couture clothes, and nervousness that I might do something wrong; not to mention the last minute tailoring frenzy being done to ensure each garment fit the models properly. However, this show went off without a hitch, leading up to the wedding dress finale look.
The third and final show I worked was for Yanina Couture. We had to arrive early, but we were allowed to sit along the runway and feel like we were the invited guests to the show. After an hour or so of waiting, all dressers were given backstage passes to be allowed near the models. Getting this backstage pass, although it was made of nothing more than cardboard and a lanyard, made me feel like I actually belonged backstage. It made it feel like I was needed and important, for a show going on during the most prestigious week of fashion.
Overall, as tired as I am from working both the shows and the showroom, I would not trade this week for anything. I think this week showed me many more job possibilities than I had previously thought of and gave me a closer look into the world of fashion that I have admired my whole life.
