Small Town Big Style: Pardon Fashion Show-Spring 2011

Although I grew up about 30 minutes away from Menomonie, WI and it too is a small town there is still a present culture shock in my system. The Twin Cities to many city goers is nothing more than a small city that just does not have what the big cities do. However, when you go from small town WI to "big city" Minneapolis and then back to small town WI that throws a bit of a shock in the mix. There is nothing that will change the situation that I am in when it comes to school location so I have to make the best of my environment and the lack of excitement around me. This past weekend though I was pleasantly surprised with the chance to volunteer some time for a fashion show in this small college town. I was not expecting much from the show but, I was so happy to be proven wrong.

Pardon: This show was created just last year by two University of Wisconsin-Stout students who were former apparel design majors. They both had a vision to create a wonderful fashion show to bring more awareness about fashion to the area. With about 20 talented designers and around 70 models this show was one of the best I have worked on thus far. There was even a New York Fashion Week designer showing her pieces at the show by the name of, Adrienne Yancy (http://www.etsy.com/shop/arielsimone). After the rehearsal the night before the show the workers and designers were all treated to a meal at Mona Lisa's in Eau Claire, WI (http://www.monalisas.biz/). One of the sponsors had all the food picked out and paid for all drinks. We were treated to cheese plates, flat bread pizzas, along with various breads and butters. It was a wonderful chance to talk about the industry and meet some really interesting and talented people. The actual day of the show was filled with floor and run way set construction and model hair and makeup. The popularity of the show was amazing and because of space limitation we had to turn away a huge line of people.