When I woke up on the morning of the 2nd of April, I did not expect to be attending a fashion show that evening. I had spent the past three days wallowing about a failed relationship/ situationship/ dating experience/ whatever it was, and was in desperate need of a reality check. Therefore, the immediate conclusion I came to when asked to review the University of Edinburgh Fashion Society’s Annual Fashion Show was that I must go. I had to go and channel my inner Carrie Bradshaw and be healed by fashion. It is safe to say, that is exactly what happened.
Arriving in Leith, at the foot of the walk, it was immediately identifiable to spot who was attending the fashion show, as swarms of people descended onto the Biscuit Factory. All attired in black, white, and grey, the energy in the atmosphere was palpable — this was the real deal. From understated black suits and white dresses, to bold statement pieces with bows and polka dots, even the audience in attendance at the fashion show were well dressed. This monochrome vision aligned with the theme of the show: Chiaroscuro.
Chiaroscuro is an Italian term meaning light and dark, which was popularised in artistic movements in the Renaissance and Baroque eras. This dichotomy of light and dark was wonderfully echoed in the architecture of the Biscuit Factory, as the industrial and brutalist styled building allowed for the fashion to truly shine. Whilst waiting for the show to start, an exhibition of designs and artwork were available to observe, all contributing to the growing levels of excitement for the big show.
Before being whisked upstairs for a wonderful display of fashion, there was a brief speech from the charity which the society were raising money for — Everyone’s Invited. Everyone’s Invited is a charity dedicated to exposing and eradicating rape culture with empathy, compassion, and understanding, with the aim of providing survivors of sexual assault with a safe place to share their stories. In total, the show raised £3,000 for the charity, which will definitely make a massive difference to many survivors.
The show itself took place upstairs in the Biscuit Factory with the option for either seated or standing tickets. The seats created the skeleton of the U shaped runway which added an immediate sense of intrigue as it defied the usual image of a runway as one straight line. Under each of the seats was a gift bag full of goodies from Lush, packaged neatly in a black paper bag, which just goes to show how absolutely on theme everything was.
After a few moments of being sat, there was a hush over the audience and it was clear the show was about to start. What followed can only be described as amazing, as every piece of clothing was expertly crafted and experimented with texture, style, and design in a myriad of ways. Every shoe, accessory, and makeup look was also matched to each design with expert precision to ensure that the cohesive theme of Chiaroscuro was central. Whilst most of the looks remained within the monochrome sphere, a trio of colour was presented at around the half-way point, which added emphasis to the overall theme and helped remind the audience that both light and dark exist simultaneously.
The models themselves were outstanding, as each and every individual strutted the catwalk as if they owned it. At the end of the show, the models all walked a lap together in one final exhibition of student fashion, yet the laughter and joy on the models face made this all the better. It exhibited a sense of happiness and accomplishment that all their hard work had payed off.
Every single detail of the fashion show was perfect, and had clearly been scrutinised endlessly in the months of planning. The team, designers, models, and everyone involved should be incredibly proud of themselves, as for a student production, it truly felt like the height of the profession. It raised money for charity, exhibited young talent in every format, and was truly an overwhelmingly enjoyable time. It is safe to say that next year’s fashion show committee have a lot to live up to!
Image by photosbyshagunjain