Bringing a Fierce Vision to the Runway
Here at Avenue Five Institute, we love watching our aspiring professionals combine their technical skills for complex runway events. For our recent Fall Fashion Show, afternoon student Riley Kinser and her team embraced the Victorian Nocturne theme with a fierce, pop-culture-inspired edge. As a student in our Cosmetology Program at the North Austin Campus, Riley drew inspiration from the character Katherine Pierce of the series The Vampire Diaries.
“Our model depicts the death of a haunting Victorian vampire who comes back for her lovers,” Riley shared. To achieve this historical aesthetic, the team used professional products from Wella, Morphe, Tarte, ColourPop, and GAOY. Their preparation involved crafting everything from a historically accurate curly hairstyle using wet rollers to building the shape of an acrylic claw.
Overcoming Technical Challenges Backstage
Creating a comprehensive runway look requires patience and adaptability from the entire team. The group faced technical hurdles while styling the hair to match the era. “Our first challenge was figuring out the hairstyle, we started with smaller rollers but it did not give us the results we had been hoping for so we had reattempted with larger rollers for larger curls,” Riley explained.
Finding the right balance with face paint and makeup application also required a dedicated approach. Despite the time-consuming process of setting the hair and dialing in the cosmetics, the Avenue Five Institute culture of teamwork guided them through. “The most exciting part of preparing was being able to collaborate all of our skills in nails, hair, and makeup to create this look,” she added.
Preparing for a Professional Career
Participating in live events provides our students with valuable, hands-on experience handling the fast-paced energy of the beauty industry. Looking back on the preparation, Riley valued the collaborative environment her group built backstage. “I think it’s helped to learn what it feels like to work under pressure in a team,” she noted.
Following graduation, Riley and her teammates plan to pursue their respective specialties professionally. As their striking Victorian vampire takes the runway, Riley’s goal for the audience is clear. “I hope it does its job of striking fear,” she shared.
