On Thursday, Sept. 19, Cal State LA hosted its first Career Fashion Show in nine years. The fashion show was started as a fun way for students to have a visual inspiration of how to dress and prepare themselves when going to interviews, internships, or dressing for their new day-to-day in their post-grad careers.
This event returned from its hiatus with quite the debut, as MC and Fashion Show director Janet Azizeh coordinated a show that featured looks from smart casual to business professional. Ever wondered what style a savvy social media liaison or a well-put-together paralegal assistant wears? Azizeh has you covered.
An array of smart outfits went down the runway, from fitted midi dresses to full suits, featuring details of color blocking and pinstripes. Golden Eagle Radio played lively house music for the models to stride down the runway. In between these collections of looks, students had the opportunity to learn to tie a Windsor knot in a few minutes and competed in a speed round of true-or-false questions job interview style trivia, such as if it’s appropriate to open toe shoes to an interview. The answer: no matter how casual the job may seem, it’s not!
Diana Contreras, the program coordinator of the Career Center, said the show was meant to encourage students to attend the center’s job fair on Oct. 8, and to be prepared to get hired.
She also aspires to bring awareness to the center’s Clothing Closet, and how this resource is available to all students. As long as they are enrolled on campus, they can set up an appointment and receive an outfit for their professional endeavor — for free.
“Anything from smart casual to business professional clothing, we strive for an inclusive setting where students feel comfortable,” Contreras said.
Other resources available at the Career Center include counseling with career advisors, several events to connect students to potential employers, resume writing support, and interview practice. They also have a job listing board on Handshake that connects students with jobs and paid internships.
Azizeh attributes the success of the fashion show to the models who volunteered and how respectful they had been to help make it. One of her favorite looks from the show was the nursing major look from Alyse McIntosh. In addition to the outfit, “it was the model’s attitude who sold it,” Azizeh said.
When asked about styling tips for students who are expecting to go into an interview soon, Azizeh said that “your confidence is your best accessory.”
Students can look forward to more resources at the upcoming job and internship fair at the Career Center on Oct. 8th from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
This article was first published in the September 26 print edition of the University Times.
