Not Your Common Vogue Week: DeWitt and Urmann Make House For Weirdos (And Everybody Else) at DFW

Denver Vogue Week typically feels just like the black sheep of the Vogue Week world. The “Huge 4” cities (New York, London, Milan, and Paris) may set the foundations of style, however Denver’s style leaders have by no means actually been keen on following these varieties of guidelines within the first place. 

And regardless of how tiring it may be to clarify that, sure, Denver does have a style scene, and it’s fairly cool truly, Denver Vogue Week isn’t keen on becoming the mould — and actually, that’s the entire level.

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Named by Forbes Journal as “a trusted different to New York as a platform for rising expertise,” Denver Vogue Week  DFW prides itself on being experimental, playful and against-the-grain – whereas sustaining high-level professionalism. It has all the time been a secure house for experimentation, for celebrating style (and its wearers) that don’t fairly match into the extra conventional style scene.

Denver’s scene is a colourful, avant-garde celebration of individuality, and with people like Megan Urmann and Darrel DeWitt behind the scenes, it’ll keep that approach. 

Because the Heads of Make-Up and Hair for Denver Vogue Week, Urmann and DeWitt play a key position in making backstage really feel secure, moral, and knowledgeable, not nearly runway developments, however about how one can present up with respect in an business that doesn’t all the time prioritize it.

We’ve Come This Far, So Let’s Maintain Going 

In 2011, America’s Subsequent Prime Mannequin was nonetheless popular culture gospel. Gwen Stefani was going through mainstream warmth for letting her sons paint their nails. American Attire was tangled in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit for sexual misconduct after plastering the world in NSFW adverts for years.

The world was totally different. The style business was nonetheless shackled to antiquated beliefs and poisonous magnificence requirements.

That’s additionally when Denver Vogue Week was born — and when Darrel DeWitt joined the staff.

Since then, loads has modified in mainstream style tradition, and DeWitt has seen all of it from behind the salon chair. Now Head of Hair greater than a decade later, DeWitt has witnessed DFW develop into often known as a house that actively resists the worst tendencies of the style world.

“We had been one of many first style weeks to get seen for having a mannequin with Down syndrome, for working with extra mature fashions, highlighting variety so far as non-traditional peak or weight,” DeWitt shared. “We’ve all the time tried to concentrate to having extra of a stability, and a part of it’s on account of the truth that we’re welcoming and accepting of everybody behind the scenes.”

That behind-the-scenes ethos isn’t simply good PR: it’s private. “I used to be in a position to do a number of various kinds of textured hair,” DeWitt added. “That was a part of why we had been in a position to get seen for having extra numerous fashions — as a result of the fashions knew they might come to me to get their hair carried out.”

Backstage, DeWitt is joined by Megan Urmann, Head of Make-Up and his inventive counterpart. Whereas she’s newer to the staff (although, to be truthful, most individuals are when in comparison with DeWitt), Urmann is equally foundational to the backstage tradition of security, respect and joyful collaboration.

Every season, DeWitt and Urmann are intentional in constructing hair and make-up groups that may meet each mannequin the place they’re — regardless of their hair texture, pores and skin tone, or private boundaries round their our bodies. It’s not nearly getting the look proper; it’s about making folks really feel seen.

Plus, this dedication to security is greater than only a buzzword for Urmann and DeWitt. As a substitute, it’s the groundwork for a really collaborative and artistic atmosphere. When everybody feels revered and secure, the inventive power flows extra freely. 

“The variety additionally lends itself to a lot extra creativity,” Urmann stated. “It’s not essentially in a field the way in which different locations is perhaps. So we get to attempt actually loopy bizarre, possibly extra avant-garde, experimental issues — which is thrilling. And it additionally feels extra collaborative than different style weeks.”

For DeWittand Urmann, creating this secure house isn’t nearly making rising expertise really feel welcome: it’s about fostering an atmosphere that appeals to designers and creatives of all ranges. By prioritizing inclusivity, they’ve created an area the place everybody can convey their greatest concepts ahead, whether or not that’s an even bigger identify or a brand new designer. 

“I believe there’s room for all of us to do one thing actually cool collectively,” Urmann shared. “There are actually proficient folks right here, so I like that we’re a platform for rising expertise but additionally we are able to maintain our personal for massive designers who need to journey and present right here, too. It’s very inclusive in that approach.”

Creativity Requires Security Backstage

With regards to making a secure and inclusive backstage atmosphere at Denver Vogue Week, Darrel DeWitt and Megan Urmann know that ensuring everybody feels seen is a consistently evolving course of.

