Strut the catwalk — that's a dream most girls would have had at some point in their lives or other. But perhaps you are not quite tall enough... your shoulders are broad... or you are pear-shaped... and a thousand other things. Stop. We know not all of us may be perfect, but that doesn't mean we can't look terrific, gorgeous, and stylish. And that's the message Ministry of Retail wants to share. This October eight customers were chosen to headline the runway during its birthday bash, and Hourglass, Petite, Inverted Triangle, Stick, Pear, were all part of them. Meet the cast.


          Fittings were held at shopowners Yi Fong and Vincent's place. Their apartment was strewn with clothes, racks and racks of clothes running helter-skelter everywhere... a shopper's paradise!



But with eight models and sixteen outfits to settle, that was an organiser's hellish nightmare.



The team dealt with it by staggering the fittings session at intervals. Teresa, Jessica, and I were the first to arrive.


          Meet Jessica, our tallest model at 1.8m. She wears the Dynamique Ruffles Corporate Dress from Ministry of Retail's sister line, Creme & Co.


          Each of us models one outfit from Ministry of Retail and another from Creme & Co. Here is Jiaxin from the team helping Jess with the Belt Up Vest that would eventually be modelled by Eva.


          And this is the piece Yi Fong has specially singled out for me. She knows me well; I love capes, and this Military Cape Vest has all the hallmarks of a high fashion piece. Wear it with shades and Chanelesque shoes to look like you have just gotten off your private jet. Psst... you can also remove the outer cape and wear the jacket as a vest ;)



Teresa, Jessica, and I self-amuse while waiting for the others to be fitted.



Caught in motion: practising the basics of catwalk during our training session.


          Catwalk is nothing like normal walk. When you are on the runway your strut has to be fierce; it has to be exaggerated. I cross my legs one over the other and thrust my hips as I walk.


          Here we are against the funky backdrop of Recognize! Studios, with our trainer, Mrs Singapore World 2011 Vanessa Tan, teaching us how to pose with attitude. A who's who, from left to right: Teresa, Serena, Doris, Eva, Brenda, Priscilla, me and Jessica. Everyone is in their Ministry of Retail outfit.



Doris is asked to change her strapless wedges into covered heels to prevent herself from slipping on the runway.



Serena demonstrates how she will pose in her Breezy Orange Cape Dress.


          The amazing Jess, who eventually joined Elite Model Look Singapore 2011, is chosen to open the show. The music starts, and she mirrors Vanessa's act of whipping open the curtains.


          Left: Priscilla finds her slingback pumps wobbly. She can't seem to control walking in them. Note to self: change her shoes for the special day; Right: Vanessa directs Jessica on where to stop and pose.


          Left: Vanessa demonstrates how to remove a jacket while walking; Right: Us girls laughing at ourselves as we do our little turn on the catwalk.


          A big thank you to Vincent, who managed to capture this little gem of me doing the turn. Gotta love my hair and the way my cape flies as I spin ♥ My pencil skirt is actually a dress — the Don't Look Back Corporate Dress. Shhh... it's got a very sexy back ;)



It was a challenge mastering the turn. I can't get it right. I need to practise!



Priscilla, second in the lineup, crosses Jessica's path. "Hey aren't we supposed to stop and pose together here?"


          Jess is ready, but Priscilla can't stop laughing. This was where Jess played the joker and tried to swipe Priscilla's hand off her arm :P Look at Vanessa!



Vanessa saves the day and tells the two where to go.


          The trio bursting out in renewed laughter. Do you know Priscilla is actually a proud mother of a 4 months old baby? She looks great, doesn't she!



They make their way back to the back, as Vanessa directs the next step in the routine.



Doris, Priscilla, Jessica, and me in our final position for the Ministry of Retail segment.


          As night falls, everybody practises posing with a jacket. Doris is wearing the bestseller Jealous of Green dress, Priscilla cuts a svelte figure in Entrench in Blue, Jessica rocks the Colourblock Bodycon Dress, Eva has on the Belt Up Vest over the gorgeous Colourful Printed Maxi Skirt, and Brenda is in the Autumn Goddess Maxi Dress. Watch out for the next post, which will cover the events of the birthday bash cum fashion show ;)

Photography & Filmography by Vincent Goh. Screenshots made by me.