Fashion Show Weekend

Eric (L) and Gabby (R) posing.

First things first, putting on a fashion show is a lot of time, effort, and manual labor. There's a lot more than you think that goes into running a fashion show. It takes our whole major (about 80 -90 students) plus some extras to be able to put everything up and running. This year we held the fashion show at Purdue's Ross-Ade Pavilion in the Shively Club. It was great because we basically had a really long, rectangular room to work with for the runway. It was the perfect set up compared to last year's show held in Mackey arena. Last year it was too much space and the seats were too far away from the runway. This year, in Shivley, the front row was basically at the end of the stage. It was amazing and perfect for taking pictures!

On Thursday we had a dress rehearsal for the underclassmen in Shively without the stage and everything. Then on Friday we set up the entire area. We did staging, lights (lanterns), drapery, and more. It was a lot of hard work but actually a little fun. I was there after my 8:30 class, so about 9:30am until 6:30pm. Granted I had an hour lunch break around noon, but I was there doing a lot of the manual labor aspect. I worked a lot on our flower panels we put at the beginning and end of the runway.

The day of, Saturday, started early for me. I woke up around 7:30 am and got ready. I had to pack my huge H&M bag for the day. For a glimpse into what a designer carries around with them here is what I took:

• A can of hairspray
• 2 pairs of heels: Snakeskin black & white, and then maroon, suede ankle booties
• fray check, little scissors, and safety pins
• mints, pens, hand lotion, body spray, hand sanitizer, chap stick
• phone charger, wallet, keys, planner, and small notebook
• little bag of makeup including different lipsticks for my model to try
• tights, other shorts, and a black blazer my friend was going to borrow but then didn't wear
• jewelry for my model in Tupperware containers, 2 different pairs of gloves for her to chose from

There was also probably some other things that I can't think of now, but I probably threw in there at the last second. 

Before the 7pm show, my models relaxing.

Now more about the day of, my models' hair and makeup times were 9am-10am. For Gabby I chose natural makeup but with a cat eye and then the faux-mohawk up do. It turned out really well, definitely more sophisticated than I expected, which was great! Then poor Eric had to go through being doted on by all the girls because they were super excited to have a guy in their chair. They put foundation and powder on him, did stuff to his hair & eyebrows, put mascara and eyeliner on and to top it all off, put lip gloss on him. He looked great, it was just weird to see him with makeup on. I laughed and told him he was wearing way more makeup than I ever do. We had to wait a while until they could dress & get ready for the show.

Gabby on the runway.

Finally, at 1pm the show started. It was great because I got to sit front row with my parents since there was an open seat. I loved being really close to all the designs. Plus, since the major is small I was basically narrating the whole show to my parents pointing out designers and fabric choices. They didn't even need the program.

After the show my models changed and I took them out to lunch with my grandmother. Since we weren't allowed to have food or drinks in the facility food was very much needed. We all went to Potbelly's and then afterwards went back to the stadium because our picture time was scheduled at 5:24pm, a very specific time. However, it was very chill and we didn't do pictures until after 5:30. Then we just hung around and tried to not be bored. We were all very exhausted. Then the show started, it went more smoothly than the first and was faster. I sat 2nd row and definitely wish I could have sat in the first row again. I couldn't get a lot of decent pictures of my models walking down the runway. It was still great to see it a second time.

Me (L) and Gabby (R)
behind the scenes.

After the 7pm show I went to dinner with my boyfriend and grandmother, it was a lot of fun. Then Sunday morning I went in to help take down everything. I helped with the runway and with the chairs. Then went to the lab to unload the truck of everything we took up to Ross-Ade from our lab/rooms in Mathews Hall.

I had an amazing experience this weekend, it was a lot of work but worth all my time. I am hopefully going to London College of Fashion next spring and will not be participating and the fashion show next spring. If I was here at Purdue I would be making 3 designs for the runway and 2 art pieces for the art gallery. 

I'll keep you posted on my plans, I won't be applying to London till the fall around October.

More on the Books

As I've said in my last post about books, I plan on telling you a little about the books I chose to bring with me. At first, looking upon my giant stack of options, I had decided to just not bring any back with me to Purdue from spring break. But then, as I was packing last minute, I just knew I needed something. I chose 3 books from the pile and put them in my tote bag. 

Book #1:

Title: "The End of Fashion: How Marketing Changed the Clothing Business Forever"

Author: Teri Agins

Why I chose it: My grandmother gave me this book for Christmas and has talked to me several times about it, and after her talking to me about some other book and then one of my professors discussing said book, I decided I should finally try to read it. I'm also very intrigued by the description of the book.

A little snip it from the book: "It seemed tedious that six people would spend a good half hour dickering over the color of a label that would be hidden inside a suit jacket. But for a fashion image-maker like Hilfiger, the color of the label is a key marketing tool- and just as important as the way the suits looked" (Agins, 110).

Book #2

Title: "What on Earth Are You Wearing? An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Fashion"

Author: Chloe Quigley and Daniel Pollock

Illustrations: Kat Macleod

Why I chose it: One of my best friends gave this to me after we graduated high school and it's such a funny and witty book. Plus, the illustrations are inspiring for designs and everything just looks great!

A little snip it from the book: "Keyhole Neckline: A shaped hole at the front of garment. You can't get in or out even with a key. Like a chastity belt for your boobs. Sort of. Not really" (Pollock, 68).

Book #3

Title: "Sleeping with the Enemy: Coco Chanel's Secret War"

Author: Hal Vaughan

Why I chose it: Chanel. I can always read more about Coco Chanel, simple as that.

