Its been ten month know that I m traveling arround the world, living in hostels, my tent or even in swags or campervan. In that time where you never know what you will do next day, I tried to keep my backpack as light as posible. Actualy it was never realy light even if I sended more than 4 heavy package to europe. Arriving in Japan I had to buy some knew closes just because my only pant looked here as I m homeless. In Tokyo allmost everybody has a suit or a jean, a Fone and a laptop, a home and a TV, a futon and all the natural castastrophe you can imagine. And I coming here, I need that, not because I can t leave without but without I will not integrate the people. I m mean just looking at me is kind of strange here, a blond guy in middle of the asiatic volk.
But the strangest thing after all my trip, is that today I have an appointment. And this one is realy the first I should take this year for work ! Yes today I m working ! The only thing I need for my work is a boxer short, a white one.
No guys I m not stripping ! I could but I not for work and not for you ! Today I go to a fashion show. The sad thing about this Fashion show is that I will not see it. Well the funny thing about this fashion show is: I m a part of it.
So I get out the train station, with my map that my agent gave me (yes models have agents ! ). On the way I catch Mr. Cool ( Derick). Mr. Cool comes from Belgium and we met in two Castings. He is in Japan to study, but like me in this Fashion world he is a tourist.
Okay we arrived to the place. And guess what ? Our first fashion show will be outside. Fantastic ! And to add some mythe we are in a quite place few minutes of the busstling Ikeburo. Myonichikan a school designed by no less than Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1921. Now it been preserved but renovated, surviving the earthquake and the bulldozers. You perhaps don t know Wright now but you probably know his architectural work: Guggenheim Museum of New York ! (wizzz you get it...thats the guy). Great place. Arround us a lot of people are preparing and checking the last things. . We are invited to go to the "model-room". A place where we will wait until the show begins. And its worth to be here. A room with girls that give you drinks and food. A buffet with a lot of different things. Well prepared so that we can feel realy realy good. Is it paradise ?
Then our stylist is coming with the Hairdesigner and his assistant, the Makeupgirl. One by one we are prepared. Mr. Cool get his gel on the hair making him looking more cool than ever. And you should see him with his clothes ! Its the next Tarantino killer !
We met different models, some like speaking, some other take the job more seriously...to much if you know what I mean. But who cares. I just remember the nice people. I met Waldo, a brazilian who lived allmost everywhere...He is a real artist, kind of guy doing tousend kind of visual work. He is realy a relax guy....
Sudendly time is coming, we have to get to the dressroom. Palacio ! Where is Palacio. Here I m ! Its cool, they call me Palacio ! Not Fred, not Izzy, not Nobody ! I had so much name during my trip, but now I m: PALACIO.
We start by a repetition. Goal is to check the timing and fitting. I undress (..no comment please..). But I don t realy dress alone. There are girls who get the job to look after us. Each of us has one to two girls that take care of us. Gaving , taking the clothes. Yes I wish I had the same at home !
Then we go, under the strong eye of our stylist and the designer. They rearange every details in each of us. Okay we go. First repetition to know where to go, how to go, where to stop and where to end ! They check the technique ! Error 0 allowed as usual.
We will do later a second defile, for the camera. Then back to our paradise room. Sushi, drinks
Finaly the big one is coming !
Its 20.00 o clock. People are waiting outside. We reprosed to our ceremony.
Girls change us, guys look after our hairs, make up team pulver the face, hair-assistant recheck the hair, designer inspect and move our clothe to their perfect position. The front guy wait that the guy with the headphone give him the green. Then one after the other we go out of the black corridor outside. Its my turn. I look mister headphone. Go ! The job beginn. Walking, looking serious and don t fall. Its seems ridiculous to say that but sometimes you get some strange unusual shoes ( you know the pointy ones !) and the best here are the torch light. They are facing down up to us and the background wall. We are walking the 30 meter. The music is fantastic, a electro maroc rythm guide us to the end of the parade. There I stop, face the camera and the flash and go back ! On my right the guest are sitting, but its quite difficult to see them. The light are to strong and I have to look forward.
Then I desappear in the black corridor. Time to run to the dressroom and change my clothe. Of course my girls still help me. Give me five, and back to the blackcorridor and wait the green light of Mister Headphone.
GO ! I love it, because the ambiance is just great, the clothe and specialy the shoes look cool and the mood is better than you can imagine. I resist to smile, realy that s kind of wierd, but that s Fashion ! I make my way and back to the corridor. The final is coming ! Every model go together and followed by our two clothe designer !
People applause, we get back to the dress room where we scream and applause the designer that allready went back from outside. They work hard a long time designing creating and the thanks is so short ! That s remember me my job !
Well, time to give back the clothes and begin the party. We go to Roppongi in a bar that the compagny rented. When we arrive by subway the people are facing a screen. We look there too ! Surprise surprise, there is a projection of the fashion show. This japanese are realy fast ! Unbelievable. Mr. Cool and Palacio walking on the show. Its funny to see that. I feel looking at somebody that look like me, but he is a model. So please never think something is impossible cause what I tell you guys, is TRUE.
We ended eating desert, drinking little bit and after eating spaghetti ! Strange bar, but cool people. We chat with almost everybody. For my luck this Fashion people speak english ! But sometimes I learn a little japanese word....Hope realy to speak japanese soon When I get out of the bar with Derick (alias Mr Cool), the first ray appears behind the morning clouds.
To my surprise Derick take the same line. And to my biggest surprise: he lives just one station of my place !
Friday its the next Casting. Sunday a Fitting for another show on Monday...Strange life...!