It's easy to get swept up in the fun of fashion week and lose track of costs. The cost of putting on the shows themselves, the cost of the outfits of those in the crowd, but also the costs outlaid by those giving up their time to walk the runway, show the front row to their seats and ready the models backstage.

Because we're nosy parkers, and value honesty, Ensemble is asking people from different sides of NZ Fashion Week to share the things they're opening the purse strings for as the week unfolds.

This time, model Hope Phillips (represented by the agency Unique Models) talks to us about the economics of their fashion week experience.

Name: Hope Phillips

Age: 24

Pronouns: They/Them

Occupation: Model

Hope backstage at Juliette Hogan's NZFW show, with Adray. Photo / Getty Images, NZFW

What shows have you been booked for?

I have been booked for seven shows this week: Kiri Nathan, Jacqueline Anne, Juliette Hogan, The Graduate Show, Jacqueline Anne’s second show, Zambesi and the NZFW Fashion Lunch.

Have you worked at NZFW before? If so how many times?

I have only done NZFW twice, in 2016 and 2017.

Do you have any reflections on your spending and earning during past NZFWs?

Not gonna lie, I am annoyed at how much I have had to spend on NZFW so far... I was very tight on time on Tuesday and Wednesday, so I had to get mostly Ubers instead of public transport.

How would you describe your financial situation and approach generally?

I really try to not spend unnecessary money when possible. With how expensive everything is getting, it really stresses me out when I have to spend more money than expected on transport. I would drive to NZFW but parking is around $70 a day and I am not spending that much to park my car.

Hope walking in The Graduate show. Photo / Getty Images, NZFW

How have financial considerations influenced your approach to Fashion Week?

I am trying my best to be cheap and cheerful this year, but it's really hard to be. I have said yes to every show I have been offered to try and make as much money as I can.

I have only been able to get public transport once this week because Auckland Transport isn’t fast/reliable enough when I am in such a time crunch.

Honestly, I haven’t really had time to eat. When I have had time to eat, it's been food that I can prep quickly, like noodles, pasta, muesli bars, lollies. All of the food/coffee I have gotten, I have just brought from home.

After the shows I have gone straight home to bed as I had 14 hour days both Tuesday and Wednesday, and I don’t want my body to give out at the start of the week.

Have you been gifted anything for NZFW, or that you'll use during the week?

No, we [models] don't really get gifted anything. Usually if we get gifted something, it means that we aren’t getting paid for that show.

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A post shared by Hope Phillips (@hope_doesnt_wear_pants)

How much have you spent preparing for NZFW?

Prep for NZFW started quite a while ago. We had our initial casting around the start of July, and since then it's just been going to casting after casting.

Here's a breakdown on what I spent on preparation for NZFW:

Ubers - $49

Maintenance - $80

Food - $50

Total spent = $179

Please share what you spent, and were paid, on Tuesday August 29 and Wednesday August 30.

Tuesday spending: $40 on transport.

Tuesday earning: I don't actually know how much I have earned until I get paid, as every designer pays differently. But I did three shows so let's say I earned $500 before tax and agency fees (20%).

Wednesday spending: $63 on transport.

Wednesday earning: Again I don't know how much I have earned until I get paid, so let's say I earned $300 before tax and agency fees (20%).

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