Exciting, entertaining, effervescent—those are all adjectives that came to mind as I prepared myself to attend the Black Student Alliance’s annual Fashion Show. This year’s show, entitled “Off the Rack,” was one filled with more than fashion. It featured an assortment of musical talents, such as performances from Rensselaer students, beat boxing—mimicking a beat using nothing more than one’s mouth—and freestyles.
The event, which took place in the McNeil Room of the Student Union, entertained a packed house. The crowd often showed its appreciation and gratification for not only the models, but also the designers, by clapping and cheering loudly.
There was no apparent theme for the fashion show this year. Each individual scene, however, was one that differed from the previous and complemented the next. One of the characteristics that made this year’s Fashion Show a success was the fact that students were both models and entertainers.
This year’s participants were extremely diverse in culture, weight, and height, and added to the overall fluidity of the show. In addition, they were having fun on stage, often adding something special to their walks, as they adorned the spotlight and all the eyes that were on them.
One audience member stated, “I loved how all the models and coordinators worked together to complete a common goal: a successful fashion show for the Rensselaer community.” The show was well-organized, and with the exception of a few minor delays, was extremely well-run.
One scene that many individuals were anticipating was the lingerie scene. This year’s scene was somewhat toned down from last year’s, but still featured elegant lingerie by models who had the courage to display their sexy bedtime attire.
In between the scenes was talent that featured some of the best that RPI had to offer. Several students, and other ensembles, performed to the best of their ability and sounded quite good. One of the downfalls of the musical talent was the vulgar vernacular that some of the artists inhibited. The young children in the front row that were subjected to that type of language had a look of confusion and shock on their faces. Despite that, the music was a good break for the models and definitely added to the entire show.
The Black Student Alliance’s Fashion Show was definitely one that was worth the $5 price of admission. It was a great night for all that were involved. When asked his opinion of the show, viewer and performer Travis Carless of ’07 emphatically stated, “The fashion show was one of the best events of the school year for me, and it was fun for both the individuals in it and the individuals watching it. I think there should be more events like this one at Rensselaer.” After viewing this show, I am definitely looking forward to other events that BSA offers.
This year’s Fashion Show was part of an ongoing project for Black History Month that the Black Student Alliance takes great pride in supporting. Regarding this organization, an Executive Board Member commented that, “BSA is a great organization on campus that is open to all individuals of Rensselaer. It encourages people of all types to participate in various events and have a good time!”
