A 'Thank You' Note Can Get You Anywhere

Picture this, an 18 year old small town girl from Massachusetts, with little to no fashion show experience, solely in charge of the extremely delicate African jewelry at LA Fashion Week. You’re probably thinking “How the heck did she end up there?” – I know I was thinking that at the time!

It turns out that I got there by one Thank You email. Listen to your mothers; they’re right about sending thank you notes for everything and anything! 

Backstage at the YMI Show

So here’s the story: I was a wide-eyed freshman at Woodbury University in Burbank, CA as a Fashion Design major. Our department sent out an email regarding an opportunity to volunteer at a YMI Jeans Fashion Show. Without hesitation my peers and I said yes. We drove out to Los Angeles not knowing what to expect but I knew I wanted to experience it all. This was exactly what I dreamed of when I was younger. When we arrived, we met Todd Hallman, the show Producer. We started unpacking his car with the clothes and set items. Once everything was unpacked I was eager for our next task and asked what I could do. Impressed by my devotion to the job, he put me in charge of the Models. I made sure they had everything they needed and assigned “dressers” to each model. (Dressers help the models with their quick changes). When the show started, it was go, go, go! It was fast, exciting, and invigorating. A rush I had NEVER experienced. Not to mention Brittany Snow was the host – my first celebrity encounter!!

That weekend all I felt was gratitude; "the quality of being thankful, readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness". And this is where my Thank You note came into play. I did a little research and obtained Mr. Hallman’s email address. That Monday I sent an email thanking him for the opportunity and offered up my services for any other event in his future. To my surprise he was ready for me! I was asked to assist him with a Styling job and with the show he was producing for Kevan Hall at LA Fashion Week. (Cue the jaw drop!)

I ended up at Paula Newsome’s home to help pick out her red carpet outfit for the premiere of her new television series, The Women’s Murder Club. That same weekend I watched models come in for their fittings for the Spring 2008 Kevan Hall show. (Second celebrity sighting, Eugena Washington from America’s Next Top Model). I even assisted the designer with choosing which jewelry to pair with the designs. I showed my gratitude and devotion with every task I was given – even when I was picking up millions of pins from the carpet floor. It was “bitch” work but I was just so blessed to even be in that room with industry veterans. Once at the show, instead of being another dresser, I was in charge of the jewelry. It was imported on a loan from the Dinka and Masai tribes, extremely delicate and apparently only trusted to be handled by me. Each model slipped into their outfit and I put on their bracelets, necklaces, and crowns before they strutted their stuff on the runway. The final design was a white dress adorned with traditional African pieces. It was absolutely beautiful – a mix of cultures, colors, and textures. Watch the show here!

I spent a weekend living out everything I had dreamed of since the 6th grade. I was enveloped by the Fashion World and it was more than amazing. At the time I just thought that was the life of a Fashion Design major in California. But now when I look back, it is all because of that one moment of gratitude. I took 5 minutes out of my day and ended up creating an opportunity of a lifetime. 

All YOU have to do is appreciate what’s in front of you and be grateful. Acting on those emotions WILL create positive experiences for you. 

Is there something in your life that you’re grateful for? Comment below and we can discover your next move to create that once in a lifetime experience like I did!