Chanel Cruise experience

Sorry for not updating, but I should write down about this in my blog as it is probably the most epic day of my life so far. And, while my memory of it is still super fresh of course.
Let's see, how to start, probably I need to inform you first that I am currently signed with Basic Models (yeah, I am with an agency now! which means more opportunities and I can have more experience in this modelling industry.) And I happen to book a job for the NAFA showcase (6th-8th) and I met a lot of enthusiastic, passionate and talented young designer here. And they are all very nice. :) On 6th of May, I received a message from my booker to went for a casting, at Loewen road, for a show on 9th May (When I received the message, I already kinda suspect that it would be for Chanel, because I know that Chanel Cruise will be held on 9th May, and the location is somewhere around Dempsey Hill;; Loewen Rd is a part of Dempsey Hill. So yeah, do the math)
So I went for the casting on 7th May, and the people who's in charge brief us a bit about what is our job scope and what show it actually is, and for sure it's CHANEL. The guy whom we met for the casting, told us that he'll talk with our booker for the further confirmation. But most likely we'll book the job. (Okay, at this point I really feel like hugging and thanking my booker, I had no clue whom she knows from this Chanel show's organizer that she's able to get us go for the casting, not to mention to be confirmed on the spot!!)
And on 8th May, I received the confirmation that I get the job! (Woohoo!! How insane is that!! I am really supercalifragilisticispicalidocious-ly excited. It's CHANEL, hello, excuse me.) and I found out that Choi Siwon  is flying to Singapore after he attend the MET Gala Ball (Siwon knows Karl Lagerfeld! So do the math again!) Also, CHANEL is flying over 40 International Models too! Can you imagine how excited I am, to have the chance to meet the models that I usually can only see from my laptop screen?? I mean, I watch Fashion TV like it's my Channel News Asia! Super nervous and excited indeed. Maybe super is still not enough to describe how I am feeling.
And so, 9th May came, and I woke up around 5.30am to get ready and everything. I am the first model to arrive at 75C Loewen Cluster (what an accomplishment! Lol) after waiting for some other models, we are then escorted to the venue itself (Consists of some houses, ranging in size, and gardens) and it was so beautiful, the garden and all the houses on the sides are all painted in white and black (Chanel's signature colour) and they also use an off-white colour pebbles for the footpath. Then the runway itself, it was an indoor runway (I thought it would be outdoor, like their earlier Cruise runway, but probably Singapore is too hot already, so they need to make it indoor. Not to mention the inconsistent weather) I think the location for the runway used to be some kind of warehouse, which they renovated some part of it yet still keep the rusty and vintage feel of the building. Salute for all the details. It was a feast for an Interior Design student. So many inspirations. Haha. No wonder they spent 6 month to prepare the show. And oh yeah, for the usher, they especially select a bunch of male models from Singapore. Imagine, a place with one handsome guy every one meter. Lol.
We are taken to a room to put our stuffs and then back to the runway, we're briefed about what they want us to do, which is basically to walk the runway a few times (A hell lot of time actually) until they got all the cameras in the right position and angle. I was wearing the wrong heels at first, which made me can't walk comfortably and my feet hurts so damn much, until to one point, the heels gave up, and break, so I change to my flat shoes and life feels a damn lot easier. Haha. Honestly, I enjoy walking on the runway, I love it, I feel quite tired at first, but then I got my energy back and I can say, I won't mind if they want me to walk more. The runway was actually quite long, about 1 km perhaps? But at the end of the day, I still feel very pumped.
And, there's this one time when I was walking the runway, and suddenly, a whole bunch of international models came in!!! The first one to came in was Lindsey Wixson. And I am like, Holy Shit, it's Lindsey Wixson!!!! Then Cara Delevigne, Aymaline Valade, Ming Xi, Shu Pei, etc. They are soooooo gorgeous. And yes, they are as tall and as skinny as how you see them in the photos and runways videos. They got briefed and then when they are rehearsing, we get to sit and watch!! I'm like asdfghlkling inside, this is a super rare opportunity! To see the international models walking on the runway, live! And Cara is so goofy, she was jumping and skipping around. Well, I guess when you're a supermodel, you get to do whatever you want. Lol.
Okay, my job basically is only waking around, so let's skip to the part when the first show (for press and media) is held at around 4pm. I was at the backstage, well, I am only allowed to be at the backstage. So I get to see the beautiful Chanel Cruise pieces and what the models usually do before they stepped out to the runway. And the there comes Karl Lagerfeld. The Kaiser of Chanel. His presence is so... I can't find the word. The point is, he is epic. Ha. And seriously, the collection is so beautiful. Especially when you see it right in front of your eyes.
And after the first show is done. We need to walk again a few times for the second show's camera check. But before that, we managed to walk around and snapped a few pics with the supermodels! :D
then they are preparing for the second show, and basically our job is done, so we are allowed to go had dinner, and then welcomed to join the after party. I suppose I look very unglam, because I had been walking around, sweating and my skin feels so sticky. But I don't care, it's Chanel's afterparty and there's a chance that I might meet Choi Siwon, so I just changed to my party dress that I just bought from New Look, my platform heels, retouch my make up, and blend around in the after party. Took a glass of white wine and just walk around as if I am one of those socialites and rich lady whom is able to get the invitation to Chanel Show, lol. Blend in, blend in. Can't find Siwon or any models around the garden area, so we move to the bar area (the interior of this place is so exquisite, i don't even know how to explain) Tried some mousse and dessert, and my friend Lynn, met her designer friend, so she was talking with her, while me and Zhou Mo (the other model) was just sipping the wine and talking, and then from the bar entrance area, I kinda saw a bunch of people coming in, so I just took a glance and HOLY SHIT, it's SIWON, like only 2 meter from where I am standing. I swear I look so comical that moment, I was even had to look away and look again a few times to make myself sure that it is indeed siwon. Someone used flash to took a pic of him ( because the bar area is quite dark) and suddenly one of his bodyguard, came to us and told us to not use flash because he's having an eye allergy or so. Zhou Mo, bless her for being so brave, because I am literally frozen to where I am standing. Walked to Siwon when he was passing right in front of where we are standing, and ask him whether we can took a photo with him or not. To which of course he replied 'yes'. With a very charming smile. At this point, I think my heart is beating super fast. We tried to make some small talk with him, asking him about the show, the collection, I told him that I was a huge fan, and the we took photo (he even said we can use flash, because it was too dark, how nice of him!) He just keep smiling and very chatty too. And oh, his English is good. really fluent. Then I shook his hand, which is damn smooth and said thank you. Really, thank you so much. Since not everyone, every fan can get the chance to take a picture with him. Then he move to another group of people.
We decided to stay around the bar area, for a while until Lynn said she's leaving, but me and Zhou Mo, decided to enjoy the party for awhile more, fresh sashimi, caviar, king crab, lobster, passionfruit mousse, champagne, red wine, etc. All kinds of exquisite food and drinks. As if this night couldn't get even more magical. We stayed around 'til elevenish, and decided to end the night. Although people are still dancing around to the live bands, I wish I decided to stay longer too, and enjoyed myself more, because I was too self conscious that time, because of the guests. But all in all, 9th May will be the day I treasure the most, a very magical day and a wonderful way to close my teenage year too. (Turning twenty soon dearies!)
I guess I'll this post here. I will really work hard to get another, this kind of experience in the future, and not as a backstage model, but as the one walking on the runway next time. I know it's not going to be easy, but I want to work hard and see how far I can go. And with God, whom would guide me well.
I have said it many many times but again, Thank You so much God for this experience. :)


Jesslyn