A few things you have to keep in mind before you start planning your fashion show.

1. Budget 
2. Location 
3. Theme 
4. Promote your event

Budget

It is important to decide how much you are able to spend for your fashion show. It can be organized on either a small or large budget. But if you have a small budget you need to focus on the most important areas for your show.

One option is to pair with another complimentary designer, like shoe or jewelry designers. Another option is to approach your local businesses and ask them if they would like to sponsor your fashion show in exchange for some advertising. Be ready to offer an attractive package to your prospective sponsors. I would even design two or three packages at different cost levels, giving them an option to choose the package and how much they are willing to spend.

Recruit as many friends and family members as you can to help on the day of the show.

Location

Your fashion show can be held in various places, and venue will be determined by how many people will attend. You can host a fashion show in a banquet hall, school, or gallery. If you plan to have an elevated runway, spend the money and go all the way. Otherwise, use your creativity as you don’t need to spend a lot of money when setting up a runway. Some of the fanciest fashion shows are set up on a ground level runway.

To give the feeling of a runway, place chairs on each side of the runway. If the venue does not have good lighting, you need to rent or invest in some lighting.

Planning

Decide your theme, hire a DJ, and make sure he or she has good music for a fashion show catwalk. The best music is without lyrics (which can distract the audience). You can get almost any instrumental music online these days.

If you are planning to have a cash bar, you may ask one of your local caterers or bars if they want to set up their own cash bar (reasonably priced).

Check with your venue to inquire whether they have liability insurance for your event. If they don’t, you should contact your insurance agent and ask to purchase “event insurance.”

Of course, you need models. If paying for professional models is not on your budget, check college campuses, as students might be willing to do it for a small fee or for clothing.

It is important to hold rehearsals with your models prior to the show. If you are not hiring professional models, you will need to work with them on how to walk on the runway and how to highlight what they are modeling. If you don’t have enough models, get an entertainer to fill  in  between  the  changes  (3   minutes minimum to change).

Hair and makeup artists: Check with your local salon, to see if they are willing to do the hair and make up for free in exchange for advertising.

Promote your Event

It is an important day for your business, so create a buzz! Start promoting your event at least one month prior to the fashion show. Call your local paper and ask if they would write an article about your show; sometimes they will do it for free. Call your local TV channels,  create  flyers,  send  attractive  post  cards  to   businesses, use Facebook and other free media to promote your fashion show.

Hire a professional photographer, or call a school of photography where students are willing to do it for free or for less than half of what a professional photographer would charge you. Students need to get assignments to count towards their grades. You may contact the school directly and the teachers will provide names of students.

Create an Event Program - it is chic and your guests will appreciate that. It is a perfect place for all the garment details, plus everyone involved, including photographers, and the DJ will most likely display their business cards. Nowadays it’s all about showing the clothing with good music.

Have a table with business cards, look book, and anything else you can think of to make your show shine. If you want to have a good time after the show, extend the DJ for an after-party so your guests can enjoy some dancing, and a chance to chat and mingle with people.

Remember: there is always room for creativity when planning your fashion show!

Written by Sonia Santos, Passion ♥ Women’s Designer Clothing