House of Byfield at Art Hearts Fashion September 11th 2017: runway show prepared and directed by me.

Hey guys!

To start at the end: the finale, because I am proud I did it!

BTW How about that, no heels! There were a number of reasons that I’m not wearing heels at the runway. As a courtesy to our star of the show was one. And it didn’t feel save running around in heels backstage and at the end I didn’t indulge myself the time to put them on.

In February 2016 I was in New York to assist the representative of House of Byfield, Carolina Riffi Olite, to get the fashion show on the runway of Art Hearts Fashion. It was an exciting time. I was too flabbergasted to digest the whole experience in the few days I was there. So I’ve posted hardly anything in that period of time. I was determined to do it better next time.

This next time I created more or less myself. I arranged a stay of two weeks during Fashion Week in New York in September, way ahead when the invitation from Art Hearts Fashion (AHF) came to the office of House of Byfield, to do a fashion show on September 11th. Unfortunately there was no experienced representative available. If I wanted to do the show on my own please? My first reaction was: ‘cancel the whole show’. But the president/head designer/mastermind and name giver, Carmichael A. Byfield took no for an answer. He assured me I was experienced enough (I assisted on two earlier occasions: the one in February 2016 in New York and another one in July 2017 in Amsterdam) and there would be sufficient assistants available, provided by the organization of AHF. So on September 2nd I was on my way to JFK International Airport in New York with an extra suitcase with all the designs for the show!

So I had the designs with me, but no models to put it on. I had already three names of lovely ladies from Carmichael who were willing to walk for House of Byfield. I needed four more female models and five male models. So on Tuesday I went to the first model casting, which was arranged by the organization of AHF. I had no clue how to select the models since I was uncertain about the sizes of the designs (yes I asked the designer) and I saw models in all size. Halfway the casting I just asked some of the models just to try on some of the designs. At the end of the casting I had a nice list with the models I needed. On Wednesday was the second and last model casting. On that day the designers were supposed to deliver their final list to the organization of AHF. The casting wasn’t even started jet and I was called to the organization. To my surprise they explained to me I didn’t have to present my final list of models, because they would take care of the models I needed. So I was dismissed so to speak haha.

Me being there however wasn’t a total waist. I met Madeline Stuart (and her mom/manager Rosanne) there. Madeline was one of the ladies on my list whom would walk for House of Byfield for sure. In the designer package was an option, given by the organization , to ask for a Special Model Brand Ambassador. My designer had chosen for Celebrity Supermodel Madeline Stuart. Madeline is the first professional model with Down syndrome. Therefore she is a powerful advocate for inclusiveness and diversity in modelling. Besides that she is dancer, actor and role model. Since February 12th 2017 she officially added ‘clothing designer’ to her resume, by launching the clothing label 21ReasonsWhy. At that day we exchanged contact information to arranged a fitting at my hotel later that week.

In the next days before the runway show I had fittings with ‘my’ models, Greta Rupeika, Gabrielle Kaczkurkin and starting off with Madeline. That meeting had a fun twist. At the meeting was not only Madeline and her mom Rosanne present, but also a cameraman. They were in the middle of the preparation of a documentary about the life of Madeline. At least I was properly dressed. Even Rosanne told me the dress suited me very well. It was the Karen Millen dress I also wore to the runway show of David Topaz at Style Fashion Week that same day.

The day of the House of Byfield runway show was, to be expected, very chaotic at the end. Thanks to the cooperation of the models and another Dutch cloting designer, Odair Pereira, we’ve got the show on the runway.

Backstage

 

 

 

Red Carpet with all the models

Red Carpet with ‘my’ models: Gabriella Kaczkurkin (l) Greta Rupeika (r)

The star of the show: Madeline Stewart

 

 

 

Photos:  WORLD FASHION MEDIA NEWS

 

The video of the fashion show …

 

 

… the stars on the runway, one by one …

Photo:  WORLD FASHION MEDIA NEWS

Photo:  WORLD FASHION MEDIA NEWS; model Michal

Photo:  WORLD FASHION MEDIA NEWS; model Greta Rupeika

Photo:  WORLD FASHION MEDIA NEWS; model Olya

Photo:  WORLD FASHION MEDIA NEWS; model Gabrielle Kaczkurkin

Photo:  WORLD FASHION MEDIA NEWS; model Justyna Olivia Ruszczyk

Photo:  WORLD FASHION MEDIA NEWS; Model Noah

Photo:  WORLD FASHION MEDIA NEWS: model Jason Christopher Peters

Photo:  WORLD FASHION MEDIA NEWS; Model Rachael

Photo:  WORLD FASHION MEDIA NEWS

Photo:  WORLD FASHION MEDIA NEWS; Model Aleksander Ashafi

Photo:  WORLD FASHION MEDIA NEWS; model Kristen Walters

the finale …

Photos:  WORLD FASHION MEDIA NEWS

Generated by IJG JPEG Library

 

 

Advertisements

The world is my runway: Milano July 2017

This gallery contains 2 photos.

