A Military Journalist Takes Fashion Week
Gunther, a contemporary, luxury menswear line by Paris-based duo, Naomi Gunther and Gabin Ducourant, showcased their newest collection at Hôtel National des Arts et Métiers on January 18, 2020. This being the first fashion show I've ever attended, I’m not sure if I should approach this piece through the lens of a fan or photographer, so I’ll touch on both perspectives.
When it comes to appreciating fashion you could say I've been a longterm fan. When it comes to understanding fashion; however, I'm a beginner. I'm familiar with the big names such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, but I'm not familiar with the inner workings of a Paris fashion show, it is something I never dreamed of going to in a million years. I spent my last five years as a broadcast journalist in the military for the United States Air Force, so my media experience has been limited to documenting live, fast-paced action. Transitioning to the runway world, and witnessing such intricate creativity is inspiring, yet unfamiliar to me. As a graduate student at The American University of Paris, I hope to shed some light on fashion week from the perspective of an ex-military journalist. Taking the technical skills learned in the military and applying it to the inventive and colorful scene here in the fashion capital.
When I first arrived at the hotel, I was immediately transformed from a distant fan to an active participant, simply because of the camera in my hand. There was already a queue to get in and almost everyone had their phone out snapping photos of other guests walking by. The excitement was infectious. It was as if they greeted each other with reciprocal photo-taking. Once inside, I managed to find the photography pit, and slipped into a difficult to find, open slot. It did get pretty rough in the pit, which I was prepared for, but luckily, some photographers moved aside to create space for the perfect shot.
Attendees at Gunther Fashion Show, Image Credit: Jason Treffry
My first takeaway from fashion shows was that they are surprisingly late. There was about half an hour from the time I positioned myself to the time the show began. During this time, I observed this new world with fresh eyes and I learned a lot about runway etiquette.
I always thought of fashion shows as an antisocial type of affair, but I couldn't have been more wrong. Everyone, from photographers to guests, happily exchanged poses and photos with each other. There were people from all corners of the fashion world showing off their own flavor of tasteful garb. Some dressed in the "fashion classic" all-black looks, while others wore edgier and even more casual attire. I quickly learned that the guests were almost as interesting as the show.
Attendees at Gunther Fashion Show, Image Credit: Jason Treffry
Once the show started; however, it transformed into a quiet, observatory atmosphere. The lights dimmed, us photographers took our positions and the guests sat (or stood) in theirs. After a brief pause, the lights turned up to a bright white, with models shuffling down the catwalk. The show was organized, well-lit and had exactly the type of music one would expect, loud, electric, and commanding the attention of the audience.
More Attendees at Gunther Fashion Show, Image Credit: Jason Treffry
I now understand the high-stress/high-reward reputation the fashion world is infamously known for. It went by so fast, but I enjoyed every minute of it. After the show, I got some shots of guests leaving the venue. Why else would they wear such stimulating outfits if not to have their photo taken, right? I don't know how much longer I'll have the opportunity to attend shows by either local or international designers but, I'm a happy camper riding this fashion train as long as I can because I'm hooked, and I've only seen the tip of the fashion iceberg.
