ravishing & resilient
It was a morning, like most mornings. Me lying in bed, looking through social media. Mindlessly scrolling, trying to escape this new reality. This new reality of waking up and not going to work, and not being motivated to do much of anything. It was the last day of August, Summer was coming to a close, and even though I feel I have made the most of it, it definitely didn’t look or feel like any other Summer I have experienced. I have now been home since March, and everyday feels more and more uncertain.
As I continue to scroll down my Facebook feed, I come across a picture Paulette posted, a sneak peak at her new “Ravishing & Resilient” 2021 Bridal collection. Paulette is the designer for Bridal Brand YUMI-KATSURA, who I’ve been working with since 2012 for Bridal Market. Bridal Market week is held twice a year, and it’s like Fashion Week, but for Wedding Dresses. Year after year, I look forward to working with her, and Stephanie, (Brand Manager for Yumi-Katsura) Thiago, (Sales rep at Yumi) and the entire team, but because of Covid, market was cancelled in April, and I anticipated it wouldn’t be held in October either. I give the pic a heart. A stunning beaded + sequin lace, tulle gown with a high side split, styled with blinged out silver studded booties. They literally looked like they were completely dipped in diamonds. “Are you busy tomorrow? Wanna come help us?,” asked Paulette in the comments. “Ohh!! Where?! What time?!” I was so excited. My first gig of the pandemic! Finally, some human interaction! She asked that I check my inbox for details. Call time was 7am, (I missed those early call times!) on September 1st, which was literally the next day. Driver was going to pick up the Models and myself in front of the showroom in Midtown, and driving us to the location in Jersey. She was shooting the new collection, and wanted me to be a part of the style team. I couldn’t say no. After being home for so long, there was no way I was going to pass this up!
I woke up like a kid on Christmas morning. Enthusiastic and with a big smile on my face. It was still dark outside, and it was the first time in a long time I got up that early to get ready for work. I kind of missed it. The whole process of picking out an outfit, to combing my hair, putting some light make-up on, and rushing out the door. I’m not crazy about walking to the train station alone while it’s still dark, so I took a cab into midtown. It was nice to see the Sun come up while cruising down the FDR. We did get stuck in a bit of traffic though, since the cab driver took the FDR instead of the west side highway, and once we got off, there were so many street closures and detours heading to the west side, that I got there around 7:20. I had texted the Driver in advanced to give him the heads up and apologize, but he told me they were still waiting for one more, so I felt a little more relieved. I finally get there and it wasn’t long before the other Model arrived, and we were on the road by 7:30. We slowly moved through Midtown traffic, but once we got to the tunnel, it was smooth riding. We pulled up to the driveway at exactly 8am.
When I saw the address to the location, I did not realize that it was Paulette’s home we would be shooting in! I saw Paulette and I immediately jumped on her! (I know, I know, social distancing.) We were masked up though, and I could not resist the opportunity to sneak in a hug during these no contact times. (I’m sorry, I’m a hugger, I had to!) I then see Stephanie, who had that beautiful mother’s glow, and I had my moment with her too. She tells me that the rest of the styling team was upstairs so I can help prep the dresses while Models go into hair and makeup.
I’m not even half way up the stairs yet and I already love what I’m seeing. A rack of beautiful veils to my right, a table of fabulous bridal accessories to my left, and dresses everywhere! Hanging from doors, on racks inside of rooms, on Beds. I was in Bridal Heaven! I have always had an affinity for Bridal Fashion. As a young adult I bought bridal magazines like they were Vogue. I would spend hours tirelessly flipping through the pages, falling in love with designers like Amsale, Eve of Milady, and Reem Acra, putting tiny folds on the pages of all the dresses I loved. I still binge watch “Say yes to the Dress” and gasp every time a bride walks out in a jaw dropping Pnina Tornei or a whimsical Hayley Paige dress. I was never the girl though, who had my fantasy wedding all planned out, I never cared for weddings or for being married. I always thought if I ever did get married, I’d fly to Vegas and elope and have one of those cheesy weddings officiated by an Elvis impersonator and tell everyone about it the next day. I don’t care for the specifics, or the attention that comes with weddings. The dresses though? I have always looked at them as something you can wear, not just down the isle, but on the red carpet, or a black tie event. Why should they only be limited to weddings? I’ve always been fascinated by their intricate details, and different silhouettes, and just the overall evolution of wedding fashion, from Jumpsuits to non-traditional colors, and prints, to plunging necklines, to wearing headbands instead of veils. Now that I get to work in this fantasy bridal world, and see all the gorgeous beading, and stitching and the beautiful colors and textures up close, it’s such a treat for that girl who always just admired them in magazine pages and TV screens.
I walk over towards the accessories and take a look at all of the belts lined up on the table. Belts with flower appliqués, rhinestones, and covered in pearls. Dramatic hoop earrings with pearl details, and the latest in bridal fashion; Bridal masks! They were so beautiful! Some adorned with flowers, and others blinged out in stones! Definitely a design for every bride. I walk inside the rooms to take a sneak peak at the new collection, and I’m immediately floored! Every season I work with Paulette, I say, “THIS collection is my favorite.” It really is hard to choose, as she always outdoes herself. How does she make every new collection even better than the last?! I don’t know, but she always makes it happen! My eyes catch this stunning 3D flower lace and silk organza ball gown in a beautiful shade of pink. Her name was Lucille, and it was love at first sight! Once I saw her name, I knew all the dresses in this collection would start with the letter L. When naming the dresses each season, they are all given names that start with the same letter. The last Bridal I worked, all the dress names started with the letter K. (Khiara still has my heart!)
