In a semester-long fashion show production class, University of Kentucky students learned the necessary skills to host the 15th annual Color Me Kentucky Fashion Show.
Nearly 350 people attended the show on Thursday, April 17, which was put on by students in the retailing and tourism management and merchandising, apparel and textiles (MAT) programs.
UK associate professor and production class instructor, Scarlett Wesley, said the growth in her students’ maturity is necessary for the growth of Color Me Kentucky.
Wesley said her production class gives students the chance to practice soft skills such as communication, problem solving, teamwork and leadership before starting a real job.
“They get to actually experience what it’s (a career) like,” Wesley said. “See that it has ups and downs and rewards and also disappointments, and to me it’s worth all the hard work.”
Wesley said all of her students were engaged throughout the planning of Color Me Kentucky, saying she admired the growth in leadership of two students in particular, Bennett LeMonds and Abby Pearson.
LeMonds, the student director for Color Me Kentucky and junior marketing and MAT major, said in her role, she oversaw all other students planning the show.
According to LeMonds, she was thankful for Wesley’s detail-oriented leadership, saying she was able to grow and learn about her own role as a leader while planning in class.
“It (the class) doesn’t just teach you about clothing and how to direct a fashion show,” LeMonds said. “It teaches you a lot about seeing work and a lot about responsibility.”
After college, LeMonds said she hopes to use her newfound leadership and experience to work in social media marketing in the fashion industry.
Senior and Color Me Kentucky Director for Events and Runway Coordinator, Abby Pearson, said for her role on the events team, duties included planning and delegating work to provide catering, venue decor and a silent auction.
In her other role as runway coordinator, Pearson said she was responsible for choosing the order of outfits as well as controlling timing for models who walked out to ensure the fashion show ran as smoothly as possible and looked good.
“I love being a leader in this,” Pearson said. “Someone who people can look up to.”
Pearson said she was proud of the way her committee came together during the planning process, saying they taught her how to lead in a way she had never experienced before.
“It’s been exciting to put on something much bigger than myself,” Pearson said. “Knowing when to be the director and having to delegate tasks showed me how to take charge, making sure everyone is still respected.”
Some UK students who attended the fashion show said they were there to support the work of the students who were in the production class.
Senior integrated strategic communication major, Natalie Wilson, said one of her best friends, Ella Blair, was a stylist at the event, saying Blair had talked about the large time commitment planning took for all students.
“She’s worked really hard on it,” Wilson said. “I’m excited to see what she’s put together.”
According to Color Me Kentucky Master of Ceremonies, Leigh Jordan, the overall growth of the show is important for young women, saying she did not have an opportunity like the production class when she was a student at UK.
“They all believe in what they’re doing,” Jordan said. “They are getting a huge opportunity to live out something they want to do.”
