This week was our city's Fashion Week. Yes, I said it. Kind of like New York and Paris Fashion Week, just in Richmond. A much smaller scale, of course. I was able to attend the "Uncorked" event on Tuesday night which was held at The Wine Loft in Short Pump. Short Pump is in the western suburbs of Richmond. It's a very established new, "hot" community with a lot of new development and with that a lot of new money.
Normally fashion week events take place in Richmond city in the downtown area, so this was a fresh change for an event to take place near me.
I attended with two of my peers and we weren't sure what to expect at all.
A bit of background... About 3 years ago when RVA Fashion Week first began, I was fortunate enough to be involved with my company and provide fashions for the runway. It was a great experience, although very hectic. The models were amazing, the fashion was very edgy and fashion forward, and the venues pumped with enthusiasm, fun and excitement.
Now this year... not so much. Although my company was not involved this year (by no fault of my own), it was NOT what I expected and did not impress me.
Harsh? Maybe. The truth? Definitely.
This year the event I attended was unorganized, not energetic and was a true let down. I had no idea what designs I was looking at.
I didn't know any background on the designers until after the fact, when I found a blogger on here http://percentblog.blogspot.com/ that had posted some info about the designers.
It was over in about an hour and a half and that was only when we saw the models walk out of the front door with their canvas totes over their shoulders.
The make-up left something to be desired (in the pictures of other shows as well).
The hair was atrocious, with one girl in a messy ponytail.
The models were positioned in front of a glass wall for their posing time, where the photogs took pictures of the designs (when taking flash photos, this doesn't work well)
I couldn't find a theme in the whole show either.
Now I do understand there are different designers, but when you do a show you must group them together, so that the audience's perception of one designer isn't actually what another designer is trying to convey.
pictures from the show on GayRVa.com
Not only was the show a disorderly mess, the venue seemed to be full of people who were there "to be seen".
Now I get this. It's Short Pump, you go there to be seen. That's a given. This was a full on junior/senior prom night though with people wandering around looking for their friends and asking their acquaintances "where's so-and-so". I understand looking for a friend, but when I take note of it, there is clearly a disconnect. And yes, it was that many people doing this and other "high school" things to make me blog about it. I'm not exaggerating. At one point I was telling one of my peers to look around and notice that not many people were even giving their attention to the models and designs being displayed around the room. So frustrating for me and I'm not even one of the designers being featured.
The pictures I saw from the other events that I wasn't able to attend were more than lackluster, and downright pitiful excuses for fashion. They were so out of the box that they weren't even fashionable anymore.
Now, don't get me wrong. I am in NO way the most fashionable person in this city, but the designs I saw in the pictures left my jaw on the floor. These are the pictures that I'm talking about...
Yeah there are a few that strike me, most of those are the all black outfits. That's it. Black hides everything though, right? You can gather your own opinion, if you can stomach the pictures.
I applaud the people who have put together this week and have done so the past 4 years. The show is not getting better, but worse and I feel sorry for the whole team who is really trying to get Richmond on the fashion map. I can't change the world though, all I can do is show up, form an opinion and seek out the great designs that are hiding somewhere in the disorganization.
It's unfortunate really, because there are some great sponsors that do a lot for this weeks events and really help our community. I shouldn't have a bad taste in my mouth, but I really do. I hope next year is better.
Below are the links to the designers whose jewelry was featured at the event I attended.
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