Liberty University’s Family and Consumer Science’s 12th Annual Fashion Show is April 6

With trends like chokers, bobbed haircuts and full denim ensembles on the rise, the 1990s may very well be making a comeback.

Well, so are the 1970s. 

And the 1950s.

And the 1920s.

“Fashion Unfolded: A Glimpse into the High-Class Fashion of the Decades” is the theme of Family and Consumer Science’s 12th Annual Fashion Show April 6, and designers are already busy making their vintage masterpieces. 

These outfits take months to complete. Not only do the designers have to conjure up fresh takes on classic outfits, they also have to design each idea on paper and create a pattern — and all of this is before the needle hits the thread. 

“Physically creating (the outfit) and going from the idea to the pattern is very hard,” Wendy Watkins, a fashion design major, said. “However, the tricky part is making sure it happens.”

These designers have no time to slack off. Brie-Anne Kemper, who is also a fashion design major, knows that although she has sewn about one quarter of her garment, she still has a long way to go before the model can walk. 

However, she said sewing is the easiest part — what takes the most effort and mental strain is making sure the audience is impacted by her design. Not everyone was born with a sharp eye and quick finger like she was. Though her design must be creative, it must also be easily understood by
spectators. 

“It is strange coming up with an idea that people who do not understand fashion can see,” Kemper said. “It has to be understood without needing an explanation because I will not always be there to explain it. It is all about
 interpretation.” 

The stress, though taxing, is actually a blessing in disguise. Kemper credits the time crunch with helping her to work under strict deadlines and still make the best product she can. 

Watkins also mentioned that the show “pushes you to challenge yourself in your ability to sew and as a designer.” It has thrown her out of her comfort zone and forced her to think outside the box, fostering skills that will propel her into a career where she will not always have a mentor to advise her. Some problems, she said, you need to figure out for yourself. That is how you learn. That is how you grow.

“When you do not know something, you have to look it up or find someone who knows it, or find a different way to do it — or figure out the skill you need,” Watkins said. 

These designers are just two of many grateful for the opportunity to showcase their skills and potentially show off to future employers. The fashion show is vital to students in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. 

“It gives us an outlet to show that we are not just advice-givers,” Kemper said. “Fashion is more than an expression. It’s an art form. Works of art are going down this runway. When we are able to showcase our talents and abilities, we have more confidence in what we are able to do.”

The annual FACS fashion show will take place Saturday, April 6 in the LaHaye Event Space. Tickets can be purchases in advance
online.