How to Organize a Fashion Show Event

These steps are for the novice fashion show hostess. These are 10 basic steps to give good show.
This information is for those who have chutzpah and a real sense of stick-to-it-tivness. Only things
you will need is a good polaroid camera and plenty of film and maybe a few people to give you
support. (P.S. You will need support)

Step one: Choose a venue or a place to hold the event. Make sure there is space for a runway and seating. Choose the time and date and theme of the event and send out invites. Remember no fashion show should be longer than 15-20 minutes. It must be quick to hold interest and whet the fashion appetite.

Step two: Choose the music which will be the Theme of the show i.e.,Futuristic, 1980's, hard rock, Or whatever you would like. The music choice defines the entire show so choose something well suited to the mood and clothing.

Step three: Choose clothing designers you would like to showcase. This could be an array of clothing from your own closet, clothing you have sewn ( if you are a good seamstress), friends who sew, and /or students from the local fashion college who would like to showcase their clothing. Another tip is to ask your favorite boutique to consign a few peices to you in exchange for the publicity the designer and the shop will get from appearing in your event. Remember if you "borrow" clothes, DO NOT CUT THE TAGS OFF just try to conceal them inside the garment, Tell Models to wear CLEAR DEODORANT and if something gets damaged you are responsible to get any garments drycleaned. Otherwise, upon return of the garments borrowed for the show just make sure they look like they looked when you took them out of the shop.

Step four: Find models for the outfits you have chosen. The best way to do this is to put an ad online and have them send digital photos of themselves with all their measurements and sizes. Or you could put the ad in whatever newspaper publication you wish or you may contact your local high schools and colleges and find aspiring new talented young people who are willing to model for free. Remember you have the clothing already, so look for models in the correct sizes that the clothing is in. Specify in your ads or flyers what height,weight and size and shoe size range you are looking for.

Step five: Once you have the models you must have a fitting. Invite the models over and "fit"them into whichever outfit fits each individual model the best. This is a pre-rehearsal where you have them try- on each outfit and walk for you. Remember this is novice level so the models need to walk well but they don't have to be Tyra Banks or Giselle. Then take a polaroid picture of each model in each outfit that they will wear in the show. When showtime comes you will appreciate this step more than ever!

Step six: Have someone like an assistant write the names of the models and the show order number in which they will put on each outfit. ex. Jane Smith,#1, #5, #8, on the bottom of each of their polaroid pictures in black marker. Then stick that models pics at eye level in his/her dressing area. This way the picture lets the model know which shoes and accessories goes with the complete look and the can change more quickly to be ready to walk the catwalk. ( The catwalk could be any stage or walkway, basically, clear a path for the models to give a good walk to showcase and strike a pose in the outfits/clothing). Also have an assistant put masking tape on the bottoms of slippery shoes so as to make them non-slippery. And have some double sided sticky tape on hand just in case you have some low plunging necklines!

Step seven: The day of the show/event relax and get yourself dressed and ready for the show. Check the lights, music, models and clothing one last time so that you are sure everything is in order. Give a reassuring talk to everyone who is a part of your fashion team and go! The rest is up to God.

Step eight: Show begins. Stay backstage and help models with the final touches and also keep everyone MOVING!
Keep one eye on the audience as well to make sure they are enjoying the festivities.

Step nine: If a model takes a fall or has an accident, be prepared to either put that outfit on yourself, or have a standby on hand to fill in. Remember everything is timed in a particular order, if you have one element go awry, it could ruin your whole 20 minute fashion show. So be prepared for mishaps, accidents and emergencies, so that your show can still function well even if someone messes up, doesn't show up or any old excuses that might come up.

Step ten: After the show EAT!!! and glow in the light of your magnificent accomplishment. Whew! Feed the models and offer them a little gift or some sort of token of your appreciation of their participation in your project and also everyone else who was on your "team", i.e., dressers, commentator,or anyone that assisted you, because no man is an island and it takes a team to work on even the smallest,lowest budget fashion show event. Have Fun!!!

I hope you enjoyed this article and found it informative and entertaining as well. Please contact me, Shellynn, if you have any questions chingsoo26@yahoo.com.