Delight, debauchery, degradation: An evening of lowbrow fashion

The night began with promise, beats blasted the seats of Holmes auditorium as the anticipatory procession filed in. Scene one was “Genesis,” a portrait of fashion inspired by nature. Scene two, "One's trash is another's fashion," moved from leaves to leftovers as it exhibited a marvelous dress made from coffee filters. Another design was constructed from strewn together diapers and another was composed of newspapers.

The student host was forced to prove her dynamic abilities to an audience who erupted raucously at the sight of each familiar face.

Interaction between the crowd and cast was further encouraged by walk offs and best pose contests between members of both Alfred University and Alfred State.

It is hard to say if there was a single fuse to light that powder keg of an audience, but most signs point to the attendees supplying the flint.

However, human as we are, it is safe to say that people attract the company they keep.

The post-intermission performances were found wanting too much attention in the wrong way. No matter how it was intended, the audience in its entirety became more and more volatile as the women on stage became less and less dressed.

I may not know all there is about fashion or the thought process that went into the choreography of the show, but it is clear to see when attempts at affection become immodest. When women slink out in their daintiest lingerie across stage to center and proceed to “drop it like its hot” while a male audience member shouts, “anybody got change for a 10,” doesn't scream classy fashion show to me.

A female member of the audience dropped her gaze from the stage to ask, “Do you think, that after, they are going to say something like, '[but] looks really are not the most important thing?'”

"Red light district" was the theme of the show's finale. A final scene, as the host explained it, is obviously meant to dazzle, but ended up debunking any gestures of propriety. The show degraded from being a fashion show to being burlesque with shiny shoes, and finally ended with a PG-13 strip tease.

Objectification came to mind. That must be what happens when seduction meets uninhibited admiration. Or maybe there is another way.

I cannot help but express concern for the momentary stereotypical degradation that I witnessed on stage.

I close this address respectfully, wishing that the fashion show would have done the same.