Hey Saxonistas! I’m here to share my designing experience for LHS Fashion Show. You are probably wondering what prompted me to design for the fashion show. Why go through all the work? Here’s my story.

Step 1:  Sketch. The initial, and probably easiest part of this entire process, was coming up with sketches for my design and putting them down on paper.

Step 2: Purchase any materials. It was definitely an easy task to determine what fabrics to use. Yet I stumbled upon the rarity that my model’s size, in the dress pattern, was not available. So I was forced to use a different pattern and make size adjustments about 3 times before I got it right. It was difficult picking a pattern since I had already such a unique and individually planned sketch.

Step 3: Make it. I won’t lie and tell you that it was easy and just came right along. Yet frankly I’m not surprised since I had no previous experience with sewing. At first, I thought, how hard can it be?  Boy was I naive. Even a simple dress consists of several different pieces that must be sewn together correctly to ensure the right form, fit, size and look.

Luckily, my aunt has super sewing powers that I never knew about prior to this. If it wasn’t for her, my dress, to this day, would have been a bunch of pieces and shreds of fabric.

I will admit that at one point or another I did have a mental breakdown that included some tears. I mean, come on! You have other things to deal with such as tests, projects, honor societies, sports just to name a few in your junior year.

Step 4: Practice. Once the dress was finally done, dress rehearsals began. I cannot begin to explain how hectic it was. It was pretty much like a jungle (pun intended) where students were constantly talking and dance routines were bound to go wrong at some point.  Luckily, my scene, Student Design, did not have to dance considering that it would take away from the outfits itself.

Step 5: The Show. As the Fashion Show night rolled around, the dress was hung up, ready to be put on. Since my model, Lucy Gunter, was also a part of the Best Buddies scene (which was a little before the Student Design scene), I had to frantically get her dressed afterwards since Student Design was up right after intermission. In the whole process, I forgot to put on her earrings and bracelet, which I had matched with the dress.

As we came out from behind the curtain on stage to the beat of Ooh La La by Goldfrapp, I felt instanteously nervous to the point that that my lips were shaking as I was smiling. I had to stand on stage with both hands on my hips as my model walked the runway, sporting the dress I had put so much work into.

In the end, from strutting down the run way to our reappearance during the finale, it was all perfect. After the show, I surprised Lucy by letting her keep the dress as a thank you for her patience and cooperation.

Overall, the fashion show was a great experience and I’m glad that I was a part of it.