To put on a very polished fashion parade, it takes a LOT of resources, as I have learned. You can always find an audience, because fashion shows are so popular, but you need to have fabulous clothes, shoes to go with each outfit, models, people to help the models change their clothes, hairstylists, make-up, a catwalk, lighting, drinks, marketing material etc, etc.

So what do you do when you DON’T HAVE those resources? Well, you go right ahead and have a fashion show anyway.

I was invited to a little fundraising fashion show called “2/3rds”, put on by the Central Institute’s Fashion Course in my home town. The students are fundraising for their much more glamorous, better resourced graduation show in December.

The weird! I can see the intention and concept in these outfits, which is quite exciting, but I think the designers have a bit more work to do. I notice she has no shoes.

The actual parade of models went very smoothly, winding its way through a large exhibition gallery with no catwalk, and the make-up and hair was great.

I also know for a fact that the teachers of fashion courses often like the students to have a “trial run” show before their real one, so the students can see just how wrong a fashion show can go!

And the wonderful! Modern-Grunge-rework-of-Classic-Elegance (but still no shoes) for her, and Drapey-Streetwear for him. Cool looks.

I love these “non-catwalk” shows, because they are always a little chaotic, and you get more surprises. They are often so raw and honest.

The only real problem with having no catwalk was that there was no special position for the photographers to stand in, so although they were all very polite to one another before the show started, it all turned into a mess when the models arrived.

Hence, my husband-turned-photographer for the evening had other photographers leaning into his view, as you can see in the edge of some of the pics above. Oh well, all part of the fun! (This doesn’t happen with professional fashion photographers, since they aggressively defend their space in a strict pecking order!)

So strange to see a picture of me, not taken by me! Stolen by my husband. Hence the disapproving look on my face.

Most notable features of the show – an encouraging amount of men’s fashion! And I admire that all of the female models were barefoot, which was a nice way to make a theme out of a limitation.

But, you know, even though I grew up running around barefoot on a tropical island, I just don’t feel a woman’s outfit is complete without shoes!