The spectacular show that captured the attention of students and parents alike lasted only 2 ½ hours, but the preparation extended far before the curtain went up and the models took the runway.
The preparation began with a date in mind, 39 Fashion 2 students, and the pressure to put on a sold-out show. “We’ve never had a show where we’ve not sold out,” said Fashion Marketing teacher Ms. Tricia Poythress. The directors were chosen, senior Jenna Weida and junior Lori Kealey, and the students were divided into three committees: Public Relations, Arts and Decoration and Music and Choreography.
With about 800 seats in the auditorium, and a bar to reach, it was important that the marketing aspect of the show was successful. In the days leading up to the show, paw prints made the first appearance, closely followed by the many posters and feathers that adorned the halls. Faculty got involved by displaying a glitter covered “king” or “queen” of the jungle poster on their doorways.
“They’re given the date, then came up with the theme. One person came up with the cheetah paw prints, another with the gold outline, and they ran with it,” said Poythress.
In total, there were 30 teacher signs, 45 large posters, 127 cheetah paw prints, and 267 feathers throughout the school. A large snake, 12 hanging birds and 17 patterned lanterns also filled the cafeteria. And that was just for the students. Fashion students also painted the rock, and fliers were sent home in elementary school weekly folders.
“Making the signs and the murals on the day of the show was extremely time consuming. Making posters took about 3 hours and for the intricate murals some of them were 10+ hours,” said junior fashion student Selma Pulak, a member of the Public Relations Committee.
However, some people had mixed emotions about the different advertisements that were hung around the school. But, it was evident that effort was involved in capturing the eyes of many students. “I think their advertising allowed more people to come and they were really good at marketing all their ideas. Some things that they did were a little too much, but I still liked it,” said freshman Hannah Hunt.
Many wondered where all the money went. The fact is, almost all the money got used to help create the best fashion show possible. “We don’t do anything halfway,” said Poythress. The supplies, decorations and set design are just a couple of the different aspects that the money was put towards.
Many business partners were used for the couture and hairstyles of the models as well. Among them were Cache, responsible for all the prom dresses, and Paul Mitchell, in charge of the different hairstyles.
The ability for Langley’s Fashion department to acquire stunning dresses year after year is the meticulous manner in which they are handled. The fitting for models is a couple weeks before the show, and a few hours before the actual event the dresses are brought in by members of Cache’s staff, who sit in the audience during the show and remove the dresses immediately after the show, except if a model wants to buy their dress to wear for prom.
Although the theme of the fashion show changes every year, the marketing strategy and level of work by Fashion students seems to remain the same.