As Paris Fashion Week approaches, a different kind of fashion event will take center stage in Monterey County. The Annual Big Sur Fashion Show will take place on the lawn at Henry Miller Memorial Library, featuring local models showcasing creative designs in a truly unconventional setting.
Bill Roden, the event’s videographer, describes the show’s unique charm: “It’s really the spirit of the event. It’s about the heart and soul.”
The Big Sur Fashion Show offers a playful twist on traditional fashion. Unlike typical fashion shows, no fabric is used in the designs. Instead, models wear outfits made from flowers, forest moss, paint, and recycled materials. Most designs do not survive the night, adding to the event’s ephemeral magic. Attendees experience a one-time spectacle, emphasizing the event’s unique ethos.
Sehra Evans, responsible for hair, makeup, and all things glittering, admits, “I actually hate doing updos, but the fashion show is an opportunity to be completely out-of-bounds.”
Magnus Toren, the master of ceremonies and executive director of the Henry Miller Library, embraces the event’s spirit. “It’s always been really fun to do,” he says, noting that announcing each model and design comes naturally to him.
This year’s theme, “Dancing in the Wind: Resilience with Our Storms,” reflects the past year’s events in Big Sur. The audience theme is “Nature’s Disco.”
Executive Director Elsa Rivera highlights the show’s local significance: “The original founders had to evacuate during the Basin Complex Fire in 2008. After that, we needed to have a party.”
The founders’ evacuation was marked by a simple DVD player and a single film, Zoolander. Sixteen years later, the spirit of that makeshift celebration continues to thrive in this unique fashion show.
Related topics:
