A Fashion Show Timeline

Sophia Kokosalaki

9:00 pm  I show up at Le Grand Hotel precisely when the Sophia Kokosalaki show is slated to begin, but they haven’t even opened the presentation room yet.  I head to the lobby.  On the couch next to me, there are three men taking a meeting.  They are flipping through fashion magazines and pointing at flagged pages.  One of them looks over at me a few times to see if I’m eavesdropping.  I play with my cell phone and pretend not to be.

9:10 pm  We, the “early” arrivers, are allowed in.  Everyone looks very important and busy, scribbling notes and talking on cell phones.  One editor is all alone in the front row.  She is wearing a Chanel type jacket and her hair is sort of stiff and coiffed.  I have no idea who she is.  The photographer that is milling around keeps crouching and taking her picture.  I periodically pretend to check messages on my cell phone.

I’m amped for the show.  There has been a nice buzz around this young designer (she’s from London by way of Greece) for the past few years.  She designed the costumes for the Olympics in Athens, which if I didn’t know better sounds like a job for someone whose clothing should appear in Broadway musicals, not the Harper’s Bazaar office on Broadway.

Yet, there is palpable buzz around Sophia.  At my last job, the younger fashion editors were all quite keen to attend her show.  Hype can be contagious, but my interest comes from more than that--she is on the brink.  Will I later be saying, "I was there when..."?

9:15 pm The room is still empty.  I get up to use the ladies', and run smack into Anna Wintour's wigged bobbed head and André Leon Talley's boobs.  Okay, so his chest was covered by that massive scarf he’s always wearing, but my head only comes up to where his man boobies are, I am sure.  The man is a giant. 

9:25 pm   I come back from the bathroom and the room is packed (It seems everyone’s drivers took the same route from the Rick Owens show).  There are faces I recognize--this is more of an event than I thought.

They’ve cranked up the music.  It’s the last show of the night and everyone’s very chatty and smiley.  The lady in front of me says “You took my seat!” in a grating voice to the girl next to her, then a whole cluster of them start laughing.  She was kidding.  Fashion people kidding!  It's a first!

9:30 pm Anna Nuclear Wintour has been waiting for a good 15 minutes now and why the hell hasn’t the show started?

The music is really thumping now.  You know that tension just before a concert starts?  This is what we’re feeling.  A girl with a complicated black top that exposes her shoulders is shimming.  I look around the room-- can you call it a room?  It’s so grand.  The curtains and chandeliers and mirrors.  Let’s call it a salon.  I’m row D out of four rows, and there is such a turnout that people are standing on speakers behind me. 

9:35 pm Why hasn’t the show started yet?

9:40 pm  Because Suzy Menkes, fashion reporter for the International Herald Tribune isn’t there yet, that’s why.  She walks in a half crouch across the floor-level runway to get to her seat.  She sits.  FIVE.  The house lights go down. FOUR.  The runway lights swell. THREE.  All heads swivel to the entryway. TWO.  Out comes Carmen Kass.  ONE. 

The models are always given a “mood” for a show, and I’m personally thrilled whenever they aren’t walking like zombies.  As I may have mentioned last night, Carmen shook it like a Polaroid picture.  Which is always fun.  After all, what good’s having a show pony if it doesn't pick up its heels a little?

Comments

[bluepoppy]

Baby--- you don't need to go looking for a job-- they're gonna start coming to YOU!

[Jecca]

Excellent! And man, do I know the "fidget with my personal belongings so as not to look bored/let on that I'm eavesdropping" ploy. How awesome that you got to use it in such a cool setting.

[Jason Stone]

They waited for Suzy Menkes? I need to repeat that a little louder. THEY WAITED FOR SUZY MENKES? You know Anna shot Suzy a nasty glance from behind those AARP shades.

Maybe Andre should sell that fur coat and get a reduction. Just a thought.

[Joseph]

Funny comment about the scarf, Coquette, and exactly right. I had heard of André before, but had never matched the face to the name. So I did a quick image search on the guy, and found a picture of him wearing what must have been a 4'x6' Louis Vuitton throw rug around his neck (and man boobs).

Keep up the nice reportage. Fashion is not my life, but you make it interesting.

[Bob]

The only time fashion comes up in our home is when we watch Queer Eye for the Straigh Guy or America's Next Model on the tv.

However, I think you've hit your stride in the reports you're giving us about fashion week. I'm entertained and I don't even know who you're talking about!

[R J Keefe]

Simply great covereage - who cares what it's about! You offer excitement without the tedium. Bravo!

[Flare]

Oh, this is just wonderful reporting, Coquette! Serious, Bluepoppy is right, they will come to you!

Ah, YOu make living vicariously through you so easy, my dear! I can't wait to hear more!

Shake it like a polaroid picture, I bet that show *was* fun to watch.

[kiki]

I would be terrified if Anna Wintour had to wait on something because of me. Loving your reports!

[Asian Leprechaun]

I hope Anna eats that chirpy bizarro.

[Sammy]

My heart is beating so fast!!

[Marilyn]

This was SO worth the wait (post-teaser)! Great job, Coquette. (I've read all of your more recent posts, too, but this was so fabulous I had to comment here.) Can't wait to read your reportage the rest of the week!

[Fr / Jp Design & Vintage]

Hello LA COQUETTE !
Very funny to read your blogs.
Please come and have a look on our select shop :

Fr / Jp design & vintage
8, rue de la Vrilliere
75001 PARIS

close to Place des Victoires

European vinatge clothes and japanese design !!!

[Sexy ass bitch]

this shit is pissin me off

[Susan H. Loomis]

Hello,

I'm a friend and colleague of David Lebovitz. I'm writing to you because my 15 year old son is very interested in fashion design and I told him I would help him try to get close to the fashion world to see if it is something that really feels like a good fit for him. I wondered if you had any connection with the Paris fashion world, or could suggest a way that I might get my son into a fashion show - as a volunteer - or behind the scenes in some way so that he can get a close-up look.

Thank you,

Susan H. Loomis

[Yasmine Hottary]

hello there!!your blog isvery interesting for fashion people like me...well fron September onwards i will be living in Toulouse (studying) and i would really like to get involved in the French fashion environment. I was wondering if you have any contacts in Toulouse that i could get job or even for seasonal work in fashion shows in Paris. Any, well done for the great blog again and hope to hear from you soon.

yasmine

[Paris Girl]

Thanks for giving us a peak into fashion week. I've added a link to your entry from parislogue.com. Can't wait for Day Three. BTY, do you think that Penelope Cruz has resurrected the sexy skirt?

[Fashion Gal]

I like the blog!Thank you for a nice detailed article.

[time]

Honesty, integrity and a persuasive mentality are the most important qualities of an elected official

[disk2]

Prayer in public schools are wrong, not wrong

[buddhism]

Life is designed by some sort of intelligence, God created life

[Myriam Afia]

hello Elisabeth
Votre blog est géniale , votrevisions des choses et trés enrichissante ,
Nous avons , beaucoup de point en commun , surtout la mode et Mr Karl avec qui j'ai aussi travaillé, de plus j'habite Menilmontant/ Gambetta.
et je vis une partis de l'année a Miami!!!!
J'adoerais discuter avec vous ,
voici mon mail direct hesitez pas !!!!!
myriam@artsdreams.com
cordialement
M

[Coquette]

Moi aussi j'aimerais bien qu'on discute. Je vais t'envoyer un mail, for sure!