Lauren Hanawalt, our model blogger, is here to discuss her Anna Tales!
After modeling for about four months, I found out that I was headed to New York to do Fashion Week. Having been a complete fashion nerd all my life, I was so excited to actually go to the epicenter of fashion. I knew names, and I knew that I would most likely come across a few of them. However, I knew THE name, Anna Wintour, the woman that rules American fashion with her editor-in-chief position at Vogue.
I had two Wintour sightings during my Fashion Week experience. The first was at Conde Nast. I had a meeting with the fashion editor at Teen Vogue and when I was waiting in the lobby I noticed a sudden silence, and just as I turned around I saw her, walking across the room with her perfect bob hair cut in her pressed Prada dress. It was just as I thought it would be — everyone really does hold their breath. She was just simply making a crossing from another office into Teen Vogue, but it was quite hilarious to listen in on the conversations as soon as she left the room. “Did you know who that was?” How could I not? There are few people that I have encountered who have the same presence as Anna Wintour and that is what is so thrilling about seeing her, the reaction of everyone around.
My second Anna-tale involved one of the shows I was doing. I did the Jenni Kayne presentation two seasons ago and as everyone was still in hair and makeup, all of a sudden everyone is yelling “Quick, get dressed! Anna Wintour is coming early for a special viewing!” It was amazing! Girls with partly painted faces ran upstairs to change into their outfits as the assistants to the designer yelled over everyone telling them to take their positions. And then Anna into the room and the silence took over. I just stood there, standing tall, watching her every move, her every expression. You could hear a pin drop when she was viewing the clothes! It’s rather amazing, the level or respect that she receives from the best in the industry, and I admire her for it. What an icon.
