Fashion Showcase Brings Together Magazine And Student Group

With lights flashing and music blasting, all eyes were on the runway. And to the sounds of “Beyond Right Now” by Sound Tribe Sector 9, the first model, Ali Miller, burst onto the runway, struck a pose and strutted down the 16-foot stage.

With such fanfare at Awful Arthur’s Restaurant this week, 16 Blocks magazine hosted its second annual fashion show.

The fashion show’s theme was recession chic, dress up economy down. This year’s show focused on looks for less money. The theme of last year’s show was fashion as art.

The show was a fundraiser for 16 Blocks Presents to support local arts in the Blacksburg area. 16 Blocks Presents allows the magazine to host other showcases of art.

Hart Fowler, editor-in-chief and publisher for 16 Blocks, said, “Fashion goes well with our magazine. Through 16 Blocks Presents we host all different types of shows, like music shows, art shows, graffiti art contests, comedy shows and more.”

16 Blocks Presents hosts different events every month or two, which Fowler usually tries to couple with a new magazine release. These events bring large crowds and showcases all different forms of art.

Admission to the event was $5 per person. With the large crowd that came out (Fashion Design and Merchandise Society’s treasurer Blair Brown estimated that there were about 150 people there) the effort raised about $750.

The event started at 7 p.m. with a cocktail hour and the show began at 8:30 p.m. and lasted till 9:30 p.m. on the second floor of the restaurant.

The fashion show showcased designs by Mad Dog, 310 Rosemont, Kid Dangerous, Greenhouse and Virginia Tech designers. Each model wore four to seven different looks.

“It could be a little chaotic back in the dressing rooms," said sophomore model Kristen DeAngelis. "A few times when I got off the runway I had to run and have people help me change just so I got back on the runway in time. I was nervous at first, but I had so much fun.”

“I would say it went very very well. It went by very fast, but I think everyone had a blast. It was a big success,” said director of the fashion show, Millie Alspaugh. Alspaugh is Fashion Merchandise & Design Society’s philanthropy chair. She organized the event along with other members and the magazine.

There were 16 female models and six males in the show. The female models had their hair and make up done by Images by B, located in University Mall.

“It was so nerve-racking to be up there. I’ve never done anything like this, but I had so much fun. I really liked the clothes I wore,” said sophomore model Sarah Kohart.

The show was fast-paced and seemed to have kept the audience’s attention. “I went to see friends who were modeling, I had a great time. The whole setup looked very professional; I also liked that the models were Virginia Tech students,” said Fatima Kotchieva, an onlooker from the audience.

With the show’s continued success, FMDS and 16 Blocks magazine plan to host the third annual show next fall.