5 Surprising Things Only a Designer Would Know About NYFW

With New York Fashion Week right around the corner, we caught up with Lubov Azria for some behind-the-scenes insight. Azria, the chief creative officer of BCBG Max Azria Group, is responsible for developing and maintaining the vision behind the brands BCBG Max Azria and Hervé Léger. The accomplished designer and creative leader shared details on everything from model casting to what it’s like minutes before the show starts. Plus, she explains “fashion week’s version of a touchdown.” Hint: There’s a shoe involved.

Scroll down for fashion week insight with Lubov Azria!

"Casting the show is an integral part of bringing the collection to life, so much more than a pretty face. I think of it as casting actors with the right look and personality to bring the narrative of the season to life. Each season I see up to 300 models and cast about 20 for the show." — Lubov Azria, chief creative officer of BCBG Max Azria Group

"Hair and makeup require much more than meets the eye. The BCBG girls have an effortless beauty, but contrary to popular belief, landing on the perfect hair and makeup look takes years of preparation and a fail test. In layman’s terms, it takes a lot of effort to look effortless." — Lubov Azria, chief creative officer of BCBG Max Azria Group

"The show does not start until the first model hits the runway. Every minute up to that moment, the collection is still being perfected, fixed, and fitted. Pieces get tailored on and hand-carried to the tents right up until the very last second." — Lubov Azria, chief creative officer of BCBG Max Azria Group

"Backstage is always a Cinderella story and finding the right shoe for the right girl. No matter how intricate the garment or the styling, it always comes down to the shoes. Questions are do we have enough, do they still fit (yes, a model’s foot size changes after a few gruelling days of fashion week), and my personal favourite: fashion week’s version of a touchdown, the shoe pass." — Lubov Azria, chief creative officer of BCBG Max Azria Group

"Lights, camera, action, CUE MUSIC. The soundtrack to the show is the final piece of magic that brings the collection to life. I spend hours listening to music to find the perfect track. To this day, when I hear a song used for runway, I am instantly transported to the collection that walked." — Lubov Azria, chief creative officer of BCBG Max Azria Group

What would you ask Azria if you had the chance? Sound off in the comments below. And if you’re looking to update your fall wardrobe, be sure to check out BCBG’s best-sellers.