How to Hold a Mother Daughter Style Show

Fashion shows featuring mothers and their daughters, modeling the latest designs, are always a hit. Whether you are hosting a fashion show for charity, or as the entertainment portion of a luncheon, you will have no trouble lining up volunteers. Most large department stores are more than willing to loan out clothing in return for advertising. Sometimes the stores will even offer to sell the clothes at a discounted price to the models.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Set the date, time, and place as early as possible to allow for the maximum advertising potential.

2. Create some attractive mock flyers. Use these to help with the sales pitch when you approach department stores asking for their sponsorship. Sticking to department stores, rather than boutiques, is a good plan because they will be more likely to have clothing to fit everyone on your list.

3. Make an appointment with the store manager or public relations officer. Explain why you are holding the fashion show and ask to borrow items to be modeled during the show. In return, you will advertise the store by mentioning its generosity in both the actual flyers and in the programs.

4. Line up your “models” by sending emails to members of your organization or to volunteers for the charity in whose behalf you are holding the fashion show.

5. Arrange with the department store to set aside an area for clothing selection and try-ons. Ask everyone willing to model to show up for a “fitting” during the course of one particular day.

6. Plan to spend all day at the department store on the day of the fittings. As women come in with their daughters and choose their outfits, keep a log of what has been chosen so that you will be able to ensure that a variety of types of clothing are represented. Here are some ideas for various outfits:--Velvet holiday outfits for both mother and daughter--A mother in a negligee; a little girl in pajamas carrying a teddy bear.--A mother and daughter both dressed for fun at the pool.--A mother wears a bridal gown while the daughter is dressed as a flower girl.--Fashionable rain wear and boots on mother and daughter carrying umbrellas.--A mother wears a jeans skirt and plaid shirt while her daughter wears denim overalls

7. Invest in the services of a representative of a modeling agency (or trade for free advertising). Ask her to teach the models some basics for their walks down the runway.

8. Enlist the services of a pianist to play background music during the fashion show, or use recorded music.

9. Ask a good speaker to serve as the Mistress of Ceremonies and fashion commentator. Print up a sheet giving descriptions of all of the outfits along with the names (and pronunciations) of all of the models.