A Scary New Experience: Reflecting on the Wears in Care Fashion Show
The poster for the Wears in Care Charity Fashion Show for medical scrubs
A few weeks ago, I had the challenging and invigorating experience of walking in my very first fashion show! It was for the brand Wears in Care, and they were hosting a charity fashion show where the proceeds would go to the Breast Cancer Foundation.
Now, I’m not the one to put myself out there looks-wise, especially when it comes to fashion, but this was a fashion show for medical scrubs, so I thought it’d be a safe first-delve into this type of project. I also had a very personal reason to participate in this show, and that was because several women in my extended family have been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. It’s a scary thing, and it’s important to me to give any amount of effort I can spare to this cause.
The first hurdle was simply finding the entrance to the place!
Thankfully, however, there was another girl hovering around the building who also couldn’t find the proper entrance, so we teamed up and somehow – through the labyrinth of a Brooklyn warehouse-style office and residence building – we found our way to where all the other models were.
Waiting backstage with some of the other models. Pictured are myself, Kathrine Elise Pitré, Elizabeth Jankovic, and Lexi Sim
I’m going to be honest here: I didn’t know what to expect and I was nervous. Would I be mocked for my lack of experience? Would I be ridiculed for being plus-sized? Would my walk be distracting and strange? What if I fall? What if I can’t fit the clothes they provide? What if the other models think I’m weird? Questions on questions on questions.
Turns out, everything I was worried about didn’t come to fruition.
Firstly, the girl I walked in with, Katherine, was an absolute gem. A professional model, she wanted to give her time to this charity show because the cause was also incredibly important to her. When I asked for tips, not only did she give some awesome advice, but she lifted my confidence in a way that I would never expect from someone I just met. Something she said stuck with me: “Being confident is not about how you think you look, it’s about finding the other things in your life that you’re proud of. You have a bachelors, you’re an actress currently working, you have a big audition coming up – you can lean on all these things to find your confidence.” This advice really helped me change my perspective of the situation.
Additionally, the director of the show was magnificent. Quick to let you know when you’re doing well, and gentle with any corrections, he was really the crux of the positive environment that this show cultivated. It was also such a great moment to hear: “Perfect!” after doing my walk during rehearsals. Like, who knew that’d be note??
The scrubs themselves were comfortable and stylish. Each and every model said that they’d love to take their outfit home. Of course, that didn’t happen, but I think it’s a testament to the comfort, breathability, and style of these scrubs. It really is a good brand.
Soon came time to actually walk – in front of actual people!!
This part was terrifying. The music was going, the room was packed, and we were going one-by-one. We had to hold the room on our own.
Honestly, it was a blur. I remember trying to smile but shaking so much that I kept the smile to a smize. I think I did well in my walk, and I think I did well to keep the calm and confidence on the surface while silently imploding.
I felt so accomplished at the end of this! A new experience in the bag, and also lots of new wonderful people that I now know. I don’t think I’ll be flocking to another runway anytime soon, but I’m glad I got the chance to try something new :)
xx Selma