A little snip it from the book: "In the end, Chanel saw herself as too refined for the studio glitter of Hollywood, the lavish facades, the tastes of the moguls and their coteries of actors and actresses, and the clash of egos among the silver-screen divas" (Vaughan, 68).

Books On Books On Books

Seeing as how I have an apartment and will be living there over the summer I have thought about taking all of my fashion related books with me back to Purdue. When my new roommate moves in for the summer, my best friend Jessica, we'll be rearranging the apartment's living room and kitchen area. I was thinking we might even get a bookcase to keep in the living room with our sewing machines and whatnot. I also plan on redoing my bedroom so I could even keep all my books in my room. But now the main question is what books do I take with me? Which ones are worth it? My heart says all of them but my brain is telling me that I can only fit so many and that with summer classes and a full time retail job (hopefully full time) I won't have time for reading let alone designing and whatnot. However, what if I do have time, and then I'm missing my books? I think it's better to be too prepared than not prepared at all.

Not even all the books to chose from.

After I've made my final decisions I'll post a piece including all the books I have that are fashion related and which ones I plan on taking and leaving behind, or leaving and bringing them after the semester is over and before summer classes start. 

Keep your eyes peeled because I have some great books and I'll try to include mini summaries or little bits of information about each book.

Diana's Exhibit

Yesterday I got to experience Diana, A Celebration. The exhibit is at its final stop at Cincinnati Museum Center until August 17th, 2014. It was amazing! I loved the way it's laid out and I definitely recommend paying the extra $5 for the audio guide. I used the audio guide and it provided a lot of extra information and interviews that weren't available to everyone else. I thought there was going to be more outfits, but I am glad that they had the amount they did and nothing less. 

Here's a short little video about the exhibit:

For more information on the exhibit and the Cincinnati Museum Center check out CincyMuseum.

Some of the highlights of the exhibit include:

-Diana’s magnificent Royal Wedding gown

-Two diamond tiaras

-The score and lyrics of the Elton John/Bernie Taupin composition, adapted from Candle in the Wind

I really loved the exhibit and I thought it was very informative about Diana's life and her goals and how involved she was in charities and how her life changed. I definitely recommend going to the exhibit, it's worth every penny. I wish they had a book of all of her ensembles and information, but I shall just search online for one. I might have to drag my friends from Purdue back to Cincy with me over the summer for a fun mini vacation which includes going to this exhibit. It'll be great!

Inspiration

I thought that over my spring break, since I was going home, I would tons of time to sketch and work on ideas for new designs. However, I am finding that this whole week off I haven't wanted to sketch or make designs. I haven't had any new ideas or found inspiration. Coco Chanel once said that "Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening." I should be able to find inspiration anywhere and anytime, but this week I've just been meh. I'm on break and so is my mind. It's been so long since I have had a legit break. Granted, I had winter break where I didn't have homework or classes to worry about but I had work and I had to focus on trying to balance everything. Spring break should be fun and warm and relaxing. So far mine has been fun, cold, and sort of relaxing. I've had to do a lot of homework but I've spent time with family, read a few books, gone shopping, had lunch with a friend, and gone to the museum. I wish I had done some designs, but the fashion show  is next weekend and my brain has been on the fritz this week. Oh well, we'll see when inspiration strikes! Hopefully soon though :)

Shopping Spree

Originally I had wanted to make a dress for myself to wear for the fashion show so I could match my models. I had imagined a black and white plaid dress, very modest and simple, with a peter pan collar out of the material I used for Gabby's evening dress. However, I don't want to stress myself out, so I went searching for the perfect dress. Annnnnd I found it!

I must have tried on about 20 something dresses and I found a few different ones I loved. The one I am planning on wearing to the show is a black, sleeveless dress that has a collar and buttons all the way down. It has two skirt layers and has a hi-low skirt bottom. I am very excited!

The fashion show is March 29th so stay tuned for some amazing pictures!

Final Art Gallery Entries

It's been a while but be ready for a bunch of fashion show posts!
Starting off will be a post of my 2 art gallery entries that I submitted last Friday for the show. The show is March 29th and besides the 2 fashion shows that day we have an art gallery open for everyone. As a second year student I have to create 2 runway looks and 2 art gallery pieces.

I decided to use my art piece from my drawing class last semester. It's a collage of various magazine cutouts with a fun striped background. How it was created:
1. First we made a collage of our cutouts.
2. We had to get the collage on to transparency paper.
3. During class we had a projector set up where we traced the outlines of our cutouts onto our paper.
4. Finally time to draw and color and make the piece amazing!
To the left is my final piece. I had to cut down a little on all the edges to fit it in the frame but I like how it feels as though it fits perfectly in the frame. At first I didn't like my drawing, but after not looking at it for a while I really really like it. It's a drawing I'm actually proud of, and that rarely ever happens.


For my second piece I had been wanting to decorate shoes forever so I finally did it! I took a pair of blue cloth heels I bought at Goodwill for $8 and added my own personal touches. I sprayed the shoes with pink glitter spray and the electric blue took on a more purple tint with the pink sparkles. Then I hot glued white pearls to the heels with a few pale pink ones mixed in. They were looking like they were missing something I started playing around with my options. Finally I decided on pearls going up the back and then the left shoe has a white bow while the right has a couple pink hearts. Also, not pictured, the inside of the heels have pink hearts. I am not entirely thrilled with this decision of the hearts on the inside but I didn't like how the pearls just stopped and I didn't have enough pearls to completely cover the inside.

After a few weeks of hard work, my pieces are done and turned in!