Lisbon fashionistas

Lisbon fashionistas

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Models and designers are not the only ones who come to Lisbon Fashion Week to flaunt their style. Many of the shows' attendees - from members of the public to fashion journalists - sport outfits almost as elaborate as those on the catwalk.

Reuters photographer Rafael Marchante spent time snapping portraits of some of fashion week's flamboyant visitors.

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Slideshow

A man with a pair of oversized blue sunglasses poses for a portrait during Lisbon Fashion Week.
. Lisbon, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

A man with a pair of oversized blue sunglasses poses for a portrait during Lisbon Fashion Week.

Another visitor wears a cap covered in silver spikes.
. Lisbon, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

Another visitor wears a cap covered in silver spikes.

A fashion week attendee wears a headscarf patterned with skulls.
. Lisbon, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

A fashion week attendee wears a headscarf patterned with skulls.

A woman with a wire contraption around her neck poses for a portrait.
. Lisbon, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

A woman with a wire contraption around her neck poses for a portrait.

A visitor with purple hair looks to the side, her face partially shaded by her fedora.
. Lisbon, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

A visitor with purple hair looks to the side, her face partially shaded by her fedora.

Another visitor poses, showing off his dyed blue fringe.
. Lisbon, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

Another visitor poses, showing off his dyed blue fringe.

A woman with a white blazer and sailor hat poses for a portrait.
. Lisbon, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

A woman with a white blazer and sailor hat poses for a portrait.

Another visitor wears a cap decorated with big, red gems.
. Lisbon, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

Another visitor wears a cap decorated with big, red gems.

A fashion week visitor with red glasses and dyed blonde hair poses for a portrait.
. Lisbon, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

A fashion week visitor with red glasses and dyed blonde hair poses for a portrait.

Another visitor wears dark sunglasses and a striped black and white hat.
. Lisbon, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

Another visitor wears dark sunglasses and a striped black and white hat.

A fashion week visitor with her head wrapped in a red and yellow headscarf flashes a big smile.
. Lisbon, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

A fashion week visitor with her head wrapped in a red and yellow headscarf flashes a big smile.

"The fashionistas surprised me from the beginning: their codes, their gestures, their glasses…"
Rafael Marchante, Reuters Photographer

“I’ve just arrived on the Planet of the Apes.” That was my thought two years ago, the first time I worked at Lisbon Fashion Week.

To me, everything seemed to be from another planet; it was my first serious contact with the world of fashion and the atmosphere was entirely new to me.

The fashionistas surprised me from the beginning: their codes, their gestures, their glasses… Everything about their exaggerated existence caught my attention.

In general, I found their environment pretty frivolous. In fact, during the presentation of the Spring/Summer 2012 collection in Lisbon, I thought it might be interesting to ask people working there to explain the concept of frivolity to me. The conclusion I drew from my conversations was that, in the fashion world, the idea of frivolity is not as pejorative as it might be in other environments.

When you work backstage at a fashion show, you get an idea of the human ecosystem of the whole business. You can catch a glimpse of a model cutting her nails while she drinks coffee, fashion designers crying after their show, make-up artists running to give someone their final touch up.

But, without any doubt, one of the best things about the Lisbon Fashion Week is its attendees. When the event gets going, the models are not the only ones who parade; members of the public get involved too, as do journalists specialised in fashion, or staff who help to organise the events.

There are people who take advantage of these three days to dazzle with their outfits. Best of all, they love to be photographed.

(Writing by Rafael Marchante; Editing by Hannah Vinter)