My First Fashion Show Review. Like, Ever.

For the past month, I've been taking summer courses at LIM College and it's really exposed me to all the facets of the fashion industry that I didn't even know existed. Just like the cliché iceberg analogy, what you see on the surface is minute compared to all the fleshy details that are hiding underneath. Among the two classes that I was enrolled in (Apparel Merchandising and Fashion Writing and Publications), there is also a selection of other classes, one of which is Fashion Show Production. After two weeks of preparation, their final product was put on display at Maxwell Hall today at noon.

The theme of the show was "The Empire State of Oz", with clothes supplied by American Attitudes. I was really hyped about attending my first fashion show, and going into it, I didn't know what to expect. Overall, the show did not leave me impressed. I wanted to be blown away and what I saw was not a work of genius. But nevertheless, being engulfed by the music and the set and of course, the clothes, was great. It kind of made me forget about the dull and not-so-fabulous world we lived in, even if just for 40 minutes.

I wanted to give a short explanation of why I'm writing this post about a random student-produced fashion show? Aside from the fact that it was an assignment, as a student, I'm interested in reviewing the work of other students. A lot of people my age are looking for serious critique of their work and either are not receiving it, or are being taken seriously due to their age. I think they should be entitled to a review that answers the question: "How is this show?", not "How is this show, considering it was student-produced?"

So, let's start with the bad news.
     It was nearly impossible for anyone to scrutinize the clothes or take clear photos. The lighting was so poor, that I almost felt like I was in a club. Maybe they were channeling NYC night life, but there was a disconnect from the minimalist set and DJ lighting to the land of Oz. The movie clips shown between segments seemed to be there just to pass the time while the models changed. At one point, I was watching a tornado for a minute. Not very eventful. The models looked like they were in a rush to get off the stage. I thought the clothes were a bit lost in everything that was going on.
     The show lacked cohesion. It was split into four segments that looked like very separate collections. In the last one, models were strutting down the runway with body-con dresses, studded hats, and headphones. It simply did not say "Oz". There was no overall flow to the show due to the lack of one unifying color palette and motif. I definitely think the show suffered from a very muddled vision.
     Even though the students did not design the garments personally, they probably had a wide selection to work with and I don't think their choices were innovative. Black leather skirts, booty shorts, and tank tops are already in everybody's wardrobe; the sequined pieces struck me as outdated; many of the silhouettes (cropped tops, skater skirts, and god forbid, leggings as pants) have made their rounds in every fast fashion store around; the red pumps were reflective of Dorothy's ruby slippers, but black and nude pumps? Very uninspired.

     Overall, I could not see many of the looks being worn in Oz, in New York City, or anywhere in between.

And as for the good news:
     The hair and makeup was so gorgeous and effortless. In that moment, I kind of wanted to be them and I think that's what a fashion show should be about. The technical work was also very commendable. The idea of projecting montages while the models were walking was very modern and professional. And even though my teacher, Amanda Hallay, did not feel that the music was a fitting companion to the theme of the show, it made me excited, so what the heck?
     There were several pieces that I wanted for my closet. One model was rocking a pair of gladiator heels that were incredible. Some male silhouettes were very refreshing. One male model was sporting a mid-thigh-length blazer that had slits down the sides. It moved very nicely and I liked getting a peek at the shirt underneath. Knee-length leather biker shorts were also shown on the men. Way more chic than the leather miniskirts, really. I actually enjoyed seeing plaid on a few girls. Lately, plaid has been hiding in the shadows, but I think it's making a comeback!
     If there's one thing to take out of this show? Everyone needs a pair of red pumps! And I mean everyone.


For a further (slightly random) comment about runways in general, please see this post.