About the Time I was a Fashion Model at the Village of Rochester Hills La Femme Fashion Show

I did it.  I walked the catwalk at the Village of Rochester La Femme Fashion Show in my denim and suede fringe ensemble by Chico’s.  I won’t lie: I was extremely nervous.  Walking and standing seem simple enough, but when you add music and the photographers at the end of the runway, it suddenly seems like the most awkward task imaginable. 

That's me! 

My one and only measure of success was not to become “fashion road kill” a la Carrie Bradshaw from Sex in the City, so by that account, I was victorious!.  The icing on the cake was making new friends with my fellow Chico’s models.  (And one of them had some very sage-like and gave me tons of tips like how to pose and hit my mark.  Thanks so much, Linda!)  Also, as someone who’s background is education, it was very interesting to see how a whole different industry event is organized.  Not to mention, I got to see some super awesome clothes that I will be going out to buy in the very near future.

Me and my fellow Chico's models.
We had so much fun together!

I

I am totally grateful for this experience.  Getting out there and doing the unpredictable can be scary, but I did it.  And I even had fun doing it. 

In the end my take away from La Femme Fashion show is this: if you are open to the unexpected possibilities and refuse to let fear be your guiding force, the journey becomes more exciting than you can ever imagine.     

How about you?  I’d love to hear how your journey has taken an unexpected turn!

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Also, if you are interested in reading about a great, local company called Alex and Jane Shapemakers, check it out here at my Detroit News MichMoms post!

La Femme Fashion Show

A few posts ago, I wrote about going to my very first casting call for a fashion show.  I have some super exciting news – I made the cut!  Tomorrow, at the La Femme Fashion Show I will make my debut on the runway at (minus that one time as a kid when I walked the runway at Burlington Coat Factory to model the new spring fashion.  I feel the fashion world didn’t recognize my potential at that point in time).

I am excited to be participating in such a fun event!  La Femme Fashion Show is going to feature fall trends from the selected store at The Village of Rochester Hills and is going to take place at Meadowbrook Hall.  I am going to be modeling a denim, southwest look from Chico’s.  Did I mention that I have to get my makeup done, too?  It will be nice to take a break from my regularly scheduled life to do something glamorous and fun.

However, I have to admit, there is a little part of me that is nervous.  (And by little, I actually mean a lot).  I am no stranger to being in front of a crowd.  I danced in recitals and competitions for years.  But this is a little different.  This is a solo performance, not a group dance routine where I can blend in the background.  Walking is something I do every day, all day so it should be easy and natural.   But with all those eyes on me, I sometimes forget which foot comes first.  And then I feel all heavy and awkward.  Which then brings up some repressed memories of being in the sixth grade, and trying to fit in with a bad perm, acne, and braces. 

But I digress.  Honestly, I just hope that I don’t fall down face first on the catwalk and end up “fashion road kill” like Carrie Bradshaw in my favorite episode of Sex and the City.

Even though I am nervous, I am equal parts excited to have an opportunity to do something I never thought I would do.  I am going to have fun and revel in this unexpected twist in my personal journey.  I’m going to show my kids that being anxious doesn’t have to be the determining factor in overcoming fear, but that courage and a sense of adventure are the essence of living a full life.

Have you done anything scary lately?

Sailing a New Ship

First of all, did you get a chance to check out my Macomb Patch post about my views on Michigan’s waiver from No Child LeftBehind?   Or how about my Detroit News MichMoms post about Greenfield Village?  If you did, feel free to click on the links or check out my BRAND NEW WEBSITE erinjandarawlings.comwhich will showcase my weekly writings around the Internet as well as catalog my past contributions, kind of like a working resume. 

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Remember my rock star Saturday night of a photoshoot with Brandy that ended in an almost bachelorette party with a run-in with a former student?  The photo shoot was for headshot photos for a casting call for the charity event of Village ofRochester Hills La Femme Fall Fashion Show.

As a fashion civilian, I had no idea what I was doing.  Even though it is for a good cause and I’m supporting local businesses, I was nervous.  My sweat glands are directly linked to the nervous part of my brain (which is a pretty large section).  Add ninety-five degree heat and a black dress, and I was a sweaty, nervous wreck!

Luckily, among the sea of young girls, there was another woman in the 30-45 years old bracket who just happened to be a former model.  Thankfully, she gave me some tips on walking and turning.  Runway models make it look so easy and natural.  And it’s walking – it *should* be natural.  But there was nothing natural about walking and posing.

I have to say that I did OK with walking, but not so good with the turning.  My feet were sloshing around in sweat while I was teetering on four inch heels.

However, I deemed the adventure a success on the following measures:

I managed to avoid looking like Ramona Singer in herwalk down the fashion runway. 

I didn’t freak out and pull out the Derek ZoolanderBlue Steel or Magnum look.  (“They’re the same look, people!”)

I didn’t fall.

Most importantly (second only to not looking like Ramona), I had fun!  To be more accurate, I had a blast!

Here, take a look at the photos taken by Capturing Life's Moments.  This one and this one are my favorites!

Yes, I was anxious.  (Over thirty and in a casting call for a charity fashion show?  Yikes!)  But in the moment, I let go and just had fun.  I mean, I never thought in a million years I would be trying out for a fashion show.  It’s not that I thought that this ship had sailed, I never even knew it was at the dock.

I walked away with a little pep in my step.  I did something new.  I stepped out of my comfort zone . . . and had fun!  And it just goes to show me that this Second Act is full of surprises.

Have you ever done something you never ever though you would do?  Did you have fun?