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If you thought designers arbitrarily chose the pretty young things who parade their pieces down the runway each season, think again. They call in the experts, one being PAPER Beautiful Person Natalie Joos, to dig through the dozens of show packages and hand-pick the girls who will walk in their shows. This might not sound like a difficult task, but the late nights, fights with model agents, and the attempt to translate the designer's vision join forces to create a mind-boggling challenge. Natalie tells us what her days are really like during Fashion Week, her late night snack of choice, and about the feeling she gets when she puts together a cast of faces that fit just right.

On average, how many runway shows do you cast each season?
I do -- maximum -- six shows. But not every season.

Do you have a favorite show to cast? Any shows you dream of casting one day?
I love Adam Lippes and Yigal Azrouel. Unfortunately I am not doing those shows this season. I am dreaming of casting Lanvin in Paris.

How many days (or hours) before the show do the castings take place? Is it an arduous process?
The casting usually takes place about five days before the show, but girls keep trickling in until the day before. Castings in themselves are fun, seeing the girls (or boys), taking their pictures, seeing them walk, and having a little chat. Not too hard.

Casting a show is sort of like putting together a puzzle. Can you explain the process?
Before the shows start, the model agencies send show packages with the girls they have in town for the season. I look through the packages and select the girls I feel fit the respective designer's vision and collection. Then we meet the girls in person, unless they are established and we know them. We narrow down the list to the amount of girls we need, keeping only the favorites and the girls who are available. These girls come in for their fittings, usually the day before the show.

What will "the look" be for the Spring 2011 season?
I think we are going back to individuality. We have had a few seasons of "perfection" and "beauty". I would like to see some "real" girls, with more character or even a few flaws. The look will still be healthy and happy, but maybe there is room for some quirkiness.

Do you have a Fashion Week "survival kit"? What are some items that we'd find in your bag at any given time during the castings and shows.
I always carry Tic Tacs, gum, and drink huge amounts of water. I always carry raw vegan bars, hand cream, deodorant, computer, my phone, and chargers.

How late do castings run? About how many hours do you work per day during Fashion Week?
Castings don't go late, but the fittings can run into the wee hours because they HAVE to be done before the show. Sometimes you are stuck until 1 or 2 a.m. I work from 8 a.m. to midnight every day.

Do you have any pre-Fashion Week rituals?
I am usually off all month of August so that is my time to recharge. After Fashion Week, which ends in Paris, I usually go home to see my parents in Belgium for a week or so. That's quite relaxing too. And I usually get a facial and a massage after.

What's the thing you look forward to most once the Fashion Weeks are over?
I always kind of fall into a gap after Fashion Week ends. All of a sudden you have nothing to do anymore. Sometimes I wish I could keep going. As much as I hate the stress, I do love to be busy and work hard.

Do you and your assistants have a favorite midnight treat to snack on during late nights?
I wish I could say something healthy but usually it ends up being something nasty like a Snickers bar.

The all-important question: flats or heels?
I mostly wear heels. Fashion Week is the perfect excuse to dress up!

What's your go-to Starbucks order?
I recently quit coffee which was a staple every morning -- venti triple soy lattes! So I will have to survive on venti soy chai (with 2 tea bags) and honey, which I drink with a straw.

What are the best and worst things about your job during Fashion Week?
The best is when you complete a casting with all the right girls in place. The worst are the fights with the model agents.

In one word, describe the feeling you get when you see the models in a show you've cast walk down the runway.
It's a thrill.