When Naomi asked me to model in her personal project fashion show I couldn’t say anything but yes. Modelling has always been something I want to do, but I also wanted it to be in a safe environment considering the modelling industry is so toxic with beauty standards. Its driven me away from it in the past but this was the perfect opportunity to have fun whilst being able to add onto my professional repertoire.
I joined the 4 other models (Rupasha, Aryaa, Senaka, and Irina) at Naomi’s house to prepare for the show. On the first day we were measured at every point on our body to ensure the fit of the clothes would be perfect. I found this very informative as I discovered how many different parts of the body need to be accounted for when making clothing. For example a top needs to fit around the bust, but also not be took loose around the midriff. The next time we all gathered was to try on the clothes for the first time to see if any altercations had to be made. In my case, there were a few important details; shorts needed to be a bit longer, a skirt was too tight making it difficult to get in and out off. All issues that took minimal effort to solve but were important to. Not just because it made the outfits look better, but because it would be more comfortable for the model wearing them. The comfort of the models was a priority for Naomi at all times which I am extremely grateful for.
There were 3 different collections:a beachy attire, elegance fit for the most fashionable balls of the season, and a futuristic look. Since they were such a stark contrast in vibes, I had to change the way I walked the catwalk to them. Not only was it important to match the speed of the song, but also give the audience an idea of how it felt to wear these things, transporting them to the beach, the ball, and the future. I practiced at home to the songs and found myself challenged by them. They were a lot slower than regular runway songs, which have a beat similar to a fast walking pace for the models to strut to. I adjusted by speed and added the drama each piece needed through my poses and facial expressions instead. Remaining conscious of the length of the runway, I needed to ensure the whole audience had time to take in every piece of the clothes.
When the day of the event came, I was nervous to say the least. My family was attending and so were my friends, but also people I had not interacted much with before. There was also a professional photography and filming crew recording every moment of the day. However many new things were coming my way I still found it to be enjoyable.
As we saw the stage setup for the first time, we were mentored by a professional model who walked Colombo fashion week, who taught us how walk the runway, to strike a pose, and how long we should wait before doing the next one. She showed us which formation to walk in and how to use our surroundings to know when to stop or go. I felt confident in my poses, and when not so in the speed of my walks she demonstrated side by side with me guiding me down the runway.
After much practice, the time finally arrived for us to strut the runway. Out of all the looks my favourite had to be the second one. I felt elegant as ever dressed in a flowy skirt that hugged my figure, the colours of which accentuating my skin tone, a top that exposed my midrif, and heels I surprisingly held my own in. I not only felt the most pretty in this but also the most confident. This was the way I wanted to present myself and I had just done so with grace. I loved how confident the outfit made me feel.
Now some might say that the best takeaway from this show was getting to take part, or getting to keep the clothes. But for me, it was the experience. As my CAS blog can support, I am always on the lookout for a new experiences. People can call me a jack-of-all trades master of none but they miss out on the second part of that quote. The most important one. In its whole the quote reads:
A jack of all trades is a master on none, but oftentimes is better than a master in one.
And for all its worth I find that beautiful.
