On February 18th, The Little Red Book hosted a kick-off dance party at Silver Dollar Bar in anticipation of UGA’s second annual fashion week. In attendance were Athens’ finest fashionistas sporting high heels and even higher hair buns.
Each guest left with a Rent The Runway goodie bag and eagerness for the rest of the week’s events, including the “Body Damage” exhibit by the director of UGA fashion week, Dr. Josè Blanco.
Dr. Blanco wasn’t the only faculty member in the Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors downtown on a Monday night. Emily Blalock, fashion merchandising professor, was also present, mixing company and patterns, pairing a leopard cardigan over a green printed dress.
Fashion was clearly visible on everyone in attendance, but it was also audible as the main topic of conversation. Mallory Mason, a senior fashion merchandising major, just returned from New York fashion week. Fresh from the scene of star studded runways and cappuccino fueled fashion gurus, Mason had seasoned observation. The spring trend she noticed most was the simplistic use of the color white. “Almost all the models were wearing white shoes,” she said.
Amid conversation, Rent The Runway gave away prizes for “best dressed,” and other savvy giveaways, like store discounts, were passed around. The kick-off party proved to be the perfect event to generate excitement for the fashion forward week planned Feb. 18th to Feb. 22nd.
This year’s program for UGA fashion week is adventurous and experimental. Hallie Park, the fashion editor for The Little Red Book, reaffirmed this. “Anything goes,” she said. “It’s a really free time in fashion right now.”