Coláiste Bríde's Transition Year Fashion Show 2015

School fashion show

Well after a very long week of blood, sweat, tears, needle wounds and hot glue burns, we finally got our dresses ready for the stage. We had a week of preparation prior to the fashion show to perfect our dresses or in some cases start dresses over again! In a nut shell, this was simply the most tiring school week of TY and probably of my 4 years here in school. After the commotion we finally finished or accepted our dresses as they were and headed for the runway. On Tuesday evening after lunch, we made our way to the sports hall for a dress rehearsal of the fashion show which would take place on Wednesday. You could feel the nerves off the models as they began to strut for the very first time with an audience. Some people had to wear their hats or their shoes perhaps just to get used to them because some were more awkward then others. The dress rehearsal ran smoothly considering the music wasn’t the best quality at that stage and Ms.Duggan was on the edge of a break down! Then, on Wednesday morning, we went straight into hair and makeup at 9.50. Once the top balcony had a good lingering smell of hairspray we went down stairs for the final dress rehearsal. This one was a lot easier because we had the stage ready and the real music was ready. All the models got their final chance to practice their dance before performing it in front of the whole school. Lunch came and nerves were running high while we made the final touches to our models and of course our dresses. At the end of lunch we began to see the students pouring into the lunch hall and taking their seats. Everyone was so excited but also terribly nervous. Once Ms.McEvoy and Ms.Duggan took the stage, the show just ran so smoothly and went better than anyone thought. Each dress took the stage effortlessly and had their 90 seconds of fame!  Every model did a brilliant job and all the dresses looked so good up on stage. The show lasted 2 hours with talent acts at the intervals which were also amazing. It seemed like it lasted for ten minutes once it started because it flew by. Once all the dresses had preformed we had the final walk around the whole sports hall so students could get a close up look at our dresses. When it was all over, all the models gathered for a group photo on stage and then the preparations began for an evening show for all the parents.

Student's Choice winner 2015 "Tough as Nails"

Parent fashion show

After taking part in the school fashion show we were glad to finally get a break before the next fashion show. We were putting on an evening show for our friends and family from outside the school. This was especially great as we got to show off all the hard work that we have done over the past 5 months, including the week and a half of stressful dress making trying to finish our outfits. It was a great opportunity for us to show off our work as many people don’t see how much work we actually do in transition year

After refuelling and calming down from the previous fashion show, which was put on for students in the school. We began redoing hair, makeup and tan, fixing anything that may have broken or come loose from the hustle and bustle of back stage. The models frantically trying to remember their dance moves and deal with their nerves while the designers prepared for any questions the judges may ask when they come to inspect the work we have done. Once we were finally ready, the three judges came up to examine our dresses. Frances White, the creator of Buí Bolg, Blackwater Milliner Alice J. Kelly and Siobhan Keane of Vintage Belle Clothes shop made up the judging panel. The panel of judges then went around to each individual dress group asking questions about the materials which the dresses were made from and the way they were made. They were very impressed with the outfits that we had made. We then got pictures for the paper just before the show.

The hall started to fill up with friends and family who could not wait to see the show. It started at 7 o’clock sharp in the same order as the student show, it was slightly less daunting for the models doing it for the second time but they were quite nervous all the same! There were also interval acts which were equally as impressive as the models performances. After all the models got the chance to show off their outfit we had a walk about around the stage and down into the audience, giving everyone a closer look at the detail and effort put into each dress that they may not have noticed on stage. All models were then assembled on the stage waiting for the judges to make their choice. This took a few minutes as all the dresses were so good and they found it hard to choose a winner. They finally came to their decision. Then the student choice and judges’ choice winners were announced by the hosts Ms. Duggan and Ms. McEvoy. The judges and Ty coordinator were then presented with flowers and the show came to an end. We then went down to our families to get pictures and talk about the show. Everyone commented on what a great experience it was. We were exhausted but delighted with our efforts after such a hard few months!  

Judges' Choice Design of the Year 2015 "On Stranger Tides"as chosen by the Judges at the evening Fashion Show. 
Congratulations and well done to all involved in this spectacular show. The Transition Year girls of 2014/15 have done themselves proud!