Models have been selected and choreographed…
Clothes have been styled and stored…
Location has been booked and is ready…
The stage is set up…
Fashion Show potlucks have happened…
The rum bottle is empty…
Invitations have been sent…
RSVP’s received…
Organizing the outfits tonight…
TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY.
Desire: A Fashion Show Inspired By Styles From Dawn to Dusk
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh! One week until the fashion show!
Last night, we had to do some last minute busy work. I had to finalize the hair and makeup for the models. Everyone brought in shoes and accessories to help accessorize the models. I brought in a particular pair of heels (that are beautifulllll) to be used in a window display promoting our show in the library.
We have had many fittings at the stores participating. We still have a few left. Ideally, I would like to do merchandise pulls on Wednesday. During class, I plan to get a group together and we will go to the mall with multiple clothing racks and the appropriate paperwork, and we will get the clothes we put together for the show.
The paperwork I got last night will be greatly needed for the merchandise pull. Some things that are included are: Store, Store Manager, Itemized list of merchandise, Student who picks up and drops off clothing, Sales associate who oversees the merchandise pull, etc.
We are holding a mandatory model practice tonight. I have to get there a little bit earlier, because there are a couple male models who haven’t had a fitting yet, and I have some clothes that they can try on. Once the models get there, we asked them to bring shoes and I will store and log the shoes for the show. The Fashion Show and Modeling Coordinators will work out the model line up and the choreography for the show.
Merchandise is the whole point to the fashion show. The merchandise must have a strong stage presence, meant to sell the clothing. The selection of merchandise must make a clear fashion statement to the audience. It should match the theme of the show and needs of the audience. The merchandise must be appropriate to the age, sex, income, life style of audience and priced according to what they will spend on fashion.
Retail Merchandise Selection:
When borrowing merchandise from a store, it is important to project a professional image. Approach merchants with as much information as possible: show theme, categories, date, time, number of desired outfits, publicity. All retailers should be aware of other participating merchants and the same policies should be enforced equally.
Merchandise Categories:
The merchandise is coordinated into specific categories to make related statements. Groupings are formed after reviewing merchandise available from different retailers. There should be a flow between the categories and a pleasing order within the categories.
Timing:
Ten days to two weeks prior to the show, visit local retailers to review available merchandise. Merchandise is not reserved at this time. The show date needs to be close enough where the merchandise can be purchased after the show.
Merchandise Pull:
It is the physical removal of the merchandise from the store. Some retailers will set aside a specific area for fittings, others may ask you to work around customers in the dressing rooms.
Merchandise Fittings:
Fitting supplies can include the following: fitting sheets, pens, staplers, pencils. Pre-fitting organization requires you to have models sizes and have the merchandise ready. Merchandise fittings involves matching the models with appropriate merchandise. It is important to organize fitting sessions to avoid wasted time of models, merchants and coordinators. Professional models are paid for fitting time. Plan fittings to be ten days to two weeks before the show.
Organize Line Up:
It is up to the Merchandise Coordinator to organize the model/merchandise line up. The line up is the organized listing of the order models will appear in the show. Do not allow personal preferences of models to interfere with merchandise order. The final line up is used for many different purposes during the show. Dressing areas are organized, placing models in specific areas to avoid confusion. Dressers, backstage manager and personal have an order to follow.
Fitting Sheets:
A sheet should be made for each outfit as the line up is finalized. It includes the sizing information, order number in the line up, detailed description of outfit. It must include a list of accessories, shoes and hosiery. There must be directions on how to wear the specific items.
Merchandise Loan Record:
It is the record of every item borrowed from a designer or retailer. There must be three copies: store/designer, persona responsible for return of items, instructor/show coordinator. The Loan Record includes many details like: description of garment, manufacturer, color, date of loan, authorization, who is responsible for returns, where it is store once it’s removed from store, size, price, department and store.
For a successful fashion show, there needs to be a lot of planning and detailed organization. It involves the preliminary preparations of the show. Planning must be appropriate for the type of show and the abilities of the group producing the show. It’s better to do an excellent job on a smaller show, versus a mediocre job on a larger show. Communication is key and must be well defined and functional. The more organized the planning process is, the more confident you will be when the show goes up. There are many contributing factors in planning a good show…
Audience: The first step in planning a fashion show is determining who the audience will be. The merchandise must math the audiences interests. There are two types of audiences. First is Guaranteed, where the audience is established before the show is organized. Second is Created, where it is established after the show is planned. It is the result of publicity and advertising. Audience size is also an important factor. A production or runway show might require a larger audience, versus a smaller audience is more intimate. You must consider the age of the audience and what they are interested in. The audience’s income also influences the style of the show, people with more money will be more willing to buy things off the runway.
Leadership: Fashion Show Coordinator carries the responsibility of producing the show and everything involved. They must be able to communicate with everyone involved both in writing and verbally. Details should be written so everyone can refer back to them. They should have a notebook on every detail of the show: tasks to be completed, follow-up dates, future needs of the show, etc. They must be flexible to work around difficulties when they arise. Modeling Coordinator is responsible for selecting and training models. They coordinate the model’s activities, organizes and supervises modeling rehearsals. They work closely with: merchandise team, modeling coach, beauty technicians, hair and makeup. They must get model’s information; measurements, contact numbers, etc. Staging Coordinator oversees the production of the stage and runway. They supervise people providing services behind the scenes: prop managers, lighting technicians, etc. Promotion Coordinator is accountable for the creation and distribution of promotional materials. There are different factors in promotional needs: Press release, tickets, table decorations, hire photographer, press photographs, invitations, signage. Merchandise Coordinator (that’s ME!) selects appropriate merchandise for the show with other merchandise committee members. They supervise and schedule fittings with models. They are in charge of the model line up for the show. They organize and supervise the dresser and starters behind the stage.
Ok… so it would be incredibly sad if you saw me right now. I’m on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The show my fashion show class is putting on later this spring has made me a little… jumpy. Or maybe it’s the second iced coffee I just inhaled? But still, As Merchandise Coordinator, I have a lot of responsibilities and it’ has me stressin’.
Don’t get me wrong, I L-O-V-E every single bit of the whole planning process of producing a fashion show. It makes me HAPPPPPPPY… ok, I think that was the coffee talking, but yes, I love it. So far, I have about ten stores signed up for the show, give or take a few. I have a committee, and I have separated all the stores into groups and have assigned people to each group. At this point, I really don’t know if anyone is actually doing their jobs. I need to step up my game and make sure we get every thing done by the deadlines I set for us.
I think I need another coffee.
Yes, no… yes… no… YES!
Ahhhh, the inner monologue never stops. Coffee wins.
So anyways, where was I? Oh yes, so maybe it’s just me, but I tend to get over excited or over stressed? I don’t know. One thing I do know is that I need to go to at least two of the stores and pick out about fifty outfits for men and women each. Last weekend, I dragged my friend along with me to one of the stores and I made her try on millions of outfits while I vigorously took notes on the whole ordeal.
This coming Wednesday, we care going to have another model casting call. Last time, we had a good turn out and a lot of people came. The Fashion Show Coordinators weren’t satisfied, so we’re opting for another casting call.
Well, have I accomplished anything yet? I know that I need coffee to help me crack the whip on my little minions to get anything done with this show. Other than that… it’s still a work in process. Oh… wow… my body has started to literally vibrate from the coffee overdose. Barista, time to cut me off.
LAUREN LOOKS FOR A CAREER 