Structure. It’s a word used frequently in the fashion world and outside of it. But what is it? Is it one thing? More than one? For the six designers who created and showcased their collections at Hook’d Magazine’s annual fashion show, it was an amalgamation of individuality, texture, and imagination.

“Haus of Hook’d,” as the show was called, celebrated structure and how it is embodied through different mediums. If there was any speculation that the show would play it safe and primarily feature elements expected of structured looks—think pronounced shoulder pads and sharp angles—the diverse group of designers quickly proved this theory wrong as soon as the show started.

“We let designers define what structure means to them, so we had a range of flowy outfits to more clean lines,” events director Ava Richards said.

The theme was applied beyond the looks of the evening and could be seen in various details down to the runway layout.

“We try to see what the space looks like and think about how a person would best experience [it],” Richards said. “We wanted to create a dynamic look and ensure the audience keeps moving their eyes and always have something going on somewhere.”

The event itself was nothing short of sophisticated. The space's minimalist yet chic ambiance created the feeling we so often associate with the effortless cool of the 90s and 2000s fashion scene. Devil Wears Prada, who?

Upon entering the venue, guests were welcomed with goodie bags containing products from brands like Nars and Fenty Beauty. Richards and her team contacted over 100 brands to bring the plan to life.

“The idea of bringing something back from a show is just a cool aspect, and so we did that in collaboration with the events and outreach committees,” she said. “We emphasized [to brands] that giving these products to guests can help increase brand awareness and promote a local student organization.”

Of course, these things take time to come together. Richards and the entire events and outreach teams began working as early as December to decide what the show should look like, search for venues, and organize the designers and models participating.

“It's a huge collaborative process from start to finish,” she said. “There’s an application stage in the beginning with the designers, the hair and makeup artists, and the models. From there, we have workshops with the models and meetings with designers, hair and makeup artists, and the events team to ask them questions and formulate new ideas.”

Originality was evident throughout the collections and made for an eye-catching couture experience. Sophomore Justin Le took on a larger-than-life approach to the theme by complimenting his looks with childlike accessories. Dressed in checkered cloth over a simple white button-down and an oatmeal-colored beret, one model walked down the runway with a giant teddy bear while another wore overalls, a loose turtleneck, and a baseball cap. It was a classic, simple look until he turned around and revealed a nearly floor-length dinosaur tail sewn on the back.

“I’m very thematic,” Le said. “I try to tailor each look to make sure the model is having fun.”

Le’s vision was the epitome of playful and whimsical fashion. It is not exactly what immediately comes to mind in terms of structure, but ultimately, it is a fresh take on a well-known concept.

Junior Christina Guillermo followed a similar color palette but opted for a more straightforward manner of dressing. The models were dressed in primarily neutral colors, and the clothes fit into an elevated casual category, with loose pants and vests that incorporated green pops.

“I saw a sketch by Salvador Dali over spring break and was heavily inspired by that,” she said. “I wanted sleek, tailored lines and symmetry to symbolize order and harmony. The earth tones represent the beginning of life and how that sets the foundation for civilization to occur.”

The aesthetic took a turn when sophomore Natalia Guerrero and senior Elsa Zhang’s designs went down the runway, giving the audience a look at the structure's moodier, more enigmatic side.

Guerrero’s models walked in a collection that was almost exclusively black and emphasized elegant and sleek tailoring. There was a bit of a Halloween-esque feel, too, especially with one particular long-sleeve top that had a sculptural skeleton frame attached to it. It immediately brought to mind Phoebe Bridger’s Thom Browne skeleton dress that she wore to the Grammys in 2021.

“I feel like [the collection] showcases who I am right now,” Guerrero said. “I’m exploring and [getting] out of my comfort zone. I felt almost a little scared to try some of these things out.”

Meanwhile, Zhang conveyed sophistication and modern style with many textured and deconstructed pieces. They highlighted the futuristic character of clothes making waves in fashion, especially as Zendaya comes off a press tour of show-stopping ensembles while promoting “Dune 2”. Designers that come to mind include Alaïa, Torishéju, and Louis Vuitton.

Zhang perfectly captured a balance between punk and feminine style, which was further elevated thanks to hair and makeup looks that leaned into sci-fi territory. Several models wore their hair tied back with metallic pieces and thread woven in. Mixed metal necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, as well as ribbons tied around the arms, served as accessories to complement her creations.

“A lot of times, it doesn’t go how I originally intended it to,” Zhang said of designing. “I’m self-taught, so I don’t really use patterns and sometimes the piece comes out completely different than the original intention. It works out, though, and I get to discover something about either sewing or my own style along the way.”

The design experience was just as crucial for senior Parth Ghawghawe, whose work reflected the intersection between his love of fashion and his academic journey in STEM. By including delicate and intricate embroidery on lab coats, Ghawghawe created a beautiful fusion of two worlds that made the clothing feel more personal.

“I’m a science person first, and then I switched into art,” Ghawghawe said. “There’s this expectation that lab coats are always white and simple, but I wanted to show that you can have a lab aesthetic and make it look really cool.”

The standout moment, however, came at the end with a wedding dress reminiscent of Karl Lagerfeld’s bridal looks for Chanel. The dress featured black embroidery along the bottom of the skirt—an iconic, timeless way to complete a collection.

Sophomore Ginger Chitsakul’s tropical-inspired creations were a welcome inclusion and added lots of movement to the show. Chitsakul drew inspiration from the existing collection of her brand, Coco De Chom, and intentionally evoked elements that represented Thai beaches and were influenced by travel experiences. The fabrics were lightweight and brought forth effortless summertime silhouettes.

“The versatility of the designs allows them to be worn in multiple ways,” Chitsakul said. “It all depends on how you style them. They look great as casual streetwear or chic resort wear.”

Uptempo techno music and thunderous applause soundtracked the evening, and Hook’d concluded its third annual spring fashion show undoubtedly successful. The blood, sweat, and tears poured into, ensuring that another triumph would be on their hands were evident, as was how deeply personal it was for each and every person involved.

“I think it was a beautiful show,” Richards said. “It’s an amazing opportunity to take something like this fashion show, this thing that you might think only exists in New York or Paris Fashion Week, and apply it [at] a local level in Austin and get our community involved to experience it together.”