The University of Connecticut’s Fashion Society brought early 2000s nostalgia back to campus on Friday, Nov. 7 with their fashion show, ELEVATE, a Y2K-inspired fashion show turning the Student Union Ballroom into a runway full of confidence and creativity. From 7:30 to 9:00 p.m., the ballroom radiated with energy as students showcased their looks to a mix of throwback hits and new school anthems.
The show’s theme, ELEVATE, was not only about fashion, but also about community. During intermission, audience members were invited to walk the runway themselves, showing off their clothes, radiating their confidence as audience members cheered and recorded from the crowd. The show featured a range of both student and independent designers, each bringing their own spin to the runway.
The night opened up with the first designer lookbook from Royal Lifestyle, a streetwear brand founded in 2017 bringing their own unique swag to the stage. Their collection embodied the message behind ELEVATE, empowerment through expression.
“I love seeing people wearing my stuff, I love seeing how they transform when they put the clothes on like a sheet of confidence” said by Jei, co-founder of Royal Lifestyle.
The brand’s segment set the tone for the rest of the night, illustrating that fashion is more than just the clothes, but also confidence and creativity.
Between fashion segments, UConn’s Encore Club brought dance and stepped to the runway performing to hits like “Poison” by Bell Biv DeVoe and “Promiscuous” by Nelly Furtado. Later, New York artist Nia Sade took the stage, performing a soulful set adding new rhythm to the night and giving the event a true fashion show feel.
Next came Vision Aquarius, a brand that blended futurism with street influence. Models walked out to Tyler, The Creator’s “Stop Playing With Me,” matching the brand’s bold colors that radiated attitude.
“I don’t work with a lookbook, I look at the models and try to figure out their aesthetic, and whatever pieces I make I try to fit to their aesthetic,” said Santana, the designer of Vision Aquarius. Vision Aquarius proved that the best fashion isn’t about the following of trends, but rather the following of people, celebrating who they are in every color and stitch.
Closing out the night, models reputed to the runway displaying collective designs that captured the show’s spirit. Each look tells its own story blending self-expression with creativity.
“I feel like this event was very successful,” said Fashion Society President Alexander Vereen Jr. “I feel like there was a lot of hard work put in, we dedicated a lot of time and it came out great”
As the lights dimmed and the music faded, the energy stayed, attesting to the fact that style on campus is not just about what you wear, but how you carry yourself. UConn Fashion Society did not just showcase fashion; rather, it celebrated community, confidence and creativity.