Birthday parties, Office events, Christmas gatherings and more. Our lives are full of events; gatherings that bring people together to celebrate, mingle or possibly raise awareness. The most stylish events from New York and California to Miami and Milan are fashion shows. A fashion show needs careful examination; planning and defining which details are the most important. And with detail comes organization so every thing goes well. Basically before you get the big picture of a great event you must take small snapshots and perfect those first.
PROJECT HEAL an organization that works to help those struggling with eating disorders, sponsored a fashion show called Nourish a few weeks ago and the event was planned by a savvy lady named Catherine Wallin. There were great clothes, beautiful people everywhere, good music and it was overall a good time. But what goes into planning a fashion show like that? As a guest to a fabulous event one doesn’t really think about what planning goes into making it spectacular. I asked her a couple of questions about how to really plan a fashion show and got great feedback.
As I said above, when detail is essential so is organizing. There are five elements of planning a fashion show: Music, Clothes, Models, Lighting and Location.
1. There MUST be music. Unless whoever is planning the show, is an esteemed individual in the fashion industry and can get away with a silent room- music must be played. It sets and develops the entire mood, pace and tone for the event.
2. When it comes to clothes, you don’t want to have five million different looks being presented. Even established labels and designers have an overall theme to their lines at fashion shows. When deciding on pieces to present, take into account colors, textures, fabrics, and silhouettes. Make sure they are cohesive in telling a story.
3. As for models, they need to be able to work with the vibe and mood of the show. They need to be natural on the runway and not overpower the clothes they are wearing. Remember, its the clothes that are on display, the model should compliment them and display in the best light.
4. The lighting is also very important. Models look best under the right lighting; it’s as simple as that. Lighting will also affect how the clothes are displayed so make sure to use the right accents and angles testing out the various pieces and models at different points on the runway to ensure the best affects. A good tip is to also sit a different points in the audience to make sure there is no lights shining directly into the crowd to obstruct their vision… or blind them!
5. Last but most important is the location. Space is key; there needs to be a proper space for a runway, room in the back for preparation and staging for the event, comfortable seating or viewing areas for guests and space to mix and mingle before and after the event. The location is your canvas for your fashion show, make sure that it will work with the size and goals before beginning to plan your event. Don’t forget to consider all the possibilities for your fashion show as well. Not only will loft spaces work but you should consider unique locations like hotels, nightclubs, ballrooms, boats, and other activity venues. To check out some locations for your next fashion show event including seeing pictures and pricing details, visit imbookin.com.
Written by Amira Okelly
(Photo Courtesy of GlamazonDiaries.com)
