Fashion Show – The Lessons Learned

Fashion Show – The Lessons Learned

Hey guys! Happy Friday! This has been quite an eventful week. It’s October and I just can’t wait to see what God has up His sleeve 🙂

Now that the fashion show is behind me I can share some of the VERY valuable lessons that I learned.

This was my very first fashion show and it was an AMAZING experience but IF I ever do this again I will do a few things differently.

• Get EVERYTHING in writing. Now I’ve been doing this LONG enough that I should know this right? WRONG. I think I was so excited that I didn’t even think about it. I was just ready/excited to get started.
• ALWAYS bring someone else who is objective with you to your meetings. I say this now because Zanete is literally THE BOMB. She’s like the best assistant on earth and I love her. No. Seriously. She keeps me level AND she keeps me from getting in over my head. Because she doesn’t sew she asks great questions that I wouldn’t think of. Now you may not need that kind of help but “I” do.
• Make sure you get your models to sign contracts. Now I DID do this. Each model knew that this was on a volunteer basis only but I had to be sure to get it all in writing.
• If the event is not yours and someone is hosting, be VERY clear about your expectations and make sure you are clear on THEIR expectations.
• Communicate about EVERYTHING. Make sure your contact person is communicating well and make sure you are communicating well. I’m REALLY bad with phone calls because I don’t always remember the details so I make sure to take notes during the phone call and email a follow-up JUST to be sure we are on the same page. If they don’t reply to your email, call and make sure it was received.
• Make sure you are in contact with the PR/Marketing team. If there is no team make sure you are communicating about the PR/Marketing for the event. Find out what the plan is for advertising and get it in writing.

“IF” I ever do this again I will be sure it’s the ONLY thing I’m working on. I had two HUGE projects going on at once and planning other stuff. That shall NEVER happen again. I was more sleep deprived than anything. I’m so blessed that my family is supportive and helped me TREMENDOUSLY. There is NO way I could do this without them. PERIOD.

I will ONLY work during business hours with the exception of fittings. My office hours are Monday- Friday from 9-5. I did not stick with this AT ALL. Mainly because I was working on another big project. I worked at the office THEN went home and pulled a full shift trying to make sure everything was done. I was at my office after hours (sometimes as late as 7 or 8 pm) and on weekends trying to get everyone’s fitting done. I really didn’t have a problem with the weekends because it was a temporary thing. My models volunteered their time so I was just fine with working around their schedules when it was time to do the fittings.

I will keep my timeline. Listen. I had this thing ALL planned out. I knew what I wanted to make and what days I wanted to  make it. That went totally out the window once I started staying up late. My normal bed time is 9:30 or 10pm on MOST days. Even if I’m awake I am in the bed. Not keeping my timeline was mainly because of the other project I was working on. I clearly lost my mind lol.

I will remember to always go with my first mind. PERIOD. I made a series of decisions and then changed my mind ONLY to go back to the original thought.

I hope you have found this helpful. I love learning and growing even when it’s a tad bit uncomfortable but lessons good or not so good help me to become better.

Adrienne