Lipstick, hairspray and then to the runway

A near-capacity crowd watched a fine display of design talent paraded down the catwalk at the iD Dunedin Fashion Show last night.

• Slideshow: iD Dunedin Fashion Show

Backstage, however, was like another world.

Hectic, thrilling and with the smell of hairspray ever-present, the area beyond the runway was packed from early in the afternoon with 21 designers, 55 models, 35 dressers and 25 hair and make-up artists.

Looking anything but glamorous, models munched on hot pies and sandwiches as they huddled together under gas heaters for warmth in wintry conditions. Others chatted or flicked through magazines as they awaited the call to get ready.

In the hair and make-up zone, they had powder and eye-liner applied by artists before their hair was transformed with blow-dryers and straighteners by hairdressers. When the designers placed their garments on the racks, the pre-show excitement began to build.

As rugged-up audience members arrived at the Dunedin Railway Station, dressers gathered the models and prepared them before the designers checked the final details.

When everyone took their seats, Nom*D's models were lined up and ready to hit the 110m-long catwalk. Their hair was given one more primp, their make-up checked, and their clothes given the once-over before they opened the show, ahead of Cherry Cotton Candy's models.

The audience watched as models sauntered off the stage. Hidden from view, however, was the rush to change outfits: clothes were pulled off, lipstick colour changed and hair resprayed in time for the next appearance on the catwalk.

Backstage manager and model co-ordinator Tammy Jackman, whose job it is to ensure the show is polished, described the vibe backstage as "frantic".

"A good show is when you don't know what on earth is going on backstage," she said.

The show will be repeated tonight.