The Girls Who Dress the Girls

Ever wonder what it takes to a be a model dresser backstage at a show? I did. Each season I peep scores of young, bright-eyed babes backstage playing their part in the show, and think, “Where do all these girls come from?” They’re usually found sitting on the floor by the outfit they are in charge of, giggling a lot, or taking shots of their favorite models with jaws hanging wide open.

I found one such dresser, Kim Bun Gee, who gave me the rundown on how it goes down in the world of backstage dressing. Kim’s a third-year menswear design student from Canada who studies in Paris. Kim said there are postings all over the major fashion colleges where you sign up, wait, hope that they call, go in for a quick interview, wait again, and hope that you are chosen. Then it’s done and suddenly you’re backstage dressing Tanya D.

I think the world of backstage model dressing is still a field which is pretty damn sexist. There are never any young men dressing the girls, which I totally get, but what if a young Galliano wanted the job? He probably wouldn’t get it.

Hear that guys, you still have some rights that need fighting for.

—REBECCA SUHRAWARDI AUSTIN

posted by kawiline

Oct 05, 2009 5:19PM

So is model-dressing a privilege of only fashion students? How do they decide if you're "qualified" for the job?

posted by rickeyg303

Oct 05, 2009 6:35PM

i've dressed a few times and I'm not a girl!!! I'm also not a fashion student, though I do go to FIT.

posted by guest

Oct 05, 2009 6:38PM

I disagree about it being sexist. There are plenty of guy dressers in those ground grews as long as they are gay. These girls don't want straight guys sneaking peeks at them. The smaller shows in NYC are good for if you want to become a dresser. The bigger ones tend to hire crews that do it every season. Dressing sounds glamorous and once the novelty of seeing your favorite models up close wears off, it is very very stressful. If you do not do a good job and fast enough the producers will let you know it.

posted by ana

Oct 05, 2009 6:41PM

I've dressed for shows several times and its not a fashion student nor girl thing. I've seen guys backstage, admittedly very few.
Its an easy gig and a great way to meet people, touch the clothes of your dreams, and dressing for Rodarte looks damn good on a resume.

Oct 05, 2009 6:45PM

and i just wanted to mention that sitting and giggling with the girls is not a professional way of working backstage-if you want to be a part of a team that does it every season for the bigger shows, taking photos of models is frowned upon, unless it is after the show is over and you ask the model for a photo. like any job, professionalism is key.

Oct 05, 2009 10:42PM

Um guys don't need to fight for rights...
Did it ever occur to you that maybe not ALL models would feel comfortable naked in front of men.
It's a question of decency and privacy.

I know most models should be okay with being nude blah blah blah but perhaps not all are comfortable with it.

posted by amar

Oct 05, 2009 11:02PM

I have been a dresser twice in my life as a school service for my college. I'm a fashion student in CEDIM, in Monterrey, Mexico and some students can be volunteers to be dressers at Monterrey Fashion Backstage (It's kind of a little fashion event that lasts like 3 or 4 days each season that presents local designers). The first time it was pretty cool to feel the adrenaline of the first shows and looking at the excitement (or even some tears) of the designers, but the last days, oh my!. It is pretty exhausting because you really do nothing for 2 hours and there's only like 15 minutes that you're in true ACTION working with a lot of naked bodies.

Oct 06, 2009 12:59AM

(this is commenter 3 and 5) Another important thing to mention-these models might be as young as 15 years old, so no straight men should be allowed, just like they shouldn't be in a women's locker room. The models are very vulnerable and even though a model may be naked in editorials, that doesn't mean that she wants men around her seeing her body up close. Sorry, on bed rest today and quite the commenter..

posted by Denise

Oct 06, 2009 2:01AM

I agree with comment #5.

I've been a dresser for about 20+ shows and I get my gigs from people I've worked with such as PR or style firms. I have had male friends who worked as a dresser, but majority of the models get embarrassed and want to get dressed where they cannot see. I do talk to the models, but never "snap pictures". That's very unprofessional if you want to make connections.

i've dressed at a few shows, and yes taking pics backstage is frowned upon. and on men dressing, there are men out there. and i agree with the above points, the models are so young and some models are just not comfortable with male dressers.

posted by neenersh

Oct 07, 2009 2:39PM

I know I wouldn't be comfortable with a male dresser, hello sexual harrasment lawsuit. And how would a gay dresser prove himself? Would you make him kiss a man to prove it? Then would you have the female dresser prove THEY aren't gay? Another sexual harrasment lawsuit on your hands. I say they should all have their mothers or friends help out and get a few bucks for it. :)