Audacious

FASHION!!!

Just hearing that word kind of makes me want to barf a little.
Okay where do I begin…

Every year, Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar puts on an annual fashion show, displaying their students designs.
Every year I attend.
Every year I have to laugh at how ridiculous the whole thing is.

The clothes are utterly ludicrous, bedazzled with sequins of every color imaginable. Fake fur, feathers, and spandex litter the dressing rooms. There was even a line of clothes made entirely from umbrellas! As I mentioned before: ridiculous.

Amidst all the tacky glitz and glamour, I have to confess: I kinda sorta love it.

This year, instead of quietly snickering in the audience, I volunteered to work backstage at the fashion show, dressing child models and keeping them in line while they wait for their five seconds of fame. It was honestly a babysitting job but hey, I got paid! All the kids were adorable, with their little purses and glittery eye shadow. Most were fairly polite; either polite, or scared, I couldn’t differentiate. I made a few friends, as much as my meager Arabic could, and hope they weren’t traumatized.

Okay, story time.

So there was this little girl and she was extremely shy. Like so shy that she never talked to anyone and when people would question her name, she’d just like run away or something. That was on the first night. The next day, she was sitting alone watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I plopped down by her and began watching the 1971 movie. Soon, the room was spinning. No! I didn’t pass out or anything, but the painfully shy girl was spinning my chair. I was like “Whoa!” and then I tickled her. After that, we were friends, I held her hand before she was about to go on, and gave her smiles, and helped her find her mommy at the end of the show. I was sad to see her depart, and even sadder when she gave me a final hug. I probably won’t ever see that little girl again, but I think the stress of backstage madness was worth it.

So here are some of my favorite pieces from the fashion show. I hope you don’t get the wrong impression; I love clothes and all that girly crap, just the word “Fashion Show” brings back appalling memories and a gag reflex. It’s sort of a love-hate relationship….with clothes…fashion…whatever.

Credits:
I have received my pictures from either
Here
or
Here