So much has happens in my life since April concerning my cross-dressing way of life, that I’m completely backed up. So in random order I’ll post what has happened …

This post is about my super awesome trip to Milano in July.
How do I do that: walking in high heels that well?

People still ask me how I can walk in heels that well. For me is that kind of awkward Continue reading →

The latest at my Insta

Hey guys,

since a couple of years now I keep a Instagram account. At first I had no idea what to do with it and nowadays I see it as my inspirational channel for dresses, heels, jewelry, nail polish and more. Here are my latest posts:

Thanks for stopping by and maybe I see you soon @contessaFrancescaDiParma!

Patterned tights in red and outing crossdressing at work (again)

This gallery contains 9 photos.

In earlier posts I’ve mentioned that I have other hobbies too, like woodworking and DIY project in our home. We have been pushing furniture around and because of that I had to take the time to design and make a new cabinet and a new banister at the attic. Although this is my style blog, but maybe for once I do a post of the bigger DIY projects I’ve been designed and build.

Outing crossdressing at work

On the subject of my crossdressing it has been an exciting time for me too. For instance on the job. At my work we have a newsletter, Continue reading →

Four years on the blog YEAHHHH!

Hey guys,

These past few months were quite crazy for me. Totally forgot to post the video I made because I’m four years on the blog. BTW this video wasn’t intentionally made for this occasion. I had everything with me, except my camera haha! But I had my phone with me and a selfie device that fitted on my tripot, so I started the music and ACTION …

 

Thanks for your visit and take care!

with love, Francesca.

Office Chic

This gallery contains 5 photos.

The problem with online shopping is that there is sooooooo much to choose from, cause The World is at your feet. The upside is that many of the fun items are only available online and/or you can avoid travelling many many miles by bike, car, train, boat or plane, before you found the right shop for your fun shopping experience. Another upside of online shopping is that you can do your shopping in your nighty in a lazy chair and a glass of Continue reading →

Amsterdam Characters x The Hoxton

On January 7th there was an event, as part of the series The Resolution Game at The Hoxton. There’s one game many of you play every year: where we tell ourselves we’re going to change all of our unhealthy habits, finally make that work-move we’ve been dreaming about and buy that bag we’ve been saving up for. One of your resolutions could be to get to know every nook and cranny of Amsterdam and what better way to do that, than Continue reading →

First Winter look

This gallery contains 2 photos.

Surpise … me wearing a pair of pants!

I hear you think this look is so not me. I know this is only the second look with pants since I’ve started this blog almost four years ago and it has been a while since I’ve posted that look (October 25th, 2013: Spotting Wildlife) but I guess this look is also so me: it’s different, edgy, playful and with high heels! Continue reading →

MBFWA: Said Mahrouf Fall/Winter 2017

This gallery contains 8 photos.

I already went once to a fashion show of Said Mahrouf. That was also at MBFWA but then in January 2015 (MBFW Amsterdam Fall/Winter 2015). Last month I had the opportunity to visit his latest fashion show. As it turns out, The mastermind and head designer of House of Byfield, Carmichael Byfield, was invited by Doudou-PR to attend the presentation of the Fall/Winter 2017 collection of Said Mahrouf ‘Lines and Panels’ Continue reading →

Red velvet shoes

This gallery contains 4 photos.

In the middle of the preparation of my Happy-Merry_Christmas_post I caught up in the preparation of Christmas itself. So in this post you will find still a bit of the Christmas spirit.

In my last post I mentioned that I’m taking baby steps to reach my goal to create more and more awareness to the subject of cross-dressing. The ultimate goal would be at least the respect and acceptance of guys/men like me, who like to dress up as girls/women for fun, because it’s a necessity or both.

In the week before Christmas, I’ve made bigger steps (in high heels of course!). I have two jobs. And at both parties I went for the first time as Francesca.

At one job we had a drink with snacks and music. There were only a few co workers who knew about my alter ego and now approximately a hundred people were gathered to raise a glass to celebrate the successes of last year and to bless the successes to come next year. Here I went in a new, what I would call a, office-chic dress. This dress will be up on my blog later this year. I think I managed to go low profile. At least I stayed in the background because I didn’t know what to expect how they would react. A few co workers came up to me to compliment me on my appearance. That felt great and comforting! It made me more convinced to go as Francesca to the big office party two days later at my other job. Continue reading →