Milliner, Wardrobe Run Crew

Designer: Lucien Berneche

The Mosaic Foundation is an American not-for-profit charitable and educational organization founded in 1997 by the spouses of 17 Arab Ambassadors to the United States. Its mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of women and children, while promoting awareness, understanding and appreciation between the peoples of the Arab World and the United States through its charitable, humanitarian, and cultural involvement in both regions.

​The theme of the 12th Annual Benefit Dinner was water conservation, accessibility, and distribution.

​My two assistants from Imagination Stage and I were hired to do alterations and as dressers. However, when we arrived, Lucien was extremely upset with the construction of some outsourced turbans he had received. When I told him I was a milliner, he said, "Then you have 6 hours to correct these!" and so we did. My team and I immediately started taking the originals apart, salvaging what we could, while another costumer ran out and purchased large, black umbrellas. I found some wire we could use to give the turbans structure and we got to work recreating the turban bases. When the umbrellas arrived we had another Cirque employee cut the handles off and we painted the umbrella covers as best we could. Being excellent umbrellas, the covers were waterproof and did not want to absorb the acrylic paint. In the end, Lu Lu (Lucien) was pleased with the aesthetic. We had about 5 minutes to spare when the last chin strap was knotted. Later that evening, during dress rehearsal, Lu Lu gave me a huge hug and a kiss on each cheek for "saving the day." Being a part of this event was a dream come true for me. The beauty, professionalism, kindness, and gravity defying, life threatening routines of these Cirque performers has left a permanent mark on me.