Best of CATWALK Launch
Friday night, students, fashion connoisseurs and supporters alike gathered in the intimate setting of Dune – a cozy cocktail bar and restaurant nestled on North Street, with views facing St Salvator’s chapel – for Catwalk’s launch.
The night started out slow – mellow and casual, yet lively: a few friends (or students with a shared interest in Catwalk and fashion) mingling in a dimly-lit, intimate atmosphere. Attire matched the elegant Friday-evening cocktail hour vibe of the event; featuring lots of black, lots of jewelry, and a showing of exquisite evening bags.
However, as the clock ticked closer to 10pm, the pace and energy picked up in anticipation for the reveal of Catwalk’s theme for the 2025 season: Double Consciousness. As guests streamed in and out of the venue, up and down the stairs, to and from the bar, attire became more and more varied, matching the pick up in pace and energy in the room. A whiz of glitter or a pop of color became commonplace among the crowd.
All in all, though, the dress code seemed to be classy and understated, yet playful, with an overall dark, somewhat moody color palette; fitting for the dim lighting and cozy atmosphere.
Many a guest donned the classic “LBD,” or little black dress, as well as what Reid (fourth year) deemed the male equivalent: a smart, all black, dress outfit. From early on, it seemed the uniform of the night was an all black look.
However, the “little” aspect of the LBD posed difficulties for the climate (speaking from experience). Consequently, tights and knee high boots were very popular for keeping warm (while remaining stylish).
Catwalk director herself, Nishka Dalmia, opted for an all-black look of dress pants and a matching, asymmetrical strapless top - accessorized with statement gold jewelry and a blue-gray bucket bag (with matching gold hardware, of course).
As with most simpler outfits, accessories were king. From rings (like Reid’s family and fidget rings) to bags (like Nishka’s bucket bag) to jewelry (like Carmen’s Spanish necklaces and earrings and Clementine’s arm cuff), attendees went all out when it came to accessorizing. Stacks of bracelets and watches and rings adorned the hands grasping one of the four signature cocktails of the night, and bags swung from shoulders and arms as guests gestured and socialized.
However, socializing was not the only purpose of the night. The mellow mingling and the cocktail hour culminated in guests crowding in the upper level of the restaurant to watch a projection of the reveal of Catwalk’s theme for the 2025 season; a short video encapsulating Catwalk’s newest conception: Double Consciousness – which, as described by the video, is the essence of the divide between who we are and who others see us as. With themes of heritage, intimacy, identity, and, as suggested by the name, consciousness, the event seemed to encapsulate the spirit of Catwalk’s ethos for the upcoming year – through both vibe/energy and everyone’s fabulous outfits!
Photography by Lily Daniel