The glitter, gowns and glowing guests of Hackett Hall at the Western Australian Museum was an extraordinary experience. And I was a PR Intern for it.
It all began behind the scenes at ABC studios. I was on the door, checking in media, feeling professional in my brand new boots and black pencil skirt. When the media was in, and it had slowed down, I proceeded to the studios, where the launch for Perth Fashion Festival 2013 began. Displaying dresses from Empire Rose, One Fell Swoop and Wild Horse, just to start.
A couple of weeks later, I was invited to the PFF office in the city to intern in the lead up and throughout the week of the festival (11-16 September). I was there for about two weeks altogether.
The entire week was a chaotic, head-spinning rush that began at 10am and finished at 11pm daily. Every day was different. The days were spent preparing for the main shows at night, and the nights were spent checking in the media, and watching the shows from the media pit. There were days when my phone was ringing every three minutes, barely giving me time to finish one task before another, more urgent one was needing to be completed asap. Days were I stood in the wind tunnel of Kings Park holding a clip board. Nights running (not running, 'gliding') down St Georges Terrace in the rain with a faulty umbrella that I left in a bin, trying not to get documents wet as I tried to find a very well hidden building. Completing tasks that lead me to places in the city I had never seen before (and to be honest, never knew existed, including a trip underground Forrest Chase).
It was the week where I drank way too much coffee, ate way too little, and relied on my Myer eyeliners and DL false eyelashes to hide the bags forming under my eyes.
But I loved it, and would do it again in a heartbeat. It was one of the best experiences ever, and I will never forget that last night, after the Ellery Closing event in the Linton and Kay Art Gallery, watching the show and then going back stage to enjoy a glass of champagne with other staff members, celebrating a successful week.
