IN AND OUT OF THE WARDROBE – My experience of being a model!

Not a model artist or even a human being though! Nope this was all about walking slowly along a catwalk whilst wear glass. I am no stranger to glass fashion shows and helped at one in Corning Museum of Glass in USA where the Glass Art Society always hold such an event as a finale to their conferences. I thought I knew what I was letting myself in for when last year I volunteered to make some glass and wear it if need be. The request came to me from the organisers of the International Festival of Glass which hold fantastic exhibitions and events every two years in Stourbridge. I have been many times, but this was the first where I was advised to wear neutral coloured underwear! I had to check even though I didn’t understand the reason. Normally I just put on pants without any thought of colour co-ordination. Same for socks, although I tend towards the odd flavour!

I duly made some glass pieces; they were scientific as I wanted to promote scientific glassware and thought what better way to do this then to strut my stuff! I was sent 135 costume choices and lost the will to live after seeing ten. It was then I realised that this fashion show had indeed grown arms and legs which was useful for I needed to hang my glass on something, and my neck had already been stuck out long enough! It dawned upon me that the whole experience was going to involve a different culture and costumes based on South Korea. The costume I choose resembled a Welsh lady due to the shape of the hate. I thought this perfect for hanging glass on and to make sure it didn’t fall off I would staple it to the material. Cue absolute horror from the organisers as we, the models were not allowed to interfere with any costumes. I was please about this in one way as I dint want any to interfere with me thank you!

The fashion show was all about the culture of South Korea, which is fair enough, but I failed in get into the zone. I appreciate we had to rehearse as I needed to know who was going clockwise and who was doing the anti-bit, but I didn’t appreciate the session which resemble therapy where models stood in a circle holding hands. Oh no not each other’s hands that would be two easy, but we had to hold our own hands. After 5 minutes I remembered I had to do something and run out the room. At the actual rehearsal I was reprimanded for not paying due attention. Fair dues but I was also told off for hanging my shirt in the wrong direction. Apparently, the open collars should be pointing towards the door.

Where was all the glass in this, I hear you cry? It was in my hand and boy was I drinking out of it but not enough to lose my dignity. It was a very special occasion and one I am so glad to be part of but just how I got involved remains a mystery. My escape routes closed down every time. I appealed to my dresser and pretended to be clumsy, but he mistook that for excitement. Being stuck in the costume from 5pm til 9pm was almost as bad as going to the dentist or seeing my accountant. Almost but not quite.

It is said you have to suffer for your art and been there done that. The climax was after show where people came up to me wanting their photos taken with me. I felt good then. Didn’t last long and tried to whip off my costume in seconds but have you every tried to remove a glass costume in a rush? Take me advice don’t bother. Doesn’t matter what colour your underwear is it want to make undressing quicker or easier!