Stars Light Up The Stage For Sitara’s Hotly Anticipated Return

Two years after their last fashion show, the Sitara committee build on their performance legacy to produce a memorable show and a “must-attend” reputation.

After being repeatedly postponed due to the Pandemic, Sitara was finally able to host their fashion show on Lower College Lawn for the first time in 3 years. The night began with an elegant solo on a stunningly lit stage. Shortly after, the following quote from Hong Kong actor, director and producer Bruce Lee appeared on the screen.

"Honestly expressing yourself...it is very difficult to do. I mean, it is easy for me to put on a show and be cocky and be flooded with a cocky feeling and then feel like pretty cool...or I can make all kind of phony things, you see what I mean, blinded by it or I can show you some really fancy movement. But to express oneself honestly, not lying to oneself...now that, my friend, is very hard to do." ― Bruce Lee.

Sitara– or 'starlight' in Persian, is one of the many charity fashion show organisations created by St Andrews students. Its founding in 2008 makes it far younger than the first wave of fashion show committees, which began in the late 1990s- early 2000s. Unlike other organisations such as FS and Don't Walk, Sitara has always featured a performance element in its production and targeted itself towards a specific niche. The charity began as a subcommittee of the South East Asian Society. It later branched off to become an independent organisation. In her interview with The Saint, executive director Aria Orenes discussed a significant purpose of the show. 'Sitara is distinct in that we do have a cultural and a charitable focus, and so the cause behind Sitara does take on a different tone then, 'let's only raise money for charity and just showcase cool fashion' because We also have a responsibility to showcase culture and ethnicities accurately.'

Since 2008 the show's focus has expanded past presenting solely South East Asian culture and has come to include fashion from a diverse array of designers from many different backgrounds. This year the show featured work from designers who hailed from South Korea, Palestine, Taiwan, China, the United Kingdom, Canada, Israel and Indonesia. The show was split into four acts called Srishti, K'aos, Yeonmo, and Kensho. Each act's name translated to spiritual and emotional concepts in their respective languages: Hindi, Armenian, Korean, and Japanese. Overall the night was a complete success.

The doors opened at 8 pm, and guests had the opportunity to enjoy a seated cushion lounge area or receive professional Henna designs on their hands. VIP guests were treated to a bottle of champagne at every table– which was provided by the shows' official drinks sponsor Champagne G. Tribaut, a family wine estate in Hautvillers, France. The show's first half featured designs from one of our very own St Andrews alumni, Noemi Jouas, a London-based French and Japanese designer who founded the brand Noe Dresses. The intermission between acts two and three allowed guests to queue for traditional Japanese and Sri Lankan Street food. Act Three: Yeonmo, which translates to affection or "a deep feeling of attachment and longing for someone", featured seductive styles of intricately laced lingerie and glittering ornate wedding gowns.

As an avid follower of Couture, I was deeply impressed. I couldn't help but admire the elegance of the models as they walked confidently across the stage with their trains flowing graciously behind them. A few of the gowns gave off similar vibes of established Couture houses, such as Arabic designers Elie Saab and Zuhair Murad. The lingerie, however, was nothing out of the ordinary. Still, it was surprisingly refreshing to see both men and women dressed in lacy undergarments as it is usually only the latter.

Admittedly, I initially attended the event with a slightly critical perspective. To me, it appeared as though Fashion shows in St Andrews were ostentatious affairs in which people simply wanted to have an excuse to prance around the stage while their friends sipped cocktails cheering them on. And while I cannot speak for the other events, Sitara is unique in that it is ostentatious for a reason; it serves as a visual celebration of the diversity of the Asian continent. The performance is a genuinely artistic form of self-expression, which showcases the cultural heritage of Asian students in St Andrews and communicates the pride they feel in sharing their culture with the greater student body. It is a testament to the university's reputation as a truly international institution.

(Photo Credit: Kinu Dadaille)