In the moments before walking the runway at the Union Station in Kansas City, the energy backstage for Kansas City Fashion Week was buzzing with anticipation as models made their final adjustments.
One model was Natalie Peterson, senior in fashion studies, who couldn’t be more excited being back on the runway after walking in the Fall/Winter 2023 show.
“It’s always super nerve-racking being backstage when your designer is up and you’re waiting for your turn, but when you step up on the runway, it’s like a switch flips, and you’re just ready to go,” Peterson said. “The music is super loud, and you’re looking straight ahead and you kind of just enter a different zone.”
While this is Peterson’s second time modeling at KCFW, her history with the program is far from new. Peterson grew up attending KCFW with her mother and sister, Lindi Peterson, who graduated from K-State this year.
“I think the first show I attended was when I was in elementary school,” Peterson said. “My mom would get us tickets and we would get dressed up and go out to dinner and go to a show.”
Peterson said if a younger version of herself could see her walking in the show now, that little girl would be excited that she is still passionate about fashion.
“I have always loved fashion,” Peterson said. “… I think she would be so proud of me for pursuing that dream, and also just in awe of the fact that I’m getting a degree in a program that supports me doing things like KCFW. My sister graduated from the fashion studies program in May, and getting to see her fall in love with the [K-State] program and everything it had to offer made me really want to follow in her footsteps.”
Peterson’s sister wasn’t the only K-State alumna who emboldened Peterson’s career in fashion.
One of the designers Peterson modeled for was Alexia King Atelier, K-State ‘23 alumna, whose collection, “Manipulation,” explored the manipulation of fabric, fashion and relationships.
“Each piece in the collection tells a story, depicting different roles in relationships,” Peterson said. “My look was titled “The Cassandra,” named after the Trojan princess in Greek Mythology who was gifted with seeing the future. She rejected Apollo and he cursed her so that no one would believe her predictions. Her story is one of knowing the truth but being powerless to change anything.”
The second designer Peterson modeled for was Wiki Wang, whose collection, “Fairytale,” showcased the innocence and romance of a fairytale by harmonizing tulle and knitwear.
“I wore a bright pink tulle skirt and knit short-sleeve sweater with a pink crocheted bag,” Peterson said. “This whole collection was super colorful and fun and very different than anything I had worn on the runway before.”
Peterson said growing up in the Midwest, it’s easy to feel disconnected from the fashion industry, but KCFW is an opportunity for students to change that.
“It’s such a welcoming and supportive group of people … [KCFW] is a way to feel involved in the fashion world right here at home,” she said. “I would tell students wanting to get involved to just go for it and have fun; you never know if you don’t try.”
