Group prepares for next week’s fashion show

The red carpet is rolled out and the models are ready to strut their stuff.

No, this isn’t a fashion show in New York City or Los Angles, but in “The Culture Club” at Willkie Auditorium.

IU’s Epiphany Modeling Troupe is hosting its first major fashion show, “Fashion at the Culture Club” Dec. 12. Senior president and co-founder Ebony Brown decided to organize this fashion show to display the variety of fashion that is present on campus.

Students have different styles based on their hometown or culture, Brown said.

Someone from New York will have a very different style than someone from California.

“So when I put it all together, it just makes sense to do one grand show where everyone could showcase their personality through fashion,” Brown said.

The show will follow the theme of “The Cotton Club,” a very high-class nightclub in New York City during the 1920s and ’30s where African Americans flaunted their best fashion and escaped the harsh realties of life.

Instead of calling the show “The Cotton Club,” Brown decided to name the show “The Culture Club” because the group is not strictly African American.  

Junior LaTroy Hampton, vice president of Epiphany Modeling Troupe, agrees the group is multi-cultural.  

“Our troupe is very diverse,” he said. “The Culture Club” will be more than just a fashion show.

“We wanted to do something different for the show,” Brown said.

There will still be a runway with models, but the organizers wanted to bring in different theatrical aspects, which is why they decided on a club setting.

The fashion show will exhibit the latest trends and popular styles.

There will be seven different intervals showing different styles in each. The intervals are titled “The Red Carpet,” “VIP,” “Cocktail,” “On the Rocks,” “Ecstasy,” “Last Call” and “Exit Signs.”

The clothing for the fashion show is a collaboration of member’s personal clothing and donations from local venues. These venues include Vanity, Zumiez, Urban Outfitters, The Limited, K&S Menswear and Dope Couture.

Hampton said the troupe hopes to teach students more about fashion.  

“A lot of people don’t know how to put clothes together,” he said. “First impression is everything.”  

Brown said the show will display new types of fashion styles to students.

“Students should come because it’s a new look at fashion,” she said.

“The Culture Club” will debut from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. The cost is $5 for the general public and $10 for VIP. VIP tickets include VIP badges, “mocktails” and appetizers.

“Everyone just needs to come,” Hampton said.