Cameras flashed and music blared as models strutted their stuff down the runway at the 4th annual Spring Fashion Show put on by UC Irvine’s very own Fashion Interest Group. Like something out of a movie, the event created an energy that took the audience by storm. The beautiful clothes, dreamt up by UC Irvine’s aspiring fashion designers, allowed for a diverse and spectacular display of style and elegance that would have made Coco Chanel and Alexander Mcqueen proud.
The Fashion Interest Group, created and run by UCI students, hosts a Spring Fashion Show every year and donates all proceeds to charity. It’s a grand event at the Student Center’s Pacific Ballroom. For one night only, the diverse population of students on campus comes together to forget the stresses of midterms, papers, and work in order to feast their eyes on some of the most unique and beautiful garments created by their peers.
The 2011 show was spectacular. A lot of back breaking hard work went into putting on such a big event and this year it really showed. The VIP audience was snacking on chocolate chip cookies, Chex mix, and sandwiches. Beautiful student models were strutting down the stage. Their smiles and reaction to the cheers from the crowd only pumped up the adrenaline in the atmosphere to new levels. The excited audience watched as models adorned with LF’s hippie chic style rolled down.
Michelle Kim, the stylist behind theopening line, dressed her models in revamped Birkenstocks with knit socks, long see through maxi skirts, and trendy cropped tops. Then dinosaur-inspired hoodies of Chelsea Jenkins’s “Ruckus Threads” danced on stage, creating a wealth of energy. When Leilani Cruz’s line “Diamond” debuted, the audience swooned over her classic dresses. Each collection displayed the student designer’s individual personality, from to Lisa Le’s “Filthy Gorgeous” line, to the sleek and gothic tone of Louise Lao’s “Lovecraft”. The panel of judges must had a hard time picking a winner.
The MCs Mike Wilder and Derek Flowers were cracking jokes on stage as the crew prepared for the Greek Walk Off. While this side of the show was happening, the members of FIG, equipped with walkie talkies, were running around from backstage to the main room and then backstage again. Even a single misstep could lead to chaos. Who knew running a fashion show would be this hard? I didn’t, but now I do.
Now I’ve heard a lot about FIG’s annual showcase. I’ve even seen a YouTube video recap and looked through a gallery of past photos, but I got my first-hand experience this year. Jeannie Shin, co-president of FIG, told me right off the bat that the show was “serious business”. There were never enough people to do everything, because there were just so many bases to cover. Almost every active member used most of their free time to publicize the event on Ring Road by passing out fliers. Posters were made and put up all around campus. You can tell that FIG rings true to their objection: “Our association is devoted to developing the talents and needs of students interested in the fashion industry, including designers, artists, models and students seeking experience in the business side of fashion.”
I think it is worth knowing that FIG lacked the resources that most fashion clubs at colleges have access to. The girls were, in a sense, on their own. They found sponsors to donate raffle prizes and material for the VIP gift bags. They got Jeremy Cook to perform last minute. They got photographers to lend their cameras. And these girls even got Groove Monsters, who performed at Coachella this year, to DJ this fashion crazed party. As the Fourth Annual Show came to an end, I could see everyone on the FIG team breathe a sigh of relief. Everything went according to plan.
Photo Credit:Â http://12fv.com/2011/05/4th-annual-fig-fashion-show-2011.html