Denver Fashion Weekend 2013: A Model’s Perspective (Posted a little late but later late than never)…
Okay, so I was in a little bit of denial before, but I can finally accept it: Denver Fashion Weekend is over. And what an amazing event it was! I was honored (and a teeny bit terrified) to be chosen as one of the bodypaint models for the opening night of the event. I’d done bodypainting before, but never live in front of a crowd of people. But I love to step out of my comfort zone, and was excited to participate in one of the biggest fashion events in Denver.
The first thing I took note of as I arrived at City Hall was that there was water on the runway. My first thought: “That is SO FREAKING COOL!” My second thought: “…I really hope I don’t slip and fall on my face”. Excited and nervous, I looked around for my painters. Backstage, there were models getting their hair blow-dried to impossibly frizzy proportions, trying on their outfits, and chatting with each other. I finally found the bodypainting area and met my painters. They started right away, one of them painting my face and the other working on my torso. After an hour or so of having paintbrushes coming at me from every direction, Denver Fashion Weekend attendees started coming in, sipping cocktails and watching the models get painted. They took tons of pictures of us, many of them asking our permission to do so first (how nice of them!). As the guests watched me and the other models getting painted, I watched them just as intently. I couldn’t help but notice how fashionable the crowd was: They all looked like they could have been on the runway right alongside the models! This made me proud to live in a city that is so fashion-forward and expressive.
Soon, many of the guests went toward the runway area to watch the fashion show. I couldn’t help but wish that I could see the creations of some amazing local designers: Piazza, 50 Dresses, Covello, Incroyables, Rachel Marie Hurst, and Fallene Wells. I also wanted to get a look at Mondo Guerra’s adorable Haute Dog collection. However, I was excited for my own experience on the runway, and I knew that there would be plenty of pictures of the designers’ creations online after the event.
I won’t go into the thrill of stomping down that water-filled runway (though it was amazing), because even more thrilling than that was the process of being a canvas for some amazing artists. I think bodypainting is emerging as a serious and admirable art form, and I’m so grateful to live in a city that recognizes that.