Creating and Planning
the Event
Many students at ASU have found ways to grow their career skills outside of the classroom by joining on-campus and local clubs. One of those clubs, Style Line Magazine, has given fashion students the opportunity to advance their skill set.
This past semester, Allie Woodard, Style Line’s Director of Finance, organized and hosted the club’s Issue VI launch party, but this time with a twist. She decided to incorporate a fashion show titled “Symphony of Style” into the event. The show spotlighted six student designers at ASU with a wide range of fashion experience.
Style Line's latest issue was placed all throughout the bottom floor of Fusion on First on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
This process served as a learning opportunity for many different students who want to pave a path into the fashion world. Designers not only got to style garments but create them. Models received an inside look at fittings and learned to strut in front of an audience. As for Woodard, she got to use this experience as part of her Barrett thesis and gain insight on event planning within the fashion industry.
During the first stages of planning, Woodard first had to come up with the event’s theme.
“Basically, my whole idea was how [Style Line] has so many people that come together to create this one beautiful piece like an orchestra comes together to create one beautiful piece,” said Woodard. “So, I kind of connected the two and that’s why I called it Symphony of Style.”
The show also featured string music that played throughout the launch party and individual pieces that played during the runway shows.
Model casting calls were held from Feb. 25-26 in Studio 341 at Fusion on First in downtown Phoenix. Each was asked to dress in fitted, black clothing, as well as submit an application prior to the call with their measurements and experience. After the two days of strutting and posing had finally come to an end, the designers deliberated and messaged their chosen models to let them know which, if any, show they booked.
As the designers were busy turning their sketches into reality, the models were anxiously awaiting the first fitting on March 26. By this time, styles should ideally be half-finished and ready for models to try on to avoid the need for major alterations and to solidify which model will strut each look.
Three weeks later, Woodard held the dress rehearsal for Symphony of Style. Here, models, designers and members of the magazine met to discuss the layout of the launch party and the structure of the runway.
Woodard created a map of the first floor of Fusion, as well as demonstrated herself, how to walk the runway.
She then allowed for the designers and models to break and head upstairs for a second fitting and to discuss makeup/hair styling. There, each of the designers played their chosen string music and described how they wanted the models to walk, as well as the vibe they should embody with their attitude and facial expression. Many designers had Pinterest boards that they showed their models to help describe what they were looking for.
She then advertised the need for student designers by talking to members of her club, announcing the request on their social media accounts, and even asking the fashion professors to advertise the event within their classes.
After reading applications, she decided on six designers: Atticus Doan, Laney Remer, Madison Parker, Erica Soekardono, Kaitlyn Hic and Valerie Grula.
“All six were amazing,” said Woodard. “So passionate, so driven to be a part of the this event and I was like great, you’re in.”
Posters fill ASU's downtown fashion school, alerting many students of upcoming events and opportunities.
