Adventures at Fahion Week Part 3: Armani

The night had fallen on Friday and my traveling companions and I were filled with newfound optimism since I had gotten into Versace. At this point I really felt like I had nothing to lose because my trip would have been worth its while, just from the things I did that day. So I cast off the fears of what would happen to me if they wouldn't let me in a show, kick me out etc.

Although it rained continuously since the afternoon, I couldn't have been happier to be there. This photo was taken by my friend, Lauren.  I loved how everything glistened from the reflections of street lights.

 

My friends and I decided to try for Armani the next morning. Armani also had two shows, and we appearently arrived too late for the first one. This time we decided to just try and go through the line for the press. I was hoping it would be like last time and I could stick close to the wall and they wouldn't check each person one by one. I spent a lot of time in line with the rest of the photographers/videographers, waiting for the security to allow us to come set up. As I waited, I noticed that a good number of them had passes around their necks, but some of them didn't, so I held hope. I also noticed that we were dressed somewhat similarly (mainly just because I had a jacket with a bunch of pockets), which was a good thing because it always helps to blend in. 

As I was waiting in the light rain, I started to hear somewhat of a commotion and saw an entourage of people coming to the entrance. It was Jada Pinkett Smith (wife of Will Smith) and her daughter, who appeared as happy as I was to be there. They passed the rather amusing group of people hitting each other in the face as they prepared for the rain with umbrellas as they left. 

 

When it was finally time for the herd of photographers to advance, I began to get a little nervous; they were checking everyone's pass one by one. There were two photographers that I was intending to pretend to be associated with, they showed their passes and proceeded. I tried to follow close behind and that's when I felt it:  a hand on my chest, which kind of took me by surprise because I was looking in the other direction to avoid eye contact. The man who stopped me said "Can I see your pass?" I acted confused, pretending like I lost my pass.  I then pointed to the group I was trying to get in with and said "assistant, you know? assistant" in a way that made it seem like there was a larger language barrier than there was. The security guard said "No thats not true. What is your name?" as he looked at his list, and for some odd reason I couldn't think of a good fake name so I gave him my real one. He looked at the list and said "No, sorry," and I followed with, "What?  Really?" in a pathetic tone, and he just replied "Yes." I stood next to him, moping, thinking of ways to convince him. As I stood there some sort of miracle took place. There were a bunch of journalists that were accidentally in the photographer line and they started to occupy my security guard friend's attention. I knew it was crazy and I'd be stopped after I took ten steps, but I did it anyway; when the man turned his back I started briskly walking in the direction of the other photographers, expecting to be grabbed by the shoulder or tackled at any minute.    

 

Surprisingly, I wasn't though, and I spotted a man with a photography-style backpack and a tripod sticking out of it so I followed closely behind him. We walked briskly through some rather beautiful modern architecture that I don't really remember because I wasn't paying attention. As we came to another security guard in a suit, I think the photog I was following showed him his pass around his neck. I was right behind him, and I just kind of held up my camera and nodded; he nodded back and I was in, again. Rather unfortunately for me there weren't many press people set up.  I was still afraid the man I slipped past at the door might come back and look for me, and it was not good that I did not yet have a sea of photographers to hide in. I sat there for what must have been at least 30 minutes with the hood of my jacket over my head looking down so that no one could spot me. I started to get a bit nervous as the photographer in front of me started chatting up the security guy but I kept my hood on (although it was quite hot) and pretended to do something important with my camera until the lights went down and I could relax and have fun taking pictures. 

 

I absolutely love the way the light casts beautiful silhouettes onto the larger screen in the background. Actually, while shooting I never noticed that the background changes, because it was quite slow and subtle.  

 

 

It was interesting to see how much larger this venue seemed compared to Versace; they probably didn't have that many more people but the bleacher-like seats made it appear so. 

 

Just the number of pieces was amazing, and made for quite a long show.

 

And that was Armani.

 

It's always fun to see the audience of the shows disperse throughout the city after the show.

 

Couldn't resist taking another photo of Milan's beautiful duomo as the sun came out.

 

I thought this guy was interesting; he seemed to have a vintage, Steve McQueen-ish vibe.

Call Sgt. Pepper

I've been seeing a ton of military inspired clothing recently and I totally love it, of course its not so much modern warfare inspired, but more like civil war uniforms etc. I have always been a fan of the cut of military jackets and other elements so its great to see so many interpretations in store displays and of course, on peoples backs.

Above is a photo of mi amica from Italian class, I loved her jacket so I had to take a picture. 

