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Backstage: Anand Jon Spring 2002
By Mari Davis
Photos by Visko Hatfield
Nov 4, 2001/ FW/ --- FashionWindows has been covering New York Fashion Week since the Fall 1999
season, and I still could not decide which is more exciting - backstage coverage or the
runway show coverage.
Both of sides of the house, so to speak, has their own interesting highlights. The runway show
is a "staged play" and choreographed, complete with music and rythm.
Believe it or not, there is a producer whose job is very similar to TV shows or the theater
who plans it all out. There is even a rehearsal, short as it might be, before the show.
Of course, watching the show at the "front of the house" gives you the glitz and
glamour of fashion that you read in magazines and see on TV.
What is the attraction of backstage then, you ask. Well, it is like watching the stars of
the show getting her hair and make-up done and then getting her into her "costume."
But it is more than that. It is also watching the designer work on his creations and see the
final result.
Anand Jon is a "hands-on" designer. Although he has stylists who assist him during a show,
Anand Jon do the final "check" on the model. He actually make them "catwalk" a
few paces to make sure that the clothes are exactly the way he envisioned when the models
are on the runway.
Covering a show backstage also gives you an idea how a designer works. Watching Anand Jon
look into even the most minute detail is a delight. I would call him a perfectionist.
That is one of his strengths as a designer. His attention to detail and being a "hands on"
guy. He has a very capable staff. But seeing "the boss" work as hard as you do could inspire
you.
Anand Jon's Spring 2002 show was held at the Armani Showroom in midtown Manhattan. The runway
are was spacious, but the backstage was a little bit cramped.
Don't get me wrong. The space was big, but if you take into consideration the number of people in there before the start
of the show, then you would realize that it was not enough.
First, there are the models, the make-up artists, the hair stylists and the stylists, plus
Anand Jon and his staff. Add to that the press corp, plus friends of Anand Jon, that is a lot
of people.
A hairstylist had to work on the hallway because there was no more room backstage! Thank goodness
that the invited guests had not arrived yet at that point in time.
And then, the Hilton sisters made a grand entrance by arriving late! Needless to say, Anand Jon
was a little bit upset. Time is of the essence in fashion shows. A show only lasts 15 minutes, 30
if you are showing a big collection.
Make-up artists and stylists immediately "worked on" the Hilton sisters while phogtographers
took photographs. If I did not know any better, it could be called a papparazi mayhem. Most of the
photographers present were fashion photographers.
But they are photographers nonetheless and any photo opportunity is taken. And here I am writing about
it! Ah, the life of a fashion journo.
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