Flashy colors and wide brimmed hats graced Lee Hall Auditorium last Tuesday as hundreds gathered to celebrate 44 years of Ebony Fashion Fair.
The theme for this year’s show was “Changing the Trends of Fashion,” and the innovative use of fur and leather made this an appropriate theme.
“With the ‘Changing Trends’, we are showcasing trends that people are wearing which you don’t see everyday,” said Dayjaney Duger, an Ebony Fashion Fair model from Carpentersville, Ill.
The fashion extravaganza showcased some of the best designers and fashions.
The fashion trends ranged from cultural designs and exotic prints to lingerie, swimwear and evening gowns. Bob Mackie, GiGi Curiel, Missoni, Givenchy, and Lo & Johnson were some of the famous designers showcased.
“The Ebony Fashion Fair brings a variety of styles to Tallahassee and it offers a tremendous blend of business casual and formal attire styles and some of which are provocative,” said Interim President Henry Lewis III.
“It takes us about an hour to prepare for the show-45 for hair and 15-minutes for make-up,” said Duger.
Joell Arnold, 21, a junior psychology student from Jacksonville enjoyed the new styles.
“The show kept us in touch with the fashion world,” he said
The Ebony Fashion Fair band played soulful ballads and hip-hop beats.
The music complimented the models as they promenaded down the runway.
In Act 1, as exotic prints were displayed, the finger snapping tunes of Janet Jackson’s All For You was played.
The energetic band also played India Arie’s Brown Skin as the audience was mesmerized by seductive lingerie.
Miss FAMU, Nicole Sims and Mr. FAMU, Maurice Warren, along with Dr. Otis Kirksey and Dr. Joseph Webster were named Tallahassee’s best dressed.
Additionally, Karen Colson, Dr. Janet M. Sermon, Dr. Theresa Shotwell and Dr. Arthur Washington received high marks for their trendy and fashionable wardrobes.
“I thought the show was very interesting. [The models wore] innovative attire, they were fairly good…very unique in presentation,” said Maurice Jackson, 19, a sophomore from Chicago.
Vernell McCray, director of the fashion show, said, “This show was an eloquent yet worthwhile event.
It provided for the cause of the students.”
Diane Hall, publicity chair for the fashion fair, said, “This was truly a Calgon- take-me-away experience.”
The Ebony Fashion Fair was a dessert for the eyes, but more importantly the funds went toward student scholarships.