Introducing Fashion Week Guest Blogger Alice Burdeu

Australian beut Alice Burdeu, who rose to prominence by winning the third cycle of Australia’s Next Top Model and went on to appear on the cover of Australian Vogue, recently signed to Elite and was featured in this fall’s D&G print campaign. She’s set to walk some of this season’s most high profile runways this Fashion Week (she already did Marc Jacobs, Lacoste and Reyes) and will be blogging about her experience.

I have a theory about Fashion Week. It’s similar to one I’ve heard from many women about child birth. That if you truly remembered the pain and agony of labor you’d never do it again but instead all you remember is the joy and happiness of seeing your new born baby and so you do it again until finally after you pop out a couple more kids you learn your lesson!

With Fashion Week (or Fashion Month and a Half as it truly is) if you truly remembered the ludicrously early mornings, nights so late you barely make it to bed to pass out, frantic running around the city and the colossal excruciating blisters, you’d run as fast as you could to JFK and board the next flight home! You’d never do it again. HOWEVER, all you remember when you look/think back after the week is over are the high points; the pretty pictures on style.com, the amazing shows you got to be part of, the friends you mad and the parties you attended (If you weren't too tired!).

It's started again and after my first two castings the less joyful memories are quickly flooding back. The knee high lace up boots that have been so comfortable for the last two weeks have suddenly become nightmarish cages of torture for my feet. By the end of the day I’m ready to hang myself with the metre and a half long laces… but hey, at least they looked great.

It hasn’t all been bad… running around to the endless list of castings Elite has given me, I’ve run into many old friends I haven’t seen since last season. We've caught up on each others lives, work and personal, bringing laughs and joy to the day. It sparks my excitement for the weeks ahead.

Everyone I meet seems to have heard about my run-in with a messenger bike a couple of weeks ago. I entertain many, as I re-tell and describe my disgusting, bloody swollen eye, possible unsuspected broken/damaged rib over and over again during the long wait at a certain cattle call casting with a sign-in sheet that was never used...

CLICK HERE FOR PAPERMAG'S COMPLETE DOWN-LOW FASHION WEEK SPRING 2009 COVERAGE. >>