Transformative Theme Inspires Creativity and Elegance on the Runway

The Oxford Fashion Gala, held at the Town Hall, recently celebrated the theme “metamorphosis” in a spectacular display of creativity and elegance.

Despite an hour-long delay, the audience was treated to a showcase of striking costumes, each offering a unique interpretation of the transformative theme.

The charity fashion show featured student models from Oxford, who showcased an array of creative costumes, including jellyfish, koi fish, colourful sea creatures, a concoction of flowers, a mushroom, and wings.

The event also featured a vintage clothing sale by What Alice Wore and live performances by Nightschool, The Booksellers, and Rough Edge Brass Band, which recited jazzy arrangements of popular tracks.

President of the gala, Iggy Clarke, a second-year English student at Trinity College, was impressed by the quality of the outfits’ designs and the music performances.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed every part of the event and every talent I have seen,” she said. Clarke noted that her favourite outfits on the runway included the sparkly dresses and a gorgeous floral dress designed by her friend Saskia from the University of St Andrews.

The theme of “metamorphosis” sparked a range of ideas in Clarke’s mind, from the butterfly’s life cycle to Ovid’s concept of transformation.

“The theme is very versatile – it represents such a wide variety of ideas, including its literal interpretation in nature, as well as Kafka’s more abstract concept, a mental progression, or a progression of time,” she said.

For show attendees, first-year History undergraduate student Anaiya Patel and first-year Law and Spanish Law undergraduate student Dara Adu, a highlight of the event was seeing the designers walk out with their models on the runway towards the end of the show.

“It was such a wholesome moment,” they noted. Patel added that she also enjoyed the entertainment in the middle of the show, which provided a welcome break from the sponsor-led and main runway sessions.