Written by Gabriella Beard
A Magical Evening at The Vault: Grimm’s Fairy Tales Fashion Show
On December 8th 2024, The Vault brought the enchanting and mysterious world of Grimm's Fairy Tales to life with a mesmerizing fashion show held in Trip Commons. Featuring two performances, the event captured the imagination of attendees with its stunning designs, thematic set, and immersive storytelling. The show celebrated not only the artistry of student designers but also the enduring legacy of the Grimm Brothers, whose stories have fascinated audiences for centuries.
Grimm’s Fairy Tales, compiled by brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, were initially written to preserve Germanic folklore and oral traditions. These tales are often filled with dark and moralistic themes and explore universal ideas of danger, magic, and mortality. While today’s versions are often softened, the original stories carried a haunting beauty that inspired The Vault’s 2024 annual fashion show theme. For this show, The Vault focused on some of the most iconic tales: Cinderella, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel, and Little Red Riding Hood.
During production, various talents worked together seamlessly, namely the designers who spent weeks preparing for the show. They meticulously sketched outfits, experimented with various fabrics and materials, attended planning meetings, and collaborated with fellow artists to perfect every detail. Each design sought to capture the essence of its respective tale, incorporating symbolic elements that told a story in themselves. The concept involved creating multiple outfits for each story, with each design reflecting a specific theme or segment from that tale. This approach allowed designers to draw inspiration from a central theme while incorporating their unique creative interpretations.
Vault members volunteered to model either their own designs, had they been a designer, or those created by others. They brought these outfits to life on the runway, fully embodying the characters they represented. During the creative process, models’ measurements were carefully taken to ensure each garment fit perfectly. In preparation for the show, the models participated in practice walkthroughs to fine-tune their presence on the runway. On the day of the event, a collaborative effort brought everything together, with both non-member and member volunteers styling hair and applying makeup that elevated the dramatic and artistic essence of each look. Members of The Vault, showcasing diverse talents, worked behind the scenes to enhance the show, with photography credits going to Sienna Karp and Elena Bui for capturing the event's most captivating moments.
For Cinderella, designers crafted pieces inspired by a glass slipper outfit and the hazelnut tree from her story. Rapunzel featured designs such as the magic garden and her singing voice for ethereal, flowing inspired outfits. In Hansel and Gretel’s story, outfits such as the woods and the sugar cake house were designed to create whimsical yet eerie looks, while Little Red Riding Hood featured rustic motifs such as the straw cottage and the dense forest. Finally, Sleeping Beauty embraced romantic imagery, like roses and the infamous spindle.
The show’s production was equally immersive. The Madison Philharmonic Quartet provided a hauntingly beautiful musical backdrop, performing pieces that underscored the dark and mysterious themes of the tales. Their music added a layer of emotional depth, pulling the audience further into the fantastical world on display. Meanwhile, the set design, inspired by the original Grimm stories, enhanced the storytelling by creating a mood that was captivating and unsettling. The room was decorated with a meticulous backdrop of flowers hand crafted by members, flickering candles lining the runway, and dark wooden panels lining the room with a painted ceiling.
Each tale was presented as its own segment, with models walking the runway in cohesive groups that reflected the unique themes of their stories. Between segments, a narrator gave context about the origins, symbolism, and darker undertones of the Grimm Brothers' tales, offering the audience a richer understanding of the inspirations behind the designs. This thoughtful integration of storytelling and fashion made the event not only a visual experience but an educational one as well.
The turnout for the show was a testament to its impact, with both the 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. performances selling out all 190 seats. From the intricacy of the outfits to the evocative music and atmospheric set, the show was a seamless blend of fashion, art, and narrative.
The show was more than just a celebration of fashion; it was a tribute to storytelling, creativity, and collaboration. The Vault continues to elevate the campus fashion scene with speaker events, field trips and memorable productions. It was an evening that celebrated not just the magic of the runway but also the timeless power of storytelling brought to life through design.
What tales will Vault designers and models bring to life next? Stay tuned for The Vault’s SS25 next year!
