It’s 11:30 a.m. and the first model fittings were supposed to start an hour ago, but the fourth appointment in a row is a no-show. Leah (Levin, my show stylist) has been on the phone with booking agents all morning trying to track down the girls.

We’re all a bit cranky because we’ve now worked straight through four weekends in a row. The girls in design are complaining that they feel so tired and grungy-looking that they just can’t bear the sight of the fresh, pretty models. But we’re almost in the homestretch. Rest is around the corner.

Finally at 11:41, Alyssa arrives for her fitting. For her first exit we have her try on a silk foulard halter dress over the satin polka-dot top with tired ruffles. She looks great, but the red plaid coat that tops off the look seems a bit long, so we decide to take up the hem.

Alyssa’s second exit will be in the red velvet halter gown with a plunging neckline. (This is one of our favorite looks.) To make sure the hem is just right—and that she won’t trip on the runway—we’ll have her try a few test walks. Okay, I’ve got to run—of course, now all the models are arriving at once and we’ve got a backlog.