Within the St Andrews fashion show family, Catwalk is widely recognised as the fun one; the favourite cousin who turns up to family dinners with a broad grin and a cheeky sparkle in their eye. In short, a good time guaranteed. This year, the theme was ‘Playtime’, and Catwalk 2020 most certainly did not disappoint.
It was quite the departure from the usual St Andrews Wednesday night out. The 601 that we know and love was looking the best she ever has, filled with glitter and velvet and brightly coloured eyeshadow. And that was just the audience. As the models walked, the crowd danced and cheered and threw their hands up adoringly as banger after banger throbbed in our ears. As the show went on, I was struck by the level of professionalism, originality and variety that this year’s committee had achieved: the choreography was refreshingly diverse and dynamic, the models’ makeup was bright and fun, and the fashion was as eclectic as you could hope for. My favourite pieces were the kilts, designed by McCall’s in Dundee, and the Lady Gaga-esque cone-bra dresses, designed by Isa Hummelin, a graduate designer from Germany.
Catwalk is one of the most affordable, and least pretentious, fashion shows in St Andrews: instead of taking itself too seriously, this year’s show focused on enjoyment: the committee were having a good time, the models were having a good time, and the audience was absolutely having a good time. It is also the only St Andrews fashion show that donates 100% of its proceeds. This year, the funds raised went to the University’s three nominated charities, as voted for by students themselves: Women for Women International, the Yard, and Calm.
Professional though the show was, it stayed true to its theme, and in their last few walks the models’ steely pouts melted into warm grins as they waved to their pals and danced together in a fantastic sartorial selection ranging from block-colour bikinis to hi vis workman jackets. As Areosmith’s “Walk This Way” blared from the speakers and every mouth in the room, the models trotted out en masse and exploded confetti guns all over the audience. Suffice it to say, we were loving every moment.