In Urmann’s eyes, clear communication performs a significant position in cultivating this atmosphere: “We’ve heard from lots of people that it feels safer, it feels higher, it feels extra well-managed, enjoyable or relaxed. I believe a number of it actually has to do with communication. I’m befriending a number of these individuals who are available in and assist us on the staff, and that helps make room for all of us to work collaboratively.” 

DeWitt shares an identical sentiment about making a welcoming environment, notably in the case of caring for the varied fashions backstage. 

“I believe even visually strolling right into a room that appears very numerous provides you a complete totally different first impression than in case you stroll right into a room that makes you are feeling such as you stand out from the group,” DeWittshared. “That’s a part of what we’ve been making an attempt to override, and that’s kind of our model. We’re the weirdos, and if we really feel like we slot in, then everybody can really feel welcome.” 

By embracing this “weirdo” mentality, DeWitt and Urmann purpose to dismantle the exclusivity typically discovered within the style world, guaranteeing that backstage isn’t simply numerous however authentically inclusive. This mindset units the inspiration for a extra snug and supportive house for all fashions and individuals.

Doing The Work One Dialog At A Time 

However, as they each level out, the journey is way from over. 

DeWitt and Urmann acknowledge that fostering a really welcoming atmosphere is an ongoing course of, one which calls for fixed reflection and motion. For them, it begins by extending the clear and constant communication they’ve prioritized backstage, even when which means fumbling by uncomfortable conversations.

Of their view, inclusivity should start with rethinking foundational manufacturing practices like casting and auditions. Whereas these steps are important to the success of any style present, DeWitt and Urmann consider they need to be consistently reimagined to foster extra knowledgeable, respectful interactions.

“Within the audition, designers have an expectation of what they need to solid, and in case you don’t fall into that group, then they let you recognize that you simply’ve now fallen by the cracks,” DeWitt defined. “Designers are all the time going to have particular concepts or pattern sizes, however the way in which we talk these items shouldn’t make somebody really feel othered.”

That form of reimagination, nonetheless, can’t occur in a vacuum. DeWitt and Urmann envision a future for Denver Vogue Week that’s rooted in collaboration each on and off the runway, one which begins with constructing consolation round discomfort.

“We’ve needed to ask some questions that leaned somewhat bit uncomfortable on each side,” DeWitt stated. “However we had to ensure, like, what degree of consolation are you with the way you current your self, what you’re sporting, how a lot pores and skin is uncovered?”

For them, direct however considerate conversations are essential for making a safer, extra respectful atmosphere. “I’d slightly have you ever ask me a query that made me really feel somewhat bit uncomfortable than to simply decide me and resolve for me,” DeWitt added.

Finally, their imaginative and prescient for Denver Vogue Week is a continued dedication to the kind of inclusion that doesn’t simply depend on tokenism or compartmentalized classes, however from actual experiences and particular person voices. 

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“There must be a well-rounded dialog,” stated Urmann. “The style business is so queer—how can we make that translate into the clothes that’s on the runway? How can we make it extra collaborative in that sense? It begins by bringing that DIY mentality to casting and backstage.”

These reflections are a part of an ongoing dialogue about bettering not solely the casting course of, however the broader backstage tradition at DFW. Whereas there are already a spread of voices on the manufacturing staff, DeWitt and Urmann stress that continued schooling and fixed evolution are important for actual development.

As Urmann put it: “Cultivating that secure tradition backstage is step primary, however there are nonetheless issues that should be held and supported. All of us have to have the ability to put ourselves on the market after which fumble by the uncomfortable conversations.”

Everybody’s Welcome At Denver Vogue Week 

When it comes right down to it, Denver Vogue Week has by no means been about becoming in — and that’s precisely what makes it so highly effective. In an business typically pushed by exclusivity and perfection, DFW stands out as a platform that champions authenticity, experimentation and the form of actual inclusivity that occurs behind the scenes. 

Because of leaders like Darrel DeWitt and Megan Urmann, the present isn’t nearly what occurs on the runway: it’s about how folks really feel earlier than they ever step onto it.

As they proceed to problem outdated norms and spark essential conversations, DeWitt and Urmann show that the way forward for style doesn’t should appear to be the previous. It may appear to be Denver: bizarre, welcoming and splendidly its own.

Denver Vogue Week Spring 2025 takes place Could 10-18, 2025 at The Brighton at 3403 Brighton Boulevard Denver, CO 80216. Tickets may be bought right here.