🌸 LUCILLE 🌸
💐 KHIARA 💐
Stepahnie comes up to let the styling team know what dresses went on what models and the sequence in which they would be shot. It’s showtime! I bring the first Model up and get her into her first look. An elegant embellished lace gown, with a dramatic back, cap sleeves and a light sprinkle of Austrian crystals. I walk her down carefully, holding the back of her dress so she doesn’t step on it and fall down the stairs. She begins to pose for the photographer, and I’m there front and center, making sure she looks her very best in every shot. Next, we shot an Italian tulle a-line gown, with an embellished overlay, a deep V bodice, and a plunging V back, and when we threw that fur bolero over it, it gave the dress a touch of glamour worthy of any red carpet. She was definitely working that look!
2 looks turned into 10 really fast. Walking up and down the stairs, getting Models in and out of dresses, and making sure they were going back on the racks, as they were being shipped to Spain after the shoot. The swapping of the shoes, the jewelry changes. It’s physically demanding. You’re working every muscle and bone in your body. As always, when working bridal, the call times are early and the day seems to go on forever. There are usually breaks in between clients during actual Bridal market, but this was a photo shoot, so at one point I snuck into the kitchen to grab a bite to eat, and tried to snack in between, as there is always plenty of food and snacks available. You’re basically running on just caffeine, sugar and adrenaline!
It was my first job in the midst of this pandemic, and although it was business as usual, there were some things that were different. The masks. The making sure you followed all the new rules of sanitizing and distance. Despite all of that, everyone was in good spirits, and I felt very safe in that environment. There was music playing, everyone was having a good time, I even snuck in a salsa dance with one of the decorators! The hair and make-up team were pleasant, as were the models, and there was a good flow between the 3 stylists. Paulette and Stepahnie were not only our rocks, but the true rock Stars that make it happen season after season, and you can always count on Thiago for a good laugh in between looks! I was grateful to them for thinking of me for this special project and I was happy to get out of the house, even during a pandemic, and be around people whom I love an admire. It was just what my spirit needed.
❤️ THIAGO ❤️
Can we talk about how lovely Paulette’s home is though?! It deserves an honorable mention! Not only is it architecturally stunning, with a dramatic staircase in the center, an eye-catching fireplace, beautiful bay windows that let the light in from every angle, and one of my favorite areas, a nook with a cozy little bench next to the prettiest bird cage I’ve ever seen, it was also such a beautiful celebration of African- American culture, with pictures of Josephine Baker and Mohammed Ali on the walls, as well as different artifacts from all of her trips around the world! It was homey and warm, and I felt the love that was put into that space. Thank you for welcoming me, for welcoming us, into your home!
When the day was over, the driver picked us up and dropped us off at the same location we met that morning. The nearest train station was Times Square, so I jumped on shuttle to get to the east side. Times Square was eerie. It was 7pm on a Tuesday, and there were only 2 other people waiting for the shuttle besides myself. That’s just unheard of. The strip on the way back to the trains, usually bustling with people going both ways, was empty and cold. Not the usual scene at Grand Central station. Once I got on the platform to wait for the 5, there were just a few people scattered about, enough for each of us to keep a safe distance from each other without feeling like we were on top of one another. The train pulled up, and I was happy to find a seat after being on my feet all day. There were people on, but again, we were all able to keep a safe distance from each other. The energy on the Subway just wasn’t the same. Like most New Yorkers, I practically lived on the train everyday, and it was my first time on the train since March, by myself. I missed trips on the train into the city alone. I missed putting on my headphones and going on adventures and observing. It wasn’t the usual circus Freak show, but the masks are freakish and unreal. You can no longer see expressions, but to say that the eyes don’t express would be a lie. People seem uneasy, frustrated, and afraid. Everyone seems to be moving cautiously, and at a much slower pace. The city that never sleeps has suddenly slipped into this weird slumber and I don’t know if I love it, or if seeing my beautiful city operate so somberly makes me sad. I don’t know. I miss being able to move how I used to, without this invisible “thing” hanging over my head. I feel like, my independence has been stripped from me in a sense. Even though things don’t look the same, being able to go out there and “work” even for just one day, gave me back that independence and a feeling of freedom I haven’t felt in a while. I pray that some day soon we could all go back to enjoying movies at 3D Imax theaters, cheering for our favorite team at a crowded stadium, traveling to our favorite destinations around the world the way we used to, and sing along with our favorite artists at another sold out concert. You know, the things that brought people together. I also look forward to, of course, working Bridal Market again, like we normally would, being cooped up in a fancy hotel room, and being able to stand in the kitchen and eat with everyone freely again, be able to hug everyone, and go out for dinner and drinks when it’s all over to celebrate, like we used to. Until then, I pray for better days, I pray that soon we can face one another, and face the world once more, with no worry. No masks, no distance, and all smiles.
