A Style Assistant's Survival Guide to Working the Tents

Guest Grit by Loren Springsteen, style assistant

{Grit will have more of Ayoka and Co.'s in-the-trenches CFW blogs all week, so stay tuned. A New Jersey native, Loren is the author of "A Style Assistant's Survival Guide" and this is her second year on the Charleston magazine and Charleston Fashion Week teams.}

Tip #1

Break in the high heels. My first mistake as a style intern at CFW 2012 was to wear heels I had just purchased... three days before the big event. Let me give you a bit of advice: break in those bad boys or you will be limping to the after-parties. Nothing is worse than come Tuesday, the first night of CFW, having to hobble your way around just to end up with feet covered in band-aids by Wednesday. Ladies, prepare yourselves, because it is a heck of a long week. Buy the heels at least two to three weeks in advance and anytime you are home, wear them. You have to do the dishes? Put the heels on. You must vacuum the living room? Slip the four-inch stilettos on. You have to do a load of laundry? Buckle up and bleach away. Your puppies will be barking if you decide to wear them brand-spanking new on night one.

It is easy to spot the women wearing heels out of the box. By the end of the shows, they look like the drunk college students walking barefoot from the bars at 3 a.m., heels in hand. Not the look you are going for at the biggest fashion event in Charleston.

The assistants soak their feet in the bathtub while reviewing CFW notes for the day!

Tip #2

Stay hydrated and caffeniated at all times. Lucky for us, we have an ample supply of Smartwater at our disposal. So no excuses for being lackluster and sleepy. Dozens of lipstick-stained venti Starbucks cups is a common scene backstage. You must have pep in your step. This show only happens once a year so, hell if I am going to sleep a minute of it. Sleep is minimal and the solution to this is to remain hydrated and drink an amount of caffeine you can handle. You do not need jitter bugs bouncing around the tents, acting like crazies. There is enough crazy once you hit an after party (See Tip #5).

Tip #3

The cell phone must be alive 24/7. Last year, keeping my phone fully charged was an uphill battle. Fortunately this year, there will be charging stations all over the tents in Marion Square. You're in the style lounge and see you only have 10% battery? Head over to the charging station and juice that baby up. Relaxing in the blue lounge? Might as well not waste time and charge that third hand of yours. Better to have your phone all powered up so you know where to go when the runway shows are over.

Tip #4

Practice that camera-worthy smile and pose, pose, pose. Outside the tents, Marion Square is full of fashionable people and notable press looking to snap a photo. Whether it be a street style blogger or a photographer on the red carpet, knowing your best angle is key to a great shot. Stand in front of the mirror and practice your “model face,” but try not to go all Zoolander. Work on knowing which side you prefer by having a friend take a few iPhone photos to see which is most flattering. You want to walk the red carpet like a pro? Look through fashion magazines and note how your favorite actresses stand and smile. Having a confident look and attitude will be key to getting you on the front page.

Tip #5

Limit the alcohol. I know how this works and I have seen it all before. You have access to the style lounge and after-party and the booze is flowing. You immediately think, “Heck, what’s a few drinks?” Of course, you run into so-and-so and you must discuss the abs on that one model from the last show... over a few more drinks. Before you know it, you are about to commit a crime. The crime: robbing your own dignity. From last year’s experience (AKA people watching), I have seen some perfectly composed runway observers turn into trainwrecks real fast. While it does provide some comic relief, you will be left with a pounding headache and a moral hangover to match. Keep it classy, and sip slow. Pace yourself. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Hope these tips are helpful for Charleston Fashion Week 2013 and I look forward to seeing everyone under the tents!