Rocking the Runway: A U of I student takes on Paris Fashion Week

Fashion Week wrapped in New York and it was on to Paris and Italy where hundreds of designers like Michael Kors, Vera Wang and Gwen Stefani would showcase their latest Fall 2011 collections. For U of I senior Pooja Desai, dreams did come true, as she encountered paparazzi, celebrity run-ins, and her fashion role model which were only a few of the highlights the fashionista experienced while attending Paris Fashion Week Fall 2010.
 
“You know when fashion week is happening, beautiful people are all over the place,” Desai said, “ In the subway, you see a lot of gorgeous men.”
 
The Journalism major received her fashion week invite as an intern in Paris at the headquarters of the French fashion house, Chloé.

 
“When my boss handed me an invitation to designer John Galliano’s runway show, it was a dream come true. I remember when I was in 6^th grade I stayed up till 4 in the morning to watch his show. Being there was so incredible. While I was watching the show, I remember choking up; I never thought I would be able to do something like that, ever. I felt I could have died that day and been happy,” said Desai.
 
She arrived at the show very early and was waiting for everyone to come in. Her boss gave her strict instructions. “If you’re not a model, the trick is don’t wear anything nice. Just stand there, pretend you don’t care, pretend you don’t want to be there and look bored.” Desai laughed.
 
At the John Galliano show, she spotted celebrities like designer/ex-Spice Girl Victoria Beckham as well as Creative Director of American Vogue, Grace Coddington. “When she walked past me, I was like oh my gosh!” Desai raved about Coddington. “She is my idol! She is a genius!  One has not existed since Coco Chanel.”
 
“It was such a beautiful show, “ Desai reminisced. “ It was incredible being in that room; I will never forget it!”