Toronto L'Oreal Fashion Week Fall Winter 2007

The Devil Wears Torontostreetfashion.com Fashion Assistant Challenge

Torontostreetfashion.com put out the call and students from Toronto's fashion colleges applied to be Ms. Sonja Andic's fashion assistant during fashion week. Entrants didn't know exactly what the position entailed, but were willing to carry bags, take notes and run errands for the chance to insider schmooze and experience fashion week...

Winner Melissa Kavalench, 3rd year Ryerson fashion communication student understands the Toronto street fashion sensibility. She's funny, self-effacing and proactive! Here's her view:

DAY 1: Wardrobe Woes
by Melissa Kavalench

Okay, this is tough. Like really, really tough… I’d almost even rather stand on a street corner in a chicken suit and cluck at people (which on second thought might be borderline enjoyable since I do such a mean chicken impression). Picking an outfit for my first ever fashion week is easily the hardest thing I’ve ever done (this month). They’re going to know! They’re going to look at me and just know that I have no idea what I’m doing. I might as well just get a magic marker and write “fashion week virgin” on my forehead.

Melissa, day 1 of fashion week | Sonja filming for canada.com

The pressure is making me completely irrational! I honestly just contemplated about squeezing my thighs into a pair of those trendy spandex-leggy things (property of my roommate, not me)…thankfully, the mental image of thousands of people gouging their own eyes out stopped that fashion misfire mid-flight. I’ve decided I’m going with a modest black, flowy top, jeans and flats. The risk of being too casual far outweighs the risk of adopting the “cute” pet name “Ugly Betty” for the remainder of the week.

Finally here and I’ve just meet up with Sonja and immediately she has been sucked away into the hurricane which is fashion week. So I am left to saunter around the large holding area. There is a little stand where some pros are doing hair and make up, for free no less! A quick glance in a mirror confirms that my hair did not survive the sweaty, humid trek from my apartment and needs some resuscitation. I sit down and let the lady work her magic. (*Note to self: why not skip this step at home tomorrow and let them do it for you?…Genius!)

She whirls me around and shows me my hair. Wait, scratch that, helmet is more like it. It’s huge! God bless her, she’s backcombed it into a ponytail and shellacked it with hairspray. I really think the 3 inch tower on top of my head compliments my Tyra Banks forehead. Great! Fabulous!

Previous traumas are already forgotten because it’s Picture time! I’m with Rachel and we’re stopping trendsetters to take their pictures for Canada.com and Toronto Street Fashion. I get to write down the people’s information and give them a sticker! This is loads of fun and has given me a case of perma-grin and it probably looks ridiculous but I don’t even care, just add it to the list.

Street fashion photos taken for www.canada.com

If nothing but bad things happen for the remainder of the week, if I sneeze all over someone, if I mispronounce a designer’s name, or even if I fall flat on my face, it will all be worth it. I just got a MEDIA BAG! Oh my gawd! Sonja, the mayor of smooth-talk town, just convinced the lady to give me a bag which has a freaking flat iron in it! I need to seek lessons on how to do this.

And just like that, I’m already home. It went so fast and it’s all a blur. I’m trying to come down from this high so I can get some sleep and make it back tomorrow for round 2 of the “Melissa meets fashion week” showdown.

>> go to DAY 2: courage and Jeanne!

