I recently put on a fashion show at Johnson & Wales University. The fashion show was to prepare the students for an upcoming Career Conference to show them what is appropriate for interviewing and what professional dress looks like. It has been quite a few years since I was a college student- young and naive but thought I knew everything. Times have not changed. It was an interesting (and worthwhile) process to work with 18-21 year olds planning, fitting student models, and executing the show.
The model fittings was the most interesting and challenging part. I worked with Lynda from Macy’s by Appointment (Cherry Creek North) and 2 volunteer students (Robert and David) to pull the clothing and shoes prior to the actual fittings. The goal was to find clothing that was fun, hip, and professional but not in the Junior Department. We wanted to help the students understand that you can find younger looking professional attire in the Women’s and Men’s departments that is still budget friendly and not old and stodgy.
When the student models first arrived, some were a little hesitant about the clothing we had selected for them- until they tried the pieces on. They actually loved the way they looked and embraced the whole process. They asked a ton of questions about why we selected certain items, how to wear accessories and hosiery, and how to mix and match the suits into separates.
The fashion show was a huge success! Not only did I teach the students about professional dress, but they taught me a few things as well. I learned how to communicate with a younger generation, how to be more flexible, and how to have a whole lot of patience.
Tina’s Tip: Be open to new and challenging situations and ask a lot of questions. You are sometimes the teacher and sometimes the student. The more questions you ask, the more you will learn about others and about yourself.
