Saint Louis University’s Vogue club hosted its fall semester fashion showcase on Sunday, Nov. 16. SLU Vogue’s models wore outfits spotlighting four local designers for an audience of more than 200 students, friends, family and designers.
The night started off with an opening speech from emcee Brittany Nicole, a St. Louis local and an accessory and handbag designer, along with a poem from local poet Andrea Hudson titled “Moon to Sun.”
The poem reflected on the show’s theme of “Solar vs. Lunar,” written from the perspective of the moon itself and ending with the line, “signed, the Moon.” Hudson said the poem was written to describe how polarizing opposites can complement one another.
The show was split into two sections, day and night. The day portion started with designers WEAKAMO, BBQue and Chunky’s Vintage.
The models kicked off the night section of their show with a dance number. While changing for the fourth designer, PLEX WORLDWIDE, another audience participation section was held. Nicole brought her own mother out of the audience and onto the runway.
During PLEX WORLDWIDE’s portion of the show, one phrase was prominently displayed on every piece: “PLEX WORLDWIDE don’t forget to pray.”
“I want to make praying a motto. Whenever someone looks at my brand, I want that slogan to be right after,” PLEX WORLDWIDE designer Promise H said.
Promise touched on the history of PLEX WORLDWIDE, describing how she started the company with her late aunt, making clothes she could not afford, until eventually she started making her own designs.
“I feel like it is important to showcase local designers; it does not have to be a global thing to be important,” Promise said.
When reflecting on the show, SLU Vogue president and co-founder Riviera Ell had a clear favorite moment.
“Behind the stage, when I know that the crowd is participating, that’s the part that gives me the most joy,” Ell said. “I’m cheesing and cheering them on.”
Vogue has been important to Ell since high school, where she participated all four years, but was especially important when she came to SLU. Vogue gave her a space, especially at a predominantly white institution, where she felt she could express herself.
She also spoke to the impact Vogue had on her personal development and growth as a student and young professional.
“In high school, I was really shy and I was trying to work on gaining that sense of confidence, and doing vogue made me who I am,” she said. “It doesn’t stop on the runway. That confidence? You take it with you into an interview or into a classroom.”
SLU Vogue has several more events lined up this semester and next. They will be at two upcoming women’s basketball games this semester, and next semester they have two big shows planned: one for Valentine’s Day in February and one spring showcase in April.
They are also performing this Saturday, Nov. 22, at the International Student Federation’s talent show.
SLU Vogue is on Instagram at @sluvogue where they post announcements on their upcoming events. For those interested in joining, they are planning on hosting auditions in the spring for the next semester’s models.
Ell commented on people who feel hesitant to become a part of the SLU Vogue community because they feel they need to look a specific way.
“We are just looking for you to be yourself,” Ell said. “And so if that is what has been stopping you, please join.”
