Curiosity killed the clown, not the NAU fashion scene
Cameras flashed, capturing the clown personas of each model as they walked the runway. The hard work of the fashion club manifested in a sold out show where many came to bask in the creativity of the art scene.
For the second year in a row, NAU Fashion Club sold out The Hive for its annual fashion show to display the fashion community on campus. The show took an alternative approach to typical fashion shows, allowing the models to design and create their outfits and walk to live music.
The show featured over 20 models dressed to the theme “Curiosity Killed the Clown.” The event also included three punk rock-inspired bands: Ring Finger No Pinky, Dreamboat and Freud. The two art forms meshed to create an environment where self-expression was highly encouraged.
The fashion club at NAU was founded by Annika Hurst in 2021 and has remained popular on campus. The club regularly hosts events in collaboration with NAU’s Skate Club, Art Club and KJACK Radio.
Marisa Edrozo is the vice president of the club and has worked closely with Hurst and other members of the club to make live events a reality.
“Last year, we just wanted to put something on that let people express their identities without us imposing it onto them,” Edrozo said. “We just wanted to give people an art gallery-type event but with fashion.”
The models on Friday were all volunteers who curated their outfits based on individual interpretations of the theme.
With Freud rocking out behind them, the models took turns walking the stage to display their outfits. With no restrictions on outfits or walks, each model was able to express themselves through their performance.
Outfits included customized leather jackets, colorful tights, tutus, corsets, bloomers and mismatched patterns. Almost every look was accompanied by extravagant face makeup with red noses, geometric eyeliner and pink faces.
“When there’s a line set, a lot of cool things can come out of it, but sometimes the models who are walking don’t get to express their personal identity, ” Edrozo said. “This way, people get to show off who they are and what is important to them through what they’re wearing.”
Edrozo said hosting a space where autonomy is encouraged can allow people to let their creative side thrive.
Claire Lewis was one of the featured models in the show and wore a sheer lace top and black bloomers with white lace tights. She accessorized the outfit with black and white clown-like elements to support the theme. Lewis said she was able to foster her creativity through the freedom of the event.
“I was able to thrift almost all of my outfit,” Lewis said. “I got my inspiration from a black and white clown that scared me every year at a haunted house I went to growing up. I thought, ‘Why not make it sexy?’”
Without a clothing line attached to the show, models used pieces from their closets or thrift stores they thought fit the theme of the event.
In addition to giving members creative freedom, this eliminated production, which can be more sustainable than manufacturing a line of brand-new clothing.
“So much about our future of fashion is going to be sustainable,” Lewis said. “I think having models dressed in their own clothes and deciding what they think fits the vibe is super cool, and I think that’s going to change the fashion industry.”
The combination of music and fashion also created a place where different communities could come together to appreciate the art displayed.
Ring Finger No Pinky and Dreamboat both played the event last year and made their way back up from Phoenix to play for the Flagstaff scene again.
Griffin Brown, lead singer and guitarist of Ring Finger No Pinky, made an effort to play the Fashion Club’s event because of the success of last year’s show.
“Last time we played at this event, it was a great crowd,” Brown said. “It was again tonight. Flagstaff is kind of gnarly with that; everybody’s just cheering. It’s a great place to play.”
Models, photographers, musicians and fashion lovers alike combined their mediums to create a collaborative environment. Many participated in a mosh pit, where the crowd danced and raged to the energetic performances.
Brown said the engaged crowd was not the only thing that brought them back to play. The combination of fashion and live music brought together two creative communities.
“It’s everybody just trying to express themselves in some way,” Brown said. “I think that’s the best part, to be honest. It’s nice to see people creating something.”
The next Fashion Club event is a “Skate Art Jam” that has been dubbed the “biggest collab at NAU.” The event will combine the efforts of the Fashion Club, Skate Club, Art Club and KJACK for skateboard painting, live music, food and prizes. The event will take place on Dec. 1 and will be a chance for people to see the art community these groups are raising.
