The Hire Attire Fashion Show Runway Photo By: Brannon Mahaley
The Center for Career and Professional Development held their first official fashion show on Sept. 27 to teach young adults the importance of the perfect outfit.
The objective of the Hire Attire Fashion Show was to highlight the appropriate interview and business attire to the students of Western Carolina University. It was held in the UC Grandroom and they had a runway going down the center of the room. When the show started and the lights dimmed, a buzz of excitement ran through the crowd.
The turnout was excellent and the model’s attitudes reflected the energy of the crowd. The stage hands had to bring out more seats to accommodate for the crowd of around 150 people and the first 100 guests received gift bags filled with interviewing essentials including mints, a lint roller, and a perfume sample.
Theresa Cruz Paul, the director of the career center, narrated the show and presented each model. The models were announced with their major, fun facts about them and what they were modeling along with where it would be appropriate to wear.
One of the models, Anastasia Hillsgrove, emphasized the importance of maintaining a polished persona in any situation.
“Keep it professional,” said Hillsgrove after the show, “it is important to show that you mean business when you walk in.”
Cruz Paul also spoke about the proper attire for different situations and gave advice to people who asked questions during interludes. One of the questions asked by a student was concerning tattoos and piercings.
“Tattoos and piercing to a minimum when going into an interview. Makeup to cover the tattoos if you can and take out the piercings if you can,” responded Cruz Paul. She also said that it would be wise to research where you are interviewing for. They might allow certain piercings and not others, or tattoos and not piercings.
While first impressions are important when going into an interview, Wendy Cagle says the first impressions start earlier than you think.
“First impressions are taken even before you go in. Your phone etiquette and your ringtone are important,” said Cagle, the former Regional Director of the Small Business and Technology Development Center at Western Carolina University. When she was conducting interviews, she could often tell a person’s professionalism just by their voicemail.
But while she did put value on a person’s attire when they first walk in, Cagle said that she looks at how people handle themselves and if they act professional. That can be the biggest deal breaker of them all.
The Career Center will be hosting more events this year and their calendar is updated frequently.
