Toronto Fashion Week - Day 2 - Laura Siegel behind-the-scenes

It was my first feature for the National Post and it took two days of documenting to complete - my behind-the-scenes story about the young and talent designer Laura Siegel. It was published in this weekend's paper and seeing it in print made me want to cry. Yeah, you'd think seeing your published work would get old but I'm still such a noob that seeing my byline in black ink on paper still makes my heart fall to my stomach.

yeah sorry it's kinda blurry.. I was really excited.
National Post Weekend Edition. March 23 2013

Anyway, the point of this post is to fill you in on all the behind-the-scene stuff from behind-the-scenes. Funny, isn't it. There's a behind-the-scenes of a behind-the-scenes pieces? Yes sir. You bet your ass there is. If you haven't had a chance to read my fly-on-the-wall piece about Laura Siegel and her makeup and hair team you can find it on the National Post website (or in print wooohooo! that is, if you still have a copy of this weekend's Post lying around the house)

The first part of the story took place a week before fashion week at the Maybelline and Redken hair and makeup trials. Basically what happens is the lead makeup artist and lead hair stylist for Toronto fashion week schedule a meeting with each designer to decide on the hair and makeup for their runway show. Laura Siegel's trial day was Monday March 11 and I was there being a nosey journalist. Here are some photos from that day at the studio.

Redken hair pros doing what they do best at the Queen West studio space

Laura ready for her National Post close up

Maybelline's Grace Lee and the inicial makeup idea

lots of hair spray

Long curly extensions.

Make look take two. 

The Laura Siegel F/W 2013 lipstick colour and my new favourite possession.
(thanks Grace xx)

My toughest interview subject. He was so difficult to work with.
Just look at that death stare. He's got me beat.. 

Part two of my piece took place backstage at the Laura Siegel runway show at fashion week. Basically what happened was at 3ish I showed up backstage and everyone on the Laura team was running around like crazy getting all the models ready for the show, which was to start at 4p.m. I continued my nosy journalist-ness and ran around trying to catch some great frantic quotes from people. And oh boy did I get some. (Didn't use most of them due to word count restrictions..too bad) For your enjoyment - some shots of fashion craziness!

Models backstage. Makeup done, hair half-done and waiting to be dressed

Maybelline heaven. Makeup for dayssss

the finalized make up looks

Laura Siegel and the final runway plans

runway walk, walk-through

the head scarf issue... the scarves won't stay on. 

final makeup touch ups

teeny Laura (the model is standing on the ground ... i know right, shes huge..)
adjusting a model's outfit

double-sided tape, tons of hairspray and millions of pins later
poor girl...

Laura insisted on styling each head scarf before the models took to the runway

another use for hairspray

Chic in the Shit - how to look fashionable when roadtripping

I discovered something brilliant this summer. Totally by accident though, but whatevs. As some of you may know, I am not exactly the most outdoorsy person in the world. So when my boyfriend proposed a 4-day bike trip from Toronto to Niagara I was a little concerned. He had it all planned out. We were going to strap sleeping bags, a tent, and a bag of clothes (ONE BAG..............) to our road bikes and bike to wine country, visit vineyards and sleep under the stars. Romantic.

I'm scared shitless of spiders and I am slightly claustrophobic so the idea of sleeping in the woods in a one-person tent didn't exactly strike me as "vacation". I'm more of a Victorian-hotel/sleep on the beach kinda gal. But then there was the wine tasting. I do love my wine. SO I DID IT! I bike 8 hours (straight.....I'm a tank) from Toronto to wine country Ontario. Good times. Slept in the bush, survived off trail mix and Luna bars, and was covered in a layer of permo-dirt. HOWEVER, I managed to look somewhat presentable (some might say fashionable) because I packed one super accessory - my bright red lipstick!

MAC lady danger lipstick, $15

JOT THIS DOWN : Red lipstick has the power to make anyone, wearing anything, look fabulous. It is a fashion backpacker's essential tool that will ensure survival on the road. Not everyone is okay with looking like Calamity Jane.... So next time you venture off into the woods, or on some path to nature land - REMEMBER YOUR RED LIPS!