I have worked backstage at the Badgley Mischka show for nine seasons. It’s my favorite to work because the entire team is so nice. If you’ve seen The Devil Wears Prada, you know that fashion people are not usually known for their niceness. I’ve worked at other shows where the team has been rude and since I am fortunate enough to pick and choose what shows I work, I don’t need to go back.

The minutes before and during a fashion show can be very stressful. The clothing is usually complicated and sometimes designers have very, very specific instructions (a sock cuff should stick 1 inch out of a boot but the sweater cuff needs to stick out 1.5 inches, a bag should be held in the left hand, belt should be buckled to the right, etc). Add on top of that a very tight timeline, some models who have to change out of and into complicated outfits mid-show and many “cooks in the kitchen,” and it gets chaotic. However, the people who work at Badgley Mischka are polite and calm and friendly, which makes for a successful show (on top of having drop-dead gorgeous designs, of course).

It’s also fun to see the media circus that comes along with the having a top brand. Today I saw Alexa Ray Joel (daughter of Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley) backstage hanging out. She is much shorter than I would have imagined. She was wearing 6-inch heels and was still only about 5’8″ or so. She did a great job walking in them though! There were also other celebs there such as Carmen Electra, singer Cobie Caillat, Chloe Bridges (from The Carrie Diaries) and Kelly Bensimon (former NY housewife).

The collection was filled with fur (definite trend for fall!), pretty dresses and lots of red carpet looks that I’m sure we’ll be seeing at awards ceremonies, maybe even as early as The Oscars at the end of the month. The collection had a distinct 1960s vibe to it that was somehow both retro and modern. Here are some of my favorite looks. Photos: WWD.com

Off to take advantage of some snow- and rain-free weather!

Illysia Neumann-Loreck