SBLA Fashion Show educates
The Student Business Leadership Academy put on its annual fashion show Oct. 28 to educate and amuse students.
The Schwitzer Student Center was transformed into a New York-style fashion scene, with lights, music and an authentic runway that was courtesy of Greyhound Production Services. Students filled the atrium to learn what to wear and what not to wear in business situations.
Junior business major Miranda Chapman helped coordinate the event and explained why it was important for students.
“A major problem with students is that they’re not showing up ideally dressed for interviews,” Chapman said. “The fashion show was created last year to provide UIndy students with information on what to wear to a business professional/business casual setting.”
The show began with emcee and professional image consultant Kathy Friend explaining to students in attendance that their “visual” resume is just as important as their actual resume. She emphasized that many students try to land jobs in attire that is too casual.
As the show began, student models strutted down the runway. The men were dressed in different colors of suits with different cuts, while the women wore a mix of skirts, pantsuits and dresses. During the first run, all of the models displayed their business professional attire.
In the second half of the show, the models changed their tone and outfits. The men came down the runway in different combinations of sweaters, casual shirts and relaxed slacks, while the women sported more colorful dresses and tops with flashier accessories.
The show had a lighter side, as faculty of the School of Business modeled what not to wear. Associate Professor Chris Harris sported a 90s theme mullet and overalls outfit, Acting Dean and Associate Manager of Supply Chain Management Karl Knapp wore an 80s rocker outfit and Assistant Professor of Marketing Deidre Pettinga dressed up as a Woodstock hippie. MBA Programs Manager Kimberly Lord modeled a big 1950s ensemble and Faculty Adjunct Michele Dow dressed in her best Jimmy Buffet Parrothead regalia.
The event was sponsored by Kohl’s, which donated all of the clothes; Aveda Salon, which did all of the makeup for the models; and Moxi Salon, which styled the models’ hair. All of the outfits were put together by Friend.
Junior business major and event coordinator Elizabeth Hale praised Friend for her knowledge of fashion and for giving her time to make the show a success.
“She [Friend] was perfect to work with,” Hale said. “She knew how to match the clothes with each of the models and their skin tone, personality and figure.”
Hale was a fashion show model this year and was excited because she could help students gain an edge. She said that students had a “general idea” of business attire as being the black pants suit, but she hoped she could show them that business fashion could be fun and not just stuffy and conservative. Hale also hoped she could help them zero in on the perfect look to land a job.
“I think the fashion show was able to show students how to branch out into dresses and different colored suits. They were trendy styles, yet still professional,” she said.
The SBLA Fashion Show gave both male and female students an in-depth view of business professional and casual looks. The event had a larger turnout than last year at 250 spectators and is scheduled to take place again in 2014.
