Does anyone know what it takes to put on a fashion show? Simply stated, it involves constant communication and meetings, efficient delegation of tasks and a lot of pure dedication. Imagine being the forces behind every aspect of pre-show operations like: model workshops and fittings, committee meetings, budget meetings and everything in-between. More so, imagine conceptualizing a theme and utilizing your resources to transform all of your efforts into one moment – all for a brief moment of the year where fashion and innovative designs take the center stage—or, should we say runway.
This week Her Campus spoke to this year’s fashion show coordinators: Amanda Gordon and Lauren Steele. For those unfamiliar with the fashion scene at Virginia Tech, the Fashion Merchandising and Design Society hosts an annual fashion show every spring which is entirely student-run, featuring designs from students and local boutiques. This year’s theme is Into the Wild, and Lauren and Amanda provide their involvement in coordinating this fashion show.
Both ladies are juniors with majors in Fashion Merchandising and Design. It’s no secret they have a passion for fashion, but we still wanted to hear more about their roles. The interview was lighthearted and full of laughs, but also eye-opening to the incredible responsibility that comes with being coordinators.
What made you decide to take on the responsibility of running a fashion show?
LS: We both were involved in the show freshmen and sophomore year. We thought it was really exciting, and we knew it was going to be a lot of work when we came into it, but we wanted to challenge ourselves. We wanted to improve upon the year’s past and make it our own. Also, we both sort of wanted to do it, and nobody else wanted to do it…
[both laugh]
AG: Yeah, it was kind of like the next step because I had already been a designer for two years and been on exec for FMDS, so it just seemed like the next logical [step] because the fashion show is my favorite thing FMDS does. I’ve always had a lot of fun with it.
LS: Yeah, I mean it’s our biggest event, and it’s really exciting for everyone I think!
AG: Plus, we like to be in charge.
The ability to delegate tasks and manage everything is necessary. What’s been the hardest thing to manage?
LS: Communicating with people.
AG: Yeah, we set up a separate email for the fashion show… It gets more emails than our regular ones. It’s hard to keep track of it all.
LS: It’s one thing for us because our schedules are different too, so sometimes it’s hard for us to even meet—let alone for us to show up during the middle of the day to meet with real people, [as opposed to other means of communicating].
You definitely have to make time for it. How has this changed your current routines? Is this the priority in your lives right now?
Both: Yes.
AG: Yeah, last semester my sorority was my priority, and this semester I’ve missed almost every meeting for them.
LS: When it comes to communicating with people, it’s so important to do it quickly and respond. We do the best we can with that, but if you’re trying to do homework, it’s challenging when you get ten Facebook messages [or emails]. It’s like do this and this and this and this—it’s a challenge for sure.
What is the inspiration behind this year’s theme Into the Wild?
AG: We discussed a lot of different themes.
LS: We talked about the theme for a long time.
AG: Like a few weeks.
LS: Part of it was we both have a similar aesthetic [values], and we both agreed that we wanted to do something different than last year’s show, [which] was so modern and edgy. So, that’s why we went with nature and that kind of stuff. But we also are the type of people that wear black basically all the time. So, we’re not flowery, sunshine kind of people—it’s kind of a balance [of influences].
AG: Yeah, we wanted edgy, flower child. We were first discussing this hipster-indie theme with dream catchers and stuff, but we [thought], “that’s not very fashionable though. It’s just kind of cliché.”
So, we took that [original concept] and twisted it a little bit.
How have you made Into the Wild different from previous shows while still keeping that edgy vibe?
AG: It’s more flirty and girly.
LS: It’s still feminine.
AG: Yeah, exactly: less intense.
LS: I think there will definitely be a lot more feminine silhouettes and softer shapes.
AG: We’re actually going to decorate this year. Because usually we just have it in the venue and have all the flyers be to a theme. But this year, we’re going to put rose petals on the runway and do stuff like that, and we have vines.
LS: We have a lot of vines…
So, you mentioned decorations. What other changes do you bring as fashion show coordinators?
AG: This year we did a committee instead of just us being in charge… because there’s so many people every year who really want to get involved with the fashion show but don’t want to be involved with FMDS, which I understand. So, we have a committee that meets every Wednesday, and I love it because it made me meet people I wouldn’t have normally met.
LS: Yeah.
AG: We just couldn’t understand why the fashion show wouldn’t have other majors [involved] like marketing and [public relations]. It just makes sense.
LS: All the stuff that they do really adds to it a lot.
With this new marketing aspect and committee, do you think there will be a greater attendance this year?
AG: There’s only so much you can do. We have a full marketing plan, and it’s awesome.
LS: Yeah, and we have 500 seats this year instead of 400.
AG: But it can still be hard [to predict the turnout]. But, I’m always surprised every year by the amount of people who show up, so I think we’ll be pleasantly surprised, because we do have a lot of marketing going into it.
What other obstacles have you encountered leading up to the show?
AG: We have to have three different meetings just to have the show in the first place. You meet with production, event-planning and then budget board. So, there’s the three Virginia Tech meetings that you have to do… And there’s also weird stuff you don’t think about like you have to get insurance for the show. We’ve had to meet with production twice, event-planning twice and budget board twice.
If you were to choose your favorite aspect of Into the Wild, what would it be? What makes it all worth it?
AG: I think the show day will make it really worth it.
LS: Yeah, the show day.
AG: But the designers also have been really awesome. We did the sew-a-thon for the first time, and everyone was really nice.
LS: Yeah that was a really great thing we did. It was cool to see some of the people together and get a glimpse at designs, because I honestly really hadn’t seen anything.
AG: So, just like hanging out with the people too and getting to know the designers and the people on our committee [is rewarding].
LS: Hopefully, just at the point when the show comes and everything’s done we can –
AG: (Laughs) Relax!
LS: Even if things go wrong, at least we tried. At least we did the best we could. That’s kind of my philosophy: “if things go wrong, you can’t do anything now.”
That’s a good takeaway from this. Is there any advice you have for people looking to get involved next year?
AG: Make sure your schedule allows it.
LS: Yeah, I’m only taking twelve credits, and we’re both doing this as an independent study… So, at the end we do a PowerPoint presentation of this.
AG: I’m doing fifteen credits, but they’re not my hardest classes. And I quit my part-time job because that would have been impossible [to balance].
Is there anything else you have to say?
LS: Tell everyone to come!
Well, there you have it. We encourage everyone to attend the show! Regular tickets for Into the Wild are priced at five dollars and available for purchase online or in Squires ticket office. Ticket prices will be seven dollars on the day of the show. VIP tickets, with premier seating and other special access, are priced at ten dollars.
Into the Wild will be held Tuesday, April 12th at 8:00 pm in the Squires Commonwealth Ballroom. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Designs from students and local boutiques will be featured, so don’t miss out on Blacksburg’s most fashionable event!