Last year, while we were still students of Noel Manapat under DFW, we went backstage to help prepare for the Red Cross Ball’s fashion show which featured the works of Furne One.  We were back this year (October 16, 2011), and this time, it was Michael Cinco who honored us with a show.  The theme: Grecian. We were pretty lucky, too, that there were 40 outfits to 40 models, meaning–no quick change! So our tasks were pretty easy once we got the models into their dresses. (Which is why I ended up clowning around so much after the work was all done).

I knew I was going to be backstage all night so I didn’t bother dressing up–I just went with a plain white shirt and black Oxygen pants.  My one vain decision was to go with high heels (comfy ones), so I wouldn’t look like total garbage.

Airbrush to make Krystal’s skin look marblish, inspired by Greek statues

Left photo: That’s Danica Magpantay leftmost Right photo: I think that’s Melissa Frye on the rightmost.

Backstage: a model prepares for the show

These gowns were very tight and elaborate. Some of them, if you look at them closely, like the white ones with the pattern and netting, were actually made with a bunch of sequins pulled together to resemble thread embroidery. I was really amazed, they look like so much work!  I can only imagine how that was done–every pattern was stitch perfect.  I don’t know how they managed to make it look symmetrical (maybe they sketched on the fabric first before stitching?).

There was a funny incident backstage while I was resting on a chair against the wall.  I don’t know how it happened, but the models of the first or second set, the ones you see above, along with Danica Magpantay, were gathered around where I was sitting. I might have taken the opportunity to snap some photos with them, but as I mentioned, I was tired and I just wanted to keep quiet and stay still while these towering girls were talking around and above me.  After a while, they started getting tired as well, but they couldn’t sit nor could they rest easily against the wall since their hair was pulled into an elaborate ponytail with wigs and extensions.  So one tried kneeling on a chair with her hem hiked up to her knees and she leaned her forehead on the wall.  The other two rested parts of their bodies against the wall and turned their heads sideways or with chins down so as not to ruin the hair.  They looked like they were posing for a magazine spread, when in fact, they were really just catching some zzzs.  I was tempted to take a photo, but apart from my uncanny laziness, not wanting to move from where I was, I thought it might be a bit of a private moment with them all sleeping and I didn’t want to intrude.

Man of the hour: Michael Cinco

Nio talking with supermodel Ria Bolivar

ANTM 10′s Claire James

She looked familiar, but it wasn’t until Nio told me that she was a model who got into America’s Next Top Model Cycle 10 did I finally remember who she was.  She’s Claire.  And I remember that part when she told the panel about herself and how she sometimes drank her own breastmilk during audition week!  She wanted to keep breastfeeding her daughter when she’d get back, so she kept on pumping it on her own.  It seemed like a waste to just throw it away, so she just drank it and said “it tasted like light soy”.

Of course, what’s a Grecian-inspired show without almost-naked men? One of them reminded me of Alcide from True Blood.

Can you see how the sequins were formed? Amazing!

Georgina Wilson in Michael Cinco’s bridal

Georgina Wilson again on the screen, while the models worked the runway

Her hair and the back of her gown

This dress and its set is my favorite among the collection. The details you see are actually broken up ceramics. They’re really gorgeous.

Just look at that amazing detail. I love this whole set!

Claire

I’m not into glittery gold gowns, but this makes me think of warrior princesses. The patterns are breathtaking.

Gad! I wonder how much this dress costs?

Ria Bolivar is always ready for her close up

There were sunburst colors (and patterns), too. I think this was Justine’s dress.

Marita Ganse

I should’ve showed Marita my fierce look, too. As fierce as a dwarf like me can get anyhow.

The Ria Bolivar with some dorky midget.

Nikki, current student and Jund was my classmate at DFW

John is busy steaming.

And now, the photos get sillier from here on.  As you probably know by now, I’m not the fashion blogger with fierce photos that could give Divine Lee a run for her money (and speaking of which, watch out for photo ops with Divine Lee in a bit). I’m the fashion blogger who makes all the awkward poses and makes fun of plants and props.

Alexandra Lapa, 27, Philippines!

(Yes, I had a little too much ChaTime. Jund pretends not to be associated with me)

So once the show is done…this is what we do backstage. Pretend we’re in a Vanity Fair-esque cover spread. Featuring what looks like a junkie girl in the middle.

Take two

Take note, I was really tired and sleepy but incredibly hyper.

Yep. Really sleepy.

They tried to stop me from making more of these faces because I was with nice friends. Not that it mattered because I went and did as I pleased anyway.

Are you sure it’s a good idea to give me champagne?

Spotted: Divine Lee, extending a helping hand to the homeless

Okay, fine, you might have noticed I’m not big in photo ops with important people despite my work (uuy, rubbing elbows kuno). But I’ve been a fan of Divine Lee after reading many of her tweets (retweeted by friends, before I got around to following her) because they literally made me laugh out loud.  Like snorting calamansi juice out of your left nostril laugh because you happened to be innocently drinking while reading what people post.  Before that, I only knew of her very fashionable self that was always in the pages of Preview.  But after she came out with her own blog and I got to read more of her stuff…wala na.  She’s my new hero.  And the new icon of beckies nationwide.

Actually, when Nio and I were at our table that night, he was telling me, “Hey, get a picture with Divine!” because we spotted her there with the others. And I was like, “Wag, nakakahiya eh!” Then suddenly, someone from directly (closely) behind me shouted “Tara, go!” Haha, and it was Divine herself.  So that was how the homeless grinning person’s photo above was taken.

(with Nix, Divine and Tessa. Yes, close kami.)

Again, with model Justine. The rightmost…’s left. Hehe.

The boss with Divine Lee

Thanks to Nio for letting me grab some of his photos! (His are the ones watermarked nio77). If you want to see more details of the dresses and more behind the scenes photos, read his post about it!

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