“I just want us to do our best tonight,” said freshman Marque Hopkins before the Shaw University Homecoming Fashion Show, “Blast from the Past.”
Held in C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium located on the campus of Shaw University, the fashion show starred members from the Pure Raw Couture Fashion Troupe of Shaw University and was hosted by Perry Norman who has been involved in modeling for the past 18 years.
For some participants, like freshmen Natasha St. Fort and Kadja Crawford, this fashion show marked a first time experience. Before they strutted down the runway, they shared with the Bear Facts what they looked forward to in their homecoming modeling debuts.
“I just want to enjoy the crowd and do well,” stated St. Fort. “It’s my first show so I just want to do well.”
Crawford, who said he too was devoted to doing well, looked forward to the crowd and the energy the audience would give him as he walked the runway.
For other participants like Hopkins and junior Dominique Chaney, they look forward to bringing their best skills to the runway, but they equally looked forward to the outfits and being able to dress up.
“I like to dress up, wear make up and stuff like that because normally, I wouldn’t do that,” said Chaney.
“I just love the clothes,” exclaimed Hopkins.
The bleachers and the chairs lined up on the outside of the lit champagne glass shaped runway. Seated were students, alumni, friends, family members, supporters, and fans waiting to see a “Blast from the Past.”
“Creativity is a big part of the show,” stated Crawford. According to him, from the theme, to the designs of the clothing worn, to the runway itself, creation plays a very important role.
The show was broken into two parts and was based on a timeline that started back in slavery years and ended with elements from the present day fashion world. Models began the fashion show in chains, shackles, and torn clothing and worked their way to present time with designs from Fred Bunter.
The 1970s were recognized as the disco years. There were fads like mini dresses, platform shoes, bellbottoms, silk button up shirts and afros. The models of the fashion show evoked a sense of the ’70s for the audience as they walked the runway modeling ’70s paraphernalia. The late 1980s and the early 1990s were known for loud colors, gold chains, bucket hats, windbreaker sweat suits, fishnets, leggings and big sunglasses. In the fashion show, male and female models wore outfits fit for such a time period as they marched to the tunes of songs from the disc jockey like “Candy Rain,” “Live My Life,” and “Poison.”
The models moved swift up and down the runway while lights illuminated the runway every second from camera flashes. The models, however, weren’t the only things moving. The setup began to collapse quickly, but with the help of quicker hands, fast thinking, and cooperation, things were held together.
Just before the second part of the show, a quick competition was held for different groups of models including: plus sized female models, slim female models, built male models and male models in general. A judging panel was made from six randomly chosen audience members including Miss Shaw University, April Cannon. The plus sized models took the runway and walked as they wanted to in a freestyle walk. After each model had walked, the judges declared a winner from the group. The same was done for the other groups as well. The audience was extremely live, loud, and energetic during this mini competition. The winners each won a trophy.
The second part of the show was more present day in its attire. With tunes from the DJ steady playing, models graced the runway wearing the designs of current model Fred Bunter. With numerous designs and styles, Wade Monroe, Bunter’s clothing line, provided the final outfits of the evening.
“I’m tired,” stated an exhausted senior Bree Ellis. “It was fun, but I am tired.” Ellis, who is the president and founder of Pure Elegance Modeling Troupe, modeled along with some other Pure Elegance members in the fashion show. She said that the support for the modeling troupes was definitely appreciated.
“A Blast from the Past” was presented on behalf of the Shaw University Student Government Association and Phil Fuller Productions.