Our thanks to those who helped to make SHEIfest truly fabulous! We’ll be bringing you a re-cap of the night shortly, but in the meantime enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at how this epic event was put together through this live-blog of the pre-show fitting.

Over thirty models, thirty fashion team members and probably thirty tons of clothing, it was wild!

Fashion Team at work!

7.00 The start!  A few fashion team members have arrived, our awesome fashion co-editor Will at the helm, and stuff is being set out on the tables.  All models will arrive in one hour for the actual fitting.

Mariel and Will discussing important fashion editor things. :O

7.17 The majority of people are here, and clothes cover about half the auditorium.  It’s pretty awesome how many clothes there are.

7.18 Will explains makeup—“black” and “braids” are the only clues you’re gonna get!

7.22 Mariel is here—and good news, Femilia Couture is officially participating in our fashion show!  Hot fashion, great gowns; this is really exciting. 

Heather (left) and Mariel bringing in about half of the clothes in the show!

7.30 Mariel is unloading the motherload; clothes keep flying out of her suitcase!

7.46 The first model has arrived!

7.56 More models have come; the first fittings are in progress.

7.59 Various states of dress and undress; there’s not enough space for a “fitting room”!

8.30 Gemela Design is here; they’re exclusively providing all the jewelry for Saturday’s fashion show.  Graduates of the University of Michigan in industrial engineering, in between their travels twin sisters Diana and Julie Verdugo translate their inspirations into edgy wearables.

From left, Mariel, and Gemela Design lovelies Diana and Julie Verdugo display the dazzling wares we are honored to have in our fashion show.

8.44 The fittings are in full swing, and clothes are truly flying everywhere.  Quinn from fashion team is splitting up her time in between photographing a master catalog of the jewelry from Gemela and photographing all the models in their outfits.

8.53 Passed by Amber bent over something, and stopped to investigate.  It turns out that SHEI Fashion Team is rife with DIYers, and Amber has been studding and metal-coning various shoes to rock them out!

Amber's shoe-beautification--you can't go wrong! Studding and coning shoes is not for the faint of heart and clumsy of hand.

9.10 When the models have a look approved by either Will or Mariel, they’re sent to change and then set their clothes off to the side where the Master List is being compiled by Erica, Ally and myself.  What’s the Master List?  Next to each set of clothes is a list headed by the model’s name and which sector of the Fashion Team outfitted her/him, then each piece of clothing is specified by brand, color, and owner.

9.37 Many of our models are altruistic enough to stick around some more and be clothes hangers for a few more minutes (or hours), and in between being fitted, they hang around, striking cute poses and chatting amiably.

From left, stylist Sarah R., model Angelica S. and stylist Sarah O. have fun while fitting for Saturday's show.

9.44 Getting frustrated as I’m typing up the Master List; there’s a sudden rush of creativity among all the members of the Fashion Team, and almost every minute a model comes up dropping off another outfit for the shoot!  It’s almost insane the range of clothing amassed (and believe me, it is a mass), there’s everything from Target’s Xhileration to Helmut Lang, Miley Cyrus and Max Azria for Wal-Mart to Burberry.

Stylists Grace (left) and Ally D. pack up each individual models' outfits into separate bags.

10.30 It’s all done!  Every outfit catalogued, every model fitted and every adjustment noted to be done to every garment needed.  Each model’s outfits are stuffed into individual bags labeled with their name and a list of the clothes inside, then loaded up into Mariel’s car.

Good night!

Ninny C.