(and fortunately the hallway at school has amazing lighting) 

Adventures at Fashion Week Part 2: Versace

So the time had finally come, I had finally gotten done getting lost and it was time step up to the big leagues. I didn't have much hope of actually getting in because I had been told specifically that I "could not" yet into the bigger name shows like Versace and Armani unless I had an invite. I was also told that at some shows if you look the part by some odd chance they might let you in, as soon as I saw the people coming and going to the show and other fashion groupies it was utterly apparent that the "look the part" option was not gonna work (not that I looked bad, I just couldn't compete with people that probably spent 500 euro on their shoes).

The idea of sneaking in seemed more impossible as I observed the sharply dressed security men standing in the door way that didn't seem like they had a good sense of humor.

At first, I had confined myself to watching from across the street along with all of the others that weren't blessed with a little red shiny enveloped that had Versace written on it

But that got boring so I decided to stand out front near the of the crowd control devices, much closer to the action.

It was almost hard to watch as people filed in with their golden tickets and you could hear the music for the first show.

This may have been the only other person that was enjoying the moment as much as I was.

Having bought a cheap umbrella my camera and I were relatively save from the rain. As the rain fell I was having the time of my life photographing people in expensive clothes trying their best to protect themselves from the seemingly endless buckets of rain. Even at this point I felt my trip was worth while just for the experience and the pictures I had taken.

I'm quite sure I shot enough for an entire photography show (which I am seriously considering putting together in future)

I love this guy because he looks so insane (which makes since because he is a photographer like me) and very confused.

After the first show had let it's audience out, there was quite a bit of confusion with people opening and closing umbrellas and dodging the rain etc. once a good deal of the crowd had died down I felt I had my chance. I took one quick step and threw myself into the minor kaos that was going on at the facade, because of the rain the security had moved from the doors further in. I made sure to stay in outside of the cluster (near the wall) the whole time. At this point the man checking invites was in the middle of a sea of guests. I stayed  close to a woman that looked like she had more than one invite and when the guard glanced at me I reached my arm in a way that might have given the illusion of holding my invite next to hers, and it worked, I was in...



Well in so to speak, once I started looking around I realized that it was only the first round of invite checkers, there were two more men in front of the stairs. At this point for a little while I thought "oh well, I guess thats it, it was still a good try" but then I noticed there was a seperate line sectioned off for press, they were all waiting at the stairs to advance. I glanced around to make sure no one was watching me and then proceeded to duck under the rope. No one saw me, and if they did I guess it didn't seem odd. I stood in line only a few minutes until everyone at once started to move, it seemed that as people were passing security they held their camera up, so I did the same. And then I was in...

Well, I was in yet another level, this one had music and  a somewhat odd blue lights in a circular room. And what do  I see at the doorway to the room where the show takes place? yep, my sharply dressed security guard friends again. I would like to make note of the fact that throughout this experience I felt like I was on the verge of a bank heist and the cops could come at any minute (in fact, I even get rather nervous when telling people these stories). Most of the photographers had gone straight in the room, but I decided to stick by one and follow him in (he is slightly pictured above). When we passed the security I'm guessing I looked like his assistant (which was what I was going for). We walked past the guard and  a curtain and then

 I WAS IN.  

 As I entered and saw the runway, I was in a state of disbelief, I was truly ready to do a victory dance but then remembered that I should probably do my best to look like the other photographers who don't get excited about this because they have done it hundreds of times and its just work. Although I did my best to suppress my happiness, every once and a while I'd crack an ear to ear grin.

Just in case I had gotten lonely my security friends were inside, people watching as well. I tried never to make eye contact and look busy as I waited, I also made a little bit of conversation with other photographers about gear. The whole time I was truly ready for something to reveal my form of entry, scenarios played out in my mind about how it would go down when they found me out. But that moment never came and instead all of "us" press waited at the end of the runway for quite some time. I found it amusing when the photographers began to get impatient and started shouting "pronto" (I'm ready) and "Andiamo" (let's go) 

                          

When the lights went down for the last time and the show started it was like an explosion, I can't think to put it any other way.

I had been wondering if I would be in trouble because I didn't have a flash but the lights of the runway proved to be beyond amazing. 

As soon as the first girl started walking down the runway I was overwhelmed with the beautiful sound of camera shutters firing thousands of photos. Which was accompanied by the amazing sound system, I've been to many concerts and events with pro audio and this was by far the best I'd ever heard (and felt).  

For some reason in photographs I love it when the frame is taken right before someone puts their weight on the ground. 

I decided to shoot some shots in a way that is not typical of runway photography because I felt I had extra freedom since I didn't actually have an editor or boss to worry about. 

Just had to take a picture of my shoes on the runway.

After the show was over and the people had left, there was a strong "well kids that was Christmas" vibe but I was still too exited to notice.

Joanna Coles the editor in chief of Marie Claire was hanging around so I thought I'd take her photo (although I ended up seeing her at all the shows I went to)