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On Friday, Feb. 25, the Student Union Building Auditorium was transformed into a catwalk for the Black Student Union's 40th Annual Fashion Show.
"The Elements of Fashion: 7 Deadly Sins" was the daunting yet creative theme for this year's show. Envy, wrath, greed, lust, sloth, pride and gluttony all made appearances on the stage in the form of clothing that was, for the most part, planned accordingly.
While the show was advertised as displaying clothes that would be hot for the spring, many of the outfits, although fashion-forward, would simply be inappropriate for actual wear. Big-time designers are notorious for outrageous collections, but I was caught off-guard and, at times, pleasantly surprised by the same idea on a college campus.
Jeans ripped dangerously high on the thigh, sparkling costume-like bikinis and barely-there skirts were just a few examples of the many raunchy outfits presented on stage.
Other fashion staples may not have been quite as risqué per se, but may better be referred to as silly. Puffy tutus, bulky neck adornments, enormous bows and even a novelty belt streaming with newspapers would, in real life, all certainly be given a number of interested double-takes.
The two most intriguing sets of the show were the sins of gluttony and, not surprisingly, lust.
The idea of presenting gluttony in the form of fashion is mildly humorous. Mix in some outfits that make models look like cupcakes while holding an actual cupcake, frosting provocatively licked off, of course, and the obviousness almost comes off as creative.
Lust was, to the joy of the audience, quite explicit as well.
Being that this event was a fashion show, it was not expected that all of the clothing should be modest. However, acting played a large part in the entertainment value of the show and many of the models were instructed to behave in a way that many would consider less than respectable.
In the lust segment, the objectification of several well-built male models was extremely high.
It should be noted, though, that this is a large part of the reason why the show was so entertaining for many members of the audience, much of which was dressed less than modestly as well.
Dressed perfectly appropriately, however, Matt Rubin, Student Government President, made a special appearance on the catwalk, sporting a red faux-hawk. Cheers playfully erupted from the audience as he took off his black suit jacket.
The high amount of crowd interaction, loudly resonating popular music, and a noble monetary incentive made up for a bit of the fashion show's objectivity and whacky accessories.
Two scholarships were awarded to two deserving students from the proceeds of the show. Although these students may not have the opportunity to try on the beautiful rainbow-feather pants presented in the show, useful and practical money with origins in the fashion industry is certainly a success in and of itself.
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