“What….Is that it….did I miss it?” These were some of the collective reactions of those that attended the Ed Hardy Fashion Show in Fresno last night. The anticipation for this event seemed to be more than moderate amongst local fashion followers and night scene regulars. The hype was definitely there, with bold predictions of a sell-out crowd and a genuine Hollywood fashion show. All in all it was easy to assume that one would at least be mildly satisfied with the $40 dollar experience.

And then it happened, or didn’t happen.. The show started about 45 minutes late. The anticipation and buzz that sorrounded the crowd of an estimated 200 seemed to turn into boredom and confusion as the wait seemed to go on for an eternity. The seating was also very sparse, with enough white fold out plastic seats to accomadate a large high school classroom, as opposed to an event with over 200 attendees. Those that were fortunate enough to land a seat had an up-close view of the unsightly and very short catwalk (it was exposed black plywood).

The Show

The show started around 10:25pm, and the crowd was very pleased to be recessitated from the collective boredom.  The models, who seemed to all be locals, did a decent job. Aaron, who we spoke with earlier in the downtown spotlight, looked and acted the part of an Ed Hardy model when he strutted the runway. Other than him the models were short of spectacular. After about seven models, the host Tyree brought all the models onto the stage for the finale. Most of the audience was confused at this point. No outfit changes? No introduction of the Spring line-up? The runway display clocked in at about five minutes. I am not a runway expert and I will admit that I have only been to one other fashion show, but I would expect a little more in terms of duration and quality of presentation.

So What Went Wrong?

It seemed that there was a big error in event planning. One insider said that there wasn’t enough clothes for the models due to much of the money going to airbrushed tattoos on the models. Also more planning should have gone into the seating situation.

One saying that resonates very well in this situation is “Under-promise and over-deliver”. G & S Promotions did a great job of selling the sizzle of a “true” Ed Hardy fashion show that was going to be unlike anything Fresno had ever seen. The hype and anticipation was abundant at the beginning of the night, but I’m sure one would be hard-pressed to find an attendee who was truely satisfied with the show.

So Was There a Silver Lining?

The hosting venue, 2039 Ultralounge, as usual looked and sounded fantastic. The security was a strong point all the way from the parking garage to the front door, and the bartenders and service were  what I have come to expect from 2039.
The downfalls were credited to the G & S promotion team and not the venue.

Other positives are hard to pinpoint, but the red carpet set-up outside the venue was one of them. It was a great Hollywood touch, and should have been the perfect start to a true LA inspired night. Also big ups to Cover Magazine who were taking pictures, and have been a great asset to the local Fresno fashion scene. Also I was very pleased to see Tyree hosting the fashion show. Originally Syrus of MTV’s the Real World was inked to host the event, but I think Tyree was a great replacement.

The CROWD was the Show!!!!

The audience came dressed to impress and most were sporting Ed Hardy Clothing. Fresno really knows how to represent and support the designer.

Final Thoughts

It is very difficult to end on a positive note, but much of the frustration of those that attended was due to the build-up for the event and the lack of satisfaction. When you pay $40 dollars a ticket and are promised such a great experience, you expect a little more.

Club Fly’s photography covered the event and did another fantastic job. For Pictures of the event, please visit:
http://prints.clubflys.com/gallery/4621916_X3uoG#P-1-9