Model Call for VCU's Annual Juried Fashion Show

The crème de la crème of fashion showcases—Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week—may have just wrapped up in the Big Apple, but for the style conscious at Virginia Commonwealth University, the season is just getting started.

Fashion designer and “Project Runway” judge Michael Kors once said in Interview magazine, “Anyone who tells you that being a designer is easy is full of sh*t.” He also said getting ready to work on a show is one of the “most fabulous parts of being a designer.” No doubt the student designers who will participate in VCU’s Annual Juried Fashion Show feel the same way, judging by all of the work that goes into mounting the big event.

Next week, VCU’s School of Fashion Design and Merchandising kicks off a series of pre-show activities leading up the Annual Juried Fashion Show in May. “Our show is very unique to VCU because every garment featured in the show is designed and made by junior and senior fashion design students,” said Christina Marie Edwards, a senior fashion merchandising student at VCU and member of the fashion show promotions committee.

If you have aspirations to strut your stuff on the runway, you’ll want to attend the first lead-up event, Wednesday, Feb. 22, when organizers host a model call from 5 to 9 p.m. on the 5^th floor of the VCU School of the Arts Pollak Building (325 N. Harrison St.). On that day, fashion show organizers will be auditioning men and women ages 18 and up. Women who try out must have a minimum height of 5 feet 8 inches, while men must be at least 5 feet 11 inches. Women are advised to bring along a pair of 2-inch or higher heels. Prospective models should also expect to have their headshot taken, and don‘t be surprised if you see representatives from Modelogic Wilhelmina, who will be there scouting for new talent.

Later in the spring on three separate days—Wednesday, March 28, Thursday, April 5 and Wednesday, April 11—a series of model workshops will be held during which organizers will teach models to “walk the walk” and perform the necessary show choreography. An expert in the ways of modeling will be on hand to lead the training sessions.

On Friday, April 20, a jury show will take place, at which critics will select the garments that will make it into the show. Edwards said that between 100-125 garments will make the cut. On Friday, May 4, organizers will hold a full dress rehearsal in the Richmond Salons at the VCU Student Commons.

After weeks of preparation, the fashion show will take place Sunday, May 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Louise B. and J. Harwood Cochrane Atrium at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Edwards said VCU’s School of Fashion Design has produced a number of alumni who have moved up the professional ranks to work for such established designers as Isaac Mizrahi, Tracy Reese, Ralph Lauren, Vivienne Westwood, and Alexander McQueen. She cited Donwan Harrell, former owner of urban clothing brand Akademiks and current founder and creative director of luxury denim line Prps as a graduate who has gone on to make a name for himself on the national scene.

So mark your calendars for May 6and hope for a front row seat—you might just have the chance to view the early designs of the next Derek Lam, Rachel Roy, or Rebecca Minkoff.

Click here for the link to the VCU Annual Juried Fashion Show Model Call event on Facebook.

Jennifer Pullinger is a writer and editor in Richmond. Visit her at www.jenniferlpullinger.com or on Twitter @JLPullinger.