If Rachel Zoe had been able to attend last week’s fashion show, “Living in Color,” she certainly would have said, “It died.” In case you’re not familiar with the celebrity stylist’s lingo, that means literally, it was the best thing ever! Why? Because the Fashion for a Cause event not only offered Vanderbilt students the latest spring fashion trends, but also the opportunity to receive hands-on experience with the fashion world and benefit a cause at the same time.
“Interacting with designers and their work was an awesome experience!” said Francesca Barillas, vice president of designer planning. “At this stage in my life, I never thought I’d get such in-depth exposure to the fashion industry. I also never thought that so many designers and storeowners would be so enthusiastic about participating in the show. Many of them were more than willing to work with me and gave me a lot of input on how I could make the show better. In fact, we even had two designers exclusively design and create collections just for the show (Southerly Designs and Local Honey). This was particularly exciting for me because I had the chance to also give my input into the design process.”
While Southerly Designs offered a white and cream color palette, Local Honey provided deep red and black hues. One notable piece from the UAL boutique collection was a yellow, “safari” dress. Around the model’s waist was a thin, caramel belt that went along with metallic gladiator sandals. The juxtaposition between chic and casual created the allure of the outfit, like many others the audience found on the runway.
“While some (designers) had special requests as to what color they’d like to take on, others offered a variety of colors, and I just picked whichever one they had the most of or their most powerful pieces,” Barillas continued. “I did my best to represent just about every primary color, and I think I was pretty successful in doing that. The show has never really been done like this, but I feel like this theme really provided a cohesive and artistic element.”
Ever since 2004, the runway shows put together by Fashion for a Cause, a Vanderbilt student-run organization, have benefited various charities. This year, members of the board chose Nashville CARES to be the recipient of the fundraising event. In turn, those affected by HIV or AIDS will receive the care and treatment they need.
“We decided to call the show ‘Living in Color’ because we found it had a connection with our cause,” said Amanda Shield, Co-President of Fashion for a Cause. “(It) added another dimension to the show … and was catchy and familiar enough to stick in the minds of our audience.”
Even though the planning process is a year-long endeavor, Shield and her co-workers prove that the outcome is worth all their time and effort.
“The fundraiser and the show were extremely successful, because not only did it draw in a large audience … the silent auction achieved the largest profits than it has ever had in years past, and the energy remained high throughout the evening,” Shield added. “The event also promoted awareness for Nashville CARES and a continued growing reputation and campus familiarity of Fashion for a Cause.”