Vaudeville Fashion Design Show keeps growing

Dalhousie’s Vaudeville Fashion Design Show is back. March 5 marks the fourth annual exhibition of local talent, where designers and models get to show their skills on the runway.

“This is our biggest year so far,” says Katie Wilkins, a member of the show’s organizing committee.

The 2017 show features 11 collections with garments worn by 60 models. Model castings are held in October, and the emphasis of the modelling selection is on body positivity.

“There’s really no criteria (for being a model) — as long as you’re enthusiastic and willing to do it,” Wilkins says.

Fellow committee member and model Maddie Milne agrees. “It’s solely based on your personality,” she says. “And your ability to walk in heels as well, but we don’t judge models on body, ethnicity or sex, gender, anything. It’s very wide open.”

The show’s purpose is not only to display Haligonian talent, but also to highlight the fact that fashion should be accessible to everyone, regardless of size and shape.

“There’s no wrong way to have a body,” says Milne.

The proceeds from this year’s ticket sales to the show will go to Laing House, an organization that supports youth struggling with mood disorders, anxiety and psychosis.

The Signal visited participating designer Kristen Reid to catch a rehearsal prior to the show in March.

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