Facs Fashion Show Hosts Tryouts for Models

Lights, camera, walk! The Liberty University family and consumer sciences department is having its 16th annual fashion show. Designers gathered in DeMoss Hall to find the perfect model to display the designs in the fashion show, which will go live in April 2022. 

The theme for this year’s show is “Blueprint Couture: Where Fashion Meets Architecture.” According to the fashion show director Matalie Howard, this particular theme has been on her agenda for years. 

Nearly 150 students responded to the casting call. Students from all over Liberty’s campus walked the runway in front of the designers, each vying for a chance to walk in the big show in April. Dressed in black tops and denim pants and assigned a number, students with varying levels of modeling experience showed up to the open casting call. A faux runway was marked on the floor with tape, and hopeful models were asked to walk the path to show off their skills. 

The fashion show is a great way for students to gain professional experience in the fashion industry by creating garments from scratch. 

“The goal this year — as with every year that we have this show — is for my students to get experience in the fashion industry,” Howard said. “It’s so cool for students to see their work on the runway come April.”

The theme for this year’s show was announced at the designer interest meeting, and soon after, each designer started thinking about his or her unique design. The goal of this year’s theme is for students to select an architectural structure that is significant to them and create a piece that appropriately reflects the architecture. Many of the designers selected iconic structures from around the world as their inspiration, whereas others picked a place that means a lot to them personally, such as a childhood home. 

“My inspiration this year is the Nathan Moore-Dugal House by Frank Lloyd Wright,” designer Brittany Romano said. “I want to find a model who could showcase his detailed work.”

After the open casting call, models have their headshots taken, and those photos are placed in the model catalog. Designers then line up outside of the FACS office in hopes of selecting the model they feel can reflect their design the best way. This is a “first-come, first-served” event, so showing up early is vital to ensure that each designer gets their choice model. 

Model coordinator Grace Alioth said that the turnout for the model casting was better than they had expected, and the FACS department is optimistic about this year’s show. With COVID-19 restrictions having been lifted, the fashion show team hopes to have a full audience this year. 

As in the previous show, the 2022 fashion show will be held in the School of Music, and tickets will be released closer to the show. 

Farmerie is a feature writer.