For the three A&E editors, our Saturday night at Taphouse felt more like New York fashion week than a typical venture down Richmond Row.

The dance floor was transformed into a runway and its clientele of mere mortals was replaced by a plethora of models and fashionistas, all donning their most stylish attire. The event was the UWO Style Society’s “Think Rich, Look Poor” fashion show, held to raise money for Haiti. The show raised $750 through door proceeds, and the government agreed to match the amount dollar for dollar, making a grand total of $1,500.

I STOPPED TAKING TAE KWON DO, BUT THEY LET ME KEEP THE OUTFIT. Models strutted the catwalk (above) at the UWO Style Society’s fashion show Saturday night for an excited crowd at the London Taphouse (left). (Photo courtesy of Rob Bremner)

The three of us may have a penchant for fashion but we had never been to a show before. While we didn’t know what to expect, our expectations were high — and we were not let down.

The show was exciting, ran smoothly and felt remarkably like a professional event. The models took their jobs seriously as they pounded the runway in attire ranging from skimpy lingerie, to dresses and heels, to acid wash jeans, with one segment devoted entirely to bathing suits, and another to the shirtless male models.

The audience — which was a decent size of a few hundred people considering the show began fairly early in the evening and was the same night as Charity Ball — seemed enthusiastic, and rightfully so. The atmosphere was similar to what you would expect from a professional runway show, complete with dramatic lighting and catchy indie-pop songs — not to mention a couple of cat calls directed at the male models.

The music was varied and included songs by Fever Ray and French singer Yelle, adding that extra bit of energy needed to make a fashion show a true success.

The co-ordinators behind the fashion kept things interesting by creating a variety of moods throughout the night. One segment would feature fast, intense modeling while the next would highlight fun and light-hearted beach attire. A striking number had an eerie Corpse Bride feel, as the models plodded slowly down the runway wearing what looked like vintage bridal gowns. With all these unexpected changes, the audience was kept on their toes and truly entertained.

The show didn’t run long enough to bore the crowd and inspired some great outfit ideas — much of the clothing can be bought from stores along Richmond Row. We left the club inspired, impressed and with our swag bags in hand — which were filled with coupons to help us expand our own closets.