~ SONJA 5-DAY DIARY 1 2 3 4 5 ~ The ASSISTANT's VIEW 1 2 3 ~ PARTY PICS 1 2 3 ~ SHOWS ~
L'Oreal Fashion Week Fall 2007 Collections Kick Off Show Jason Meyers MONDAY, March 12 Philip Sparks Menswear Hustle with Bustle Pantages Uniforms Boutique Le Trou Photo Party @Cheval Amie Scott Fashions TUESDAY, March 13 Holt Renfrew Media Cocktail Boutique Le Trou: A Retail Piece Mackage Don't Tell My Booker Opening Night Party WEDNESDAY, March 14 Tevrow & Chase Arthur Mendonca Fashion Nation Hanes Brands Inc. Lucien Matis Rudsak Andy The-Anh Comrags David Dixon Zoran Dobric THURSDAY, March 15 Andrew Majtenyi Fashion Psychology Pat McDonagh Izzy Camilleri Joeffer Caoc Pink Tartan Off the Beat 'n Path feat. Common Cloth, Namoda et al. @ Ukula Fashion Rocks feat. Dollhouse, FutureState et al. @ Phoenix FRIDAY, March 16 Thien Le Kavi Kavi Saniya Khan Franke Joe Fresh Style GSUS Greta Constantine JUMA Bustle SD+R Show and Afterparty SATURDAY, March 17 Holt Renfrew Meet the Designers		The Devil Wears Torontostreetfashion.com Fashion Assistant Challenge Torontostreetfashion.com put out the call and students from Toronto's fashion colleges applied to be Ms. Sonja Andic's fashion assistant during fashion week. Entrants didn't know exactly what the position entailed, but were willing to carry bags, take notes and run errands for the chance to insider schmooze and experience fashion week... Winner Melissa Kavalench, 3rd year Ryerson fashion communication student understands the Toronto street fashion sensibility. She's funny, self-effacing and proactive! Here's her view: DAY 1: Wardrobe Woes by Melissa Kavalench Okay, this is tough. Like really, really tough… I’d almost even rather stand on a street corner in a chicken suit and cluck at people (which on second thought might be borderline enjoyable since I do such a mean chicken impression). Picking an outfit for my first ever fashion week is easily the hardest thing I’ve ever done (this month). They’re going to know! They’re going to look at me and just know that I have no idea what I’m doing. I might as well just get a magic marker and write “fashion week virgin” on my forehead. Melissa, day 1 of fashion week \| Sonja filming for canada.com The pressure is making me completely irrational! I honestly just contemplated about squeezing my thighs into a pair of those trendy spandex-leggy things (property of my roommate, not me)…thankfully, the mental image of thousands of people gouging their own eyes out stopped that fashion misfire mid-flight. I’ve decided I’m going with a modest black, flowy top, jeans and flats. The risk of being too casual far outweighs the risk of adopting the “cute” pet name “Ugly Betty” for the remainder of the week. Finally here and I’ve just meet up with Sonja and immediately she has been sucked away into the hurricane which is fashion week. So I am left to saunter around the large holding area. There is a little stand where some pros are doing hair and make up, for free no less! A quick glance in a mirror confirms that my hair did not survive the sweaty, humid trek from my apartment and needs some resuscitation. I sit down and let the lady work her magic. (*Note to self: why not skip this step at home tomorrow and let them do it for you?…Genius!) She whirls me around and shows me my hair. Wait, scratch that, helmet is more like it. It’s huge! God bless her, she’s backcombed it into a ponytail and shellacked it with hairspray. I really think the 3 inch tower on top of my head compliments my Tyra Banks forehead. Great! Fabulous! Previous traumas are already forgotten because it’s Picture time! I’m with Rachel and we’re stopping trendsetters to take their pictures for Canada.com and Toronto Street Fashion. I get to write down the people’s information and give them a sticker! This is loads of fun and has given me a case of perma-grin and it probably looks ridiculous but I don’t even care, just add it to the list. Street fashion photos taken for www.canada.com If nothing but bad things happen for the remainder of the week, if I sneeze all over someone, if I mispronounce a designer’s name, or even if I fall flat on my face, it will all be worth it. I just got a MEDIA BAG! Oh my gawd! Sonja, the mayor of smooth-talk town, just convinced the lady to give me a bag which has a freaking flat iron in it! I need to seek lessons on how to do this. And just like that, I’m already home. It went so fast and it’s all a blur. I’m trying to come down from this high so I can get some sleep and make it back tomorrow for round 2 of the “Melissa meets fashion week” showdown. >> go to DAY 2: courage and Jeanne!