Lights, camera, fashion: an insider’s look into “STRUT”

Tania Bolden and Maya Jordan

Contributing Writers

Part fashion, part entertainment, “STRUT” is Richmond’s largest fashion show. This student-produced event taking place March 27 at the Stuart C. Siegel Center will showcase original student creations, local and retail designs, and a combination of dance and music to help distinguish itself from typical fashion shows.

Approximately 300 college and high school students and members of the Richmond community auditioned for this year’s positions on the runway.

Kelli Lemon, a founder and former assistant director of programs and events, said “STRUT” began in the spring of 2005 as simply a vision.

“I contacted maybe two or three students and then spit an idea out to them. I said, ‘Let’s have a meeting and bring some friends that you think would be interested,’ and all of a sudden 25 people were sitting at this table,” she said.

According to Lemon, most people don’t know the history behind this VCU tradition, or how the spectacle became known as “STRUT.”  While planning for the model call, Lemon recalled a participant designing a flier.

“At the bottom of the flier, he wrote the word ‘STRUT,’ ” she said.

Committee member Sesha Moon liked the concept and suggested it as the name for the show.

According to Morgan Saunders, the public relations coordinator for this year’s “STRUT,” the show has evolved drastically from its first themeless event to its upcoming incarnation. The subsequent themes were “School of STRUT,” “STRUT Evolution,” “STRUT Flight 408” and “STRUT Karneval.” This year’s theme is “STRUT in Wonderland.”

“We knew that the movie was coming out around the time of the show, and the movie was going to cause a lot of commotion, and we always wanted to do something whimsical, so we thought it would be a good idea to do ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ ” Saunders said.

“STRUT is a very, very big deal,” said Stefa’nie Thompson, the visual director for “STRUT 2010.

Thompson said committee members want to fulfill their expectations and exceed what viewers expect.

“This is by far the biggest show I think I’ll probably be in just because it will have so many viewers,” said Shayla Betts, a first-time STRUT model.

According to Lemon, the real-life experience “STRUT” creates is paying dividends for many of Richmond’s current and former fashion players.

“’STRUT’ has a purpose for everything,” Lemon said. “There are some models from ‘STRUT’ that are doing Fashion Week in New York. There are some designers from “STRUT” that are starting their own clothing lines. There are some people that sat on ‘STRUT’s’ executive committee that are interning in New York at different fashion companies and magazines.”

Fashion Week at VCU runs March 22 to March 26. Fashion Week events coincide with the theme of “STRUT.” There will be a potato sack race to pay tribute to “Alice and Wonderland’s” White Rabbit and a hat-decorating contest in honor of the Mad Hatter. Other events include a mini make-up contest, a mini fashion show, musical chairs, a mini walk-off, karaoke and a magic show.

“STRUT” will take place Saturday, March 27 at 7 p.m. at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. Tickets are $15 and $10 for students. Tickets are available March 8 and can be purchased in Breakpoint or the Siegel Center box office.

For more information, visit “STRUT’s” official Web site, www.thestrutfashionshow.com, or follow “STRUT” on Twitter at www.twitter.com/STRUTVCU.