?If you are organising a fashion show – whether it’s to showcase your own work, for the shop you work for, or for charity – it can be difficult to know where to start. With so many people naturally involved, it means that you have to rely on others to turn up and take to the catwalk. In order to make it all go as smoothly as possible, we’ve broken everything you need to do into these six easy steps.
Step 1: Venue
There’s no show without a venue, so this
should be the first thing that you tick off of your list. The great thing about
a fashion show is that they can really happen anywhere that has the space. If
you’re hosting it for a charity event and don’t have a large budget, a bar or
town hall will work just as well as anywhere else. If your fashion show needs
to be a bit more upmarket, say if it is for wedding dresses or your own brand-new
collection as a designer, then there are loads of fashion show venues for hire
in London. Any space can be turned into a catwalk, so now is the time to let
your imagination run wild. After all, a fashion show is the ideal place to let
your personality shine.
Step 2: Theme
If you’ve designed your own collection, you’ll
already probably have a theme in mind, but this is essential when viewing different
venues and when it comes to styling your models. Your theme will decide what
your whole event looks like. If you own a boutique store or are hosting a
charity event, you need to come up with a theme that really represents what it
is that you’re trying to achieve. Remember, this is a fashion show, so if you
want to go a bit out there, you can! Just make sure that you have the budget,
and that the venue you have in mind both fits with the theme and can be
decorated further to match.
Step 3: Get the Models
You won’t have a fashion show if you don’t
have models, so sorting them out for the date is essential. Remember that they
will also need to be free for fittings beforehand, and maybe even a hair and
make-up trial. If they are just going to turn up on the night, then the outfits
are unlikely to fit correctly. When it comes to a fundraising event, you’ll
need to put the call-out early that you are looking for volunteers. It’s
important to stress that if they do agree to model that they follow through, as
last-minute models that fit the same clothes can be hard to find! For paid
models, consider the look that you’re going for when choosing, and the type of
clothes they’ll be wearing. The more previous experience they have, the better.
Step 4: Organise the Clothes
It’s time to get the clothes for the
fashion show ready. If you are the designer, getting your models in early for a
fitting is absolutely essential. If you are choosing the clothes from various
designers, be careful that they fit with the theme that you have. While you
might love the look of something, a fashion show should all be supported by the
theme. This shows that care has gone into choosing the individual looks.
Sometimes, a fashion show is used as a platform to showcase multiple designers.
If this is the case, theme is less important as each will be different.
However, there should still be something that holds them together. For example,
your overarching theme could be occasion wear, or summer wear. This will give
you a lot of scope without anything looking too out of place.
Step 5: Hire Hair and Make-up Artists
Second only to the clothes is what the hair
and makeup looks like on your models. This can easily change the look of the
whole event, and so it’s important that you hire someone with the skills to
bring your vision to life. If your budget is tight, look into hiring some people
from a local hair and make-up academy. They’ll still be able to do fantastic
work, but at lower prices. Allow them to take pictures for their portfolios as
well! Having a trial with a couple of the models is key to really see how the
full look will come together. It’s best for all the models to have the same
type of hair and make-up as much as possible, although of course this will
differ if there are different designers involved.
Step 6: Promote Your Event
If there’s no one watching, there’s no
fashion show. That’s why it’s so important to start promoting your event early.
To begin with, announce the date on all of your social media channels, before releasing
more and more exciting information! While social media and emails are key, don’t
forget about printed flyers. Post these around the city and you’re sure to get
some people interested. It’s important that you make tickets for the event easy
to get a hold of, particularly online. You will have to pick a fair price for them.
Consider having an early bird discount for those that are really keen to
attend. This will encourage people to buy as it will only stay at the lower
price for a short amount of time.
Whether you’re showcasing top designers or
trying to raise a bit of money for a local charity, a fashion show is always a
fun and exciting event to attend. Making sure that you get the correct venue in
London is key as well as choosing a theme that your audience is going to fall
in love with. Plan it carefully, and you’ll have a fashion show where everyone
feels like a star.
Fashion shows are often held in unusual and unique spaces, but the venue should reflect the aesthetic of the show so it’s good to know what pieces will be on the runway before you start looking for the right space. Some brands prefer working with venues that haven’t been used for a fashion show before, so the first thing you need to ask the venue manager is whether this is their first! Consider looking at old warehouses, empty offices and private car parks as they’re often popular choices.
When you’re organising a fashion show it can be tempting to think you’ll just need space for the runway and seating, but delve a little deeper and you’ll quickly realise you’ll need a lot of space! Have a think about how much storage you need for the clothes, as well as dressing rooms with space for hair and make-up for the models. If it’s a ticketed event you may need a foyer and a cloakroom, and if you’d like your guests to mingle afterwards, you’ll probably want to provide refreshments too.
Fashion show venues may need a lot of space, but they may not need too many facilities. You are likely to need audio-visual equipment, so make sure you have somewhere to plug in your lights, or a space to house a generator. You may also want to check whether you can drive up to a loading bay to make the set-up and get out as quick and easy as possible.
Whether you work for a large fashion house or are looking to start your own, organising this kind of event is a fun and creative experience. Consider what you’d like the outcome to be: is it to showcase the clothes, raise money for charity, or just for fun? Knowing why you’re organising a fashion show will help you plan what you need to do next.