BOSTON–The screams echo throughout the luxurious high-ceilinged foyer. Girls populate every visible corner, dancing and moving to the rhythm, together forming a blur of tiny black dresses and silk tops, lost in the music. It is Saturday night, Nov. 15, at The Estate, an elite and upper class club.
I can feel the excitement and anxiety in the air as hundreds of girls anxiously watch the stage waiting for the show to begin. Lauren Conrad’s newest line of clothing was to premiere at 9 p.m.
But perhaps the audience is not just hoping for the show to start, but also to catch a glimpse of Conrad, the biggest “it” girl in entertainment today.Conrad is the biggest name of the moment to girls between the ages of 14-30. Making her debut to reality TV eight years ago, she starred on the popular MTV series “Laguna Beach” for two years and then continued in her own spin-off called “The Hills.” Filmed in Los Angeles, Calif., “The Hills” is currently on its fourth season and in talks for a fifth. It is likely the biggest hit MTV has ever seen, and America’s most watched reality show. The show follows Conrad’s workday life at the fashion line People’s Revolution, classes at FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising), relationships with friends and family, and nights out on the town.
Conrad quickly evolved into a style icon, and last year took on another project: a clothing line. Suffolk student Rachel Pelkey talked about Conrad’s style. “I love LC’s style. She always looks so adorable… If I saw similar clothes out in stores I wouldn’t hesitate to buy them if they weren’t too expensive.”
Designing clothes has always been Conrad’s dream and first love, before television. To promote her line, Conrad launched the “Lauren Conrad Collection College Tour,” with five stops starting in Austin, Texas on Oct. 25 and ending in Boston, Mass., on Nov. 15. By joining a Web site called TheQuad.com, young women submitted their profiles and other Web site members voted for their favorites. From the models with the most votes, Conrad personally chose 50 of her favorite girls. Ten different girls walked the catwalk at one of the five locations of the tour. At the close of each show, the model with the most votes won a day with Conrad during LA Fashion Week. The winner of the Boston show, among the 10 other young women, was Suffolk University student Lauren Mae Pelkey.
Screams erupt as the lights dim and the show begins. The young models strut down the runway in a variety of halter, off the shoulder, and strapless dresses, as well as flowing tops. A number of outfits appealed to me, an avid Lauren Conrad fan. As the 20-minute show comes to a close, Conrad herself appears to thank the sponsors and could barely be heard above the cheers. For her, it is nothing but a day in the life of a young star.