On Saturday, the Fashion Club of Boston College hosted its first fashion show in the Rat, an event the organization plans to grow into an annual tradition. The dining hall was transformed with a runway, Christmas lights, and an abundance of streamers. Before the show began, the excitement was palpable. Dancers rehearsed in the background, as the front row filled with guests and cameras flashed. The show drew a mixed crowd-men and women, students and adults.
A steady stream of guests arriving late delayed the start of the show, but when it did begin, it began in style. The show opened with a performance by William Bolton, CSOM ’16, who goes by the performance name Times New Roman. Bolton had the audience swooning with his performance of “Diamonds” and “Passion,” winning applause by specifically serenading girls seated in the front row.
The actual fashion show kicked off with high fashion items from New York Dress Company, All Saints, Badgley Mischka, Chanel, and Zara. The high fashion segment was characterized by lines of dresses of varying length. The models, all BC students, showed off their personal styles with their diverse choices in brand and cut.
After the high fashion section, host Marlo Aghazarian, A&S ’17, called people up from the audience for a “best model strut competition.” This segment engaged the audience and had participants showing off their fiercest walks down the runway. Aghazarian joked that with walks so fierce, the models and participants should try their luck on America’s Next Top Model.
Following the “Walk-Off,” the models showcased their street style. They sported clothes from XOXO, Steve Madden, Zara, Aldo, Urban Outfitters, Asos, Sam Edelman, BCBG, reformation, H&M, Forever 21, Vera Wang, 7 For All Mankind jeans, and Tahari. In the middle of the Street Style portion, there was another break in which the audience was once again made a part of the show with a “Model Pose” competition. The competition broke up the runway event, inviting crowd participation. The street style segment showed off a wider range of sartorial styles than any other portion of the event. Varying tastes were brought to the runway, featuring items ranging from crop tops to classic coats.
The halfway point of the fashion show was punctuated by a stellar performance from the Dance Organization of BC. They opened with a lively tap performance that made use of the runway. DOBC followed with a hip-hop performance, filling the Rat with motion and energy.
After the dance intermission, models returned to the runway to show off their best business styles. These boardroom-appropriate ensembles featured clothes from Calvin Klein, Zara, H&M, Forever 21, and 304. Although these fashions were workplace appropriate, the models were able to showcase their styles, ranging from edgy to classic. This segment even featured the show’s only male model, looking dapper in his best business attire.
The show closed with designs from Daisy Spade. The online boutique, found at daisyspade.com, furnished both the hair and makeup for the model, and provided fashions for the final walk. The woman’s clothing and accessories site mixes Southern style with East Coast chic-this influence was clear in the styles of this final segment of the show. A mix of brands-as well as bold jewelry choices-made for an exciting end to the show. Sponsor Daisy Spade gave a 20 percent discount to all those that attended the show.
After the finale, the executive board took to the stage. The newly formed club has an enthusiastic executive board. Co-founder and co-president Natalyn Yu, A&S ’15, helped form the club this past summer along with Alexandra Paz, CSON ’15. Although a new organization, they have put on a variety of events this year. The Fashion Club held a networking event with Saks Fifth Avenue as well as an event with Nineteenth Amendment, an online marketplace that showcases designs from independent designers and clothes made in America. The club also launched its magazine, A La Mode, at the start of the second semester. The magazine featured student fashion shoots and aimed to create a dialogue about fashion on campus.
