Collegiate Times

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Among the dozens of stylish purses - including a couple of Chanel handbags and Ralph Lauren totes - sit three members of the Fashion, Marketing and Design Society executive board on the couches adjacent to the wall of Wallace Hall atrium, meticulously focusing their mascara-ed gazes on the approaching figures. A succession of Amazons in ridiculously tall heels stomp toward them during this rehearsal, and when they finally reach the two metal folded chairs that represent the end of the catwalk, the models strike a pose for the three girls.

Among the dozens of stylish purses - including a couple of Chanel handbags and Ralph Lauren totes - sit three members of the  Fashion, Marketing and Design Society executive board on the couches adjacent to the wall of Wallace Hall atrium, meticulously focusing their mascara-ed gazes on the approaching figures. A succession of Amazons in ridiculously tall heels stomp toward them during this rehearsal, and when they finally reach the two metal folded chairs that represent the end of the catwalk, the models strike a pose for the three girls.

"Too stiff," Abbie Gilliam, co-chair of the fashion show, says of the model to fellow board members Jordan Lobik and Alexis Zell. She tucks a loose strand of her short brown hair behind her ear. "And she needs to walk more slowly."

The piercing, tap-tapping echoes of stilettos as the models practice their walk for the annual FMDS fashion show can incredibly be heard over the show's techno mix that blares from a Dell laptop behind Lovik in the background.

Another model, Sasha Behling, dressed in a brown halter-top and a pair of skinny jeans, propels herself with her hips across the atrium as her long, straight brown hair floats from side to side with every bold step.

"Whoa, girl," shouts Zell. "That was perfect! Great walk!"

Sasha smiles, walks to the other side of the chairs, strikes another pose, and makes her return to the other end of the atrium.

Attitude. Confidence. Fierce.

That's exactly the kind of walk that the coordinators are looking for to coincide with this year's theme, Hood rich, a sassy urban theme that catalyzed their departure from the average FMDS fashion show.

"We just wanted something like funky and different because FMDS has never done anything like this, it's always been really classy and reserved," said sophomore FMDS major Lobik, co-chair of the fashion show. "We wanted to do something a little more, like, energetic and fun."

The show takes place today in the Squires Commonwealth Ballroom. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m.