Fashion shows usually appear stunning and glamorous with all the celebrities, influencers, and of course, fashion houses that participate. As our favorite celebrities rock fashion week with their chic outfits and respective Instagram videos that boost a brand's visibility, there's Heart Evangelista, opening up to the world about the highs and lows of fashion weeks.
ICYDK, Heart has her own YouTube series called, "I Am Heart"—and we've been super invested in everything she says in this series. You can really see the grind she does in every fashion week she participates in together with her team. It's been very evident in her latest vlog, where she opened up about her hectic schedules, thoughts on brand invitations, and the first time she lost consciousness during fashion week!
Heart Evangelista on loving fashion weeks
Heart first made rounds in the world of fashion for her Paris Fashion Week stint in 2017. At the time, she attended several shows including those for Schiaparelli, Georges Hobeika, Giambattista Valli, Elie Saab, Ulyana Sergeenko, Ralph & Russo, and Zuhair Murad. After that, Heart became a regular face in fashion weeks. Now, almost a decade into it, Heart has become an expert in navigating the fashion scene.
In her vlog, she underscored her outlook when joining fashion weeks. Heart noted that for her, it wasn't even a job—it was more of a passion for the actress-turned-fashion-star. And despite the intense competition they come with, Heart wanted to be a part of it.
"The reason why I joined fashion week was because I grew up in a system where it's super competitive. When one episode of your soap opera doesn't do well in terms of rating, you're gonna be axed out. I grew up just being on this race and I entered fashion week because I love it so much. I'm very kikay or maarte. In English it doesn't sound well but I'm very vain in terms of what I wear or what," Heart said in her vlog.
More than being an actress, Heart desired to freely be in an environment where she could fully express herself through art and designer clothing. And that's what fashion weeks provide for her. "I entered fashion week and it wasn't a job. It was because of passion. I really went through the hard route," she claimed.
Heart Evangelista on being 'second choice' during fashion weeks
With years of fashion week experience, Heart definitely knows how to move around and work with brands. But despite everything she's been through, she wanted to stay true to herself and still provide equal opportunities for everyone.
During the vlog, she explained different ways to be invited to certain fashion shows. She did most of it before—as press, as a cohort, as a buyer, as a KOL (key opinion leader), as a celebrity, and as an influencer. The most important thing, though, is that Heart gets invites for one reason: It's because she is Heart Evangelista.
ALSO READ: Heart Evangelista On The Difference Between 'Cohort' And 'House Friend' At Fashion Shows
She strongly declared in her vlog, "For me, it's all right. I'd rather be second. Thanks for putting me in first, but I don't mind being second or third, as long as I'm invited as myself and I have a good relationship with the brand."
Looking back, she's had her fair share of moments when she was invited as part of the press. These days, though, she tries to avoid getting invited as press—only because she knows that another person should take that slot and not her. And because she wants to be invited as herself.
She began narrating, "I would get invited sometimes as press. [...] As press, I remember I used to get invited. And the reason why these days, I try not to anymore get invited as press because I do love the brand. If you want a relationship with them, I truly want them to know who I am. And I don't wanna take anybody's seat."
Heart continued, "This is the golden rule. Fashion week is fun. Fashion week for me, is a passion. Basically, I feel guilty for like taking the seat that was allotted for somebody else. Like for press, you represent the magazine. I don't mind doing that. But I don't work for the magazine."
In the simplest sense, the fashion influencer conveyed how she wanted everyone to have the equal chance of participating in fashion weeks. That way, everyone can have the most authentic experience of the industry. "Whoever is supposed to have that seat, should see it, should feel it, should hear the music. So he can be able to be set on fire, inspired to write or edit something about the show. So, share the chair with whoever should be seated there," Heart expressed.
Heart Evangelista's Milan Fashion Week 2024 Attendance
Many would often say that Heart's work only involves all the good things—all the flashy, glamorous, and luxurious aspects anyone could think of. But Heart's vlog shows otherwise. The vlog also included snippets of their behind-the-scenes moments before and after she attended shows.
During one part of her attendance at the Tod's show, they showed footage of a heated argument with a security personnel outside the venue. Heart noted, "You can't show anything," pertaining to her nonchalant face despite the disagreement about her pass to Tod's at the time. She had to maintain her composure and that the hassle would always be a part of fashion weeks. "It's the usual vibe," Heart admitted.
And then, there are unexpected and unfortunate instances as well that involved Heart's health. She also shared in the vlog that for the first time in her life, she literally passed out—perhaps because of fatigue.
Heart and her team detailed the story during the vlog. It was her hairstylist, Ghil Sayo, who caught her saying, "Dear, mahihimatay ata ako," before she actually fainted. Thankfully, it was only for a couple of minutes before Heart gained consciousness again.
Amid that incident, Heart's fashion week stint continued—she did her usual IG reels, took photos for the brands, and appeared on commitments the next day like nothing happened. The show must go on, they say, and so does Heart, who continues to grace us with her dedication and unwavering love for fashion.