A Successful Start to St Andrew's Fashion Show Season: A review of Catwalk 2022

Words and images by Bibs Malone, Writer

The Candlemas semester at the University of St Andrews can be characterized by its numerous and impressive fashion shows. Last week, Catwalk started off the fashion show season, and had an enormous amount to live up to this year: it was the first show since the Covid-19 pandemic hit. It is fair to say the bar was set extremely high, and in many ways, Catwalk was able to pull it off.

 The Union as the location of the first fashion show was exceptionally fitting. It has a friendly and familiar vibe, making all students, especially those unfamiliar with the fashion show scene, feel welcome. It’s also a convenient commute for most students; rather than travelling half-an-hour to a remote location, students can walk from their own flats.

The event had many strengths and some weaknesses. The stage was fixed and placed at 601 bar, making it easy to see the models from any angle. I am relatively short, 63 inches tall, and I could see the models perfectly from my location in the back. The lighting set the mood for the show, and bright enough to see the designs. But the event’s major issue was the format. I thought the show ended when the auction began; although it gave time for viewers to refill on drinks and use the restroom, there was no build up to the second half. A bit more clarity about the exact layout of the show should have been posted beforehand.

The collections presented in the show were extremely beautiful. A clear standout was the selection created by Emily Robbins. The ability to mesh together a range of bright colours and make them flow together was outstanding. The designs by this creator were complex and extremely detailed; the more closely you look at the work, the more extraordinary they become. Kirsty Lenihan’s collection, featuring classy and chic jackets, was another winner.

The highlight of the show was its finale. The music selection was exciting and hyped up the audience. The atmosphere and the character displayed by the models was fun and made everyone feel included. The presentation and inclusion of the Transgender flag was a stunning climax that caused mouths to drop in awe. The fashion show’s effort to make everyone feel included was amazing and has the potential to set it apart from the rest of the shows held at St Andrews this semester.

The after-party for the show was enjoyable, but definitely not as good as the show. Apart from needing tickets to access the venue, it was not much different from a typical union night. However, it was still fun and a great chance to catch up with friends or meet new ones. Towards the end of the afterparty, the speakers at the 601 experienced some technical difficulties, which made it hard for the performers to showcase everything they prepared. Despite this, DJs such as Ben Sanders performed well and made the afterparty a great experience.

Overall, Catwalk 2022 was a successful start to the semester filled with fashion shows. It was enjoyable and made everyone feel welcomed at the event, which is sometimes not a priority at university events. The pieces and models presented were wonderful and a pleasure to watch. The whole show leaves viewers excited for what Catwalk will do next