Production of a runway fashion show from a zero line budget; showcasing original study designs and hands-on experience in fundraising, modeling, garment selection, staging, and public relations.
Course Objectives
To obtain working knowledge about methods of planning, organizing, executing and evaluating informal and formal and production of fashion shows
To gain experience in components of fashion production to include the following: models, garments, promotion, commentary and staging
To gain experience with project development and management
To develop skills in working as part of a team, delegating and accepting responsibility, as well as following up and objectively evaluate completed work
Garment Coordinator and Runway Model
For the annual Missouri State University Merchandising and Fashion Design Spring Senior Showcase, Megan Marie participated in the Garment Committee in preparation for the event. A "Garment Call" requesting original designs from students in classes leading up to Senior Collection such as Draping, Flat Pattern, and Design Challenges took place. These students were given a worksheet to fill out with their name, contact information, description of their garment, and the size of their garment to be submitted with their original design. Submissions were hung on a rack in the studio during the Garment Call. At the deadline of each call, the Garment Committee removed the rack from the studio to evaluate which pieces were approved, approved with changes, or rejected to enter the Jury of Selection. Each submission, approved or not, was documented. Once evaluated, the rack was placed back in the studio so that students whose designs were rejected could collect them. Students whose designs were approved with changes could make the appropriate alterations as described by the Garment Committee and resubmit their design before Jury of Selection. During Jury of Selection, 15 minute time intervals were designated for the original designs while the time slots surrounding these time slots were dedicated to the senior designers in Senior Collection. Jurors evaluated all designs on a Google Doc evaluation page that was shared with the Garment Committee leaders. At the dress rehearsal the day before the show, models were assigned to senior collections and three original designs to Mannequin Model during the night of the show. Mennquin modeling is designated during the Happy Hour before the showcase. As a member of the Garment Committee, Megan Marie assisted in coordinating garments from Shaila’s Boutique for the KGBX Women’s Show. The Garment Committee met at the boutique twice prior to the show to select and accessorize outfits for the models. Megan Marie compiled pictures of the outfits and their bar codes/tags for record keeping and wrote commentary for outfits in the show. In addition to being on the Garment Committee, Megan Marie volunteered to model a classic 80’s look to fit in with the Show’s theme of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” Members from the Garment Committee spent a class period thrifting an outfit from local resale shops with funds provided by the KGBX radio station. The Friday before the show, she had her hair and makeup done for an appearance on KOLR TV’s Ozarks Live. Afterwards, she went to the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds to assist the Garment Committee with dress rehearsal and practice her walk. The day of the show, Megan Marie arrived at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds for her scheduled hair and makeup time slightly early to browse around the event center for a bit. After her hair was touched up and makeup done, she went backstage to assist the Garment Committee. She steamed outfits during the hour and a half leading up to the show.
Fierce Fashion Show Production Company
Megan Marie and her classmates were tasked with creating their own concept fashion show production company and planning a fashion show featuring two new up and coming designers. While entirely fictional, the group felt it was appropriate for Megan Marie to develop her own concept line and act as one of their new designers. Hand drawn croquis were developed for both hers and the second designer's lines, who they would go on to name "Mustafa." From these croquis, fashion illustrations were hand drawn then scanned into Adobe Illustrator to be fully rendered. The final lines are pictured below.
Inspiration and Mood
Croquis
Concept Collection #1: Megan Marie
Concept Collection #2: Mustafa
Final Presentation
Personal Stylist
Megan Marie and four of her classmates acted as personal stylists for a woman who fell out of the conventional standard sizing of the fashion industry. They were challenged to create multiple outfits for their model and discover what was and was not successful about these looks. Each look is complete with a lay-down and assessment of how their design elements compliment or contrast with the model.
Outcomes
Methods of planning, organizing, executing and evaluating informal and formal and production of fashion shows were utilized throughout the semester. Having been extended the opportunity to model on a runway, Megan Marie gained insight into the day in the life of a model as well as the inner workings of a broadcast television station. This course also better developed her expectations for the subsequent course of Senior Collection.