Fashion Show
Sixth Annual BLFC Fashion Show
Are you ready to strut the high seas? We invite you to show your most relaxing, seaworthy fashions when BLFC sets sail this year.
This year, we are splitting the Fashion Show into two parts: the competition portion, and the show off segment. There have been so many incredible looks crossing our decks the past few years that we decided it was only right to allow more people to show their favorite looks, without all of the kerfuffle around impressing judges. While you get your resort wear ready, read on to learn more!
Pre-Con Fashion Show Early Entry
Are you all packed and ready to walk the gangplank up to BLFC at Sea? Do you already know exactly what you want to wear for your fun on the open waves? Well, you’re in luck! This year, the Fashion Show is accepting a limited number of early entrants to the Show. We will be accepting up to 15 people via the sign up form below, which will secure you a spot in the Fashion Show and a choice of judging time slots on the judging day (Tuesday, October 13th).
Please note: You are welcome to drop out of the Fashion Show at any time for any reason, and filling out the Fashion Show Early Entry form does not require you to participate in the Fashion Show. Judges will be in contact via e-mail in the weeks leading up to BLFC to confirm participation and schedule your judging time slot, and you are welcome to e-mail us at fashionshow@goblfc.org at any time to step out of the competition or ask any questions you may have.
This form will close on Wednesday, September 30th, at midnight.
At-Con Fashion Show Early Entry
But wait- What does this mean? At-con early entry? How? Fashion Show fashionistas, explain!
Well, it’s not exactly an early entry. But if you’d like to get a head start on your physical information forms and get the chance to sign up for a scheduled judging slot or talk to someone about another judging time that works best for you, you’ll be able to do just that by talking to the folks at the Theme Events table! They will have forms for you to fill out if you’d like to do so, and the Fashion Show Lead will also be there on occasion to answer any in-person questions you may have. This will be the only time at the convention to potentially secure a timeslot for judging, so if you’re concerned about a busy schedule, please see us there!
Fashion Show Competition Requirements
In order to enter the judging portion of the Fashion Show, there are several requirements that must be met. If you’re not sure if the outfit you wish to show off meets the following requirements, you are welcome to reach out to fashionshow@goblfc.org for clarification.
If you wish to show off an outfit that does not meet the following requirements, please check out our new Show Off Segment of the Fashion Show!
Requirements for Fashion Show Entry
- All outfits must be on theme. This year’s theme is BLFC at Sea, so we expect to see outfits fitting a cruise for the ages! What the theme means to you is up to interpretation, and judges will not dismiss an outfit if it does not fit their personal concept of what someone would wear to BLFC at Sea. However, judges may ask for clarification on how an outfit fits the theme, and will do so before judging if necessary.
- Outfits must be appropriate for the convention floor. As much fun as you may have while attending BLFC at Sea, we ask that you keep all risqué and revealing outfits to the AD Festival instead of on deck at the Fashion Show. Bathing suit level coverage at minimum!
- We are all beautiful here. Please remember that your competition deserves the utmost respect, as well as the judges and staff. Accept your results with grace, and enjoy your time on the catwalk. Remember, your fashion will inspire and awe, no matter how the final results turn out, and we should all be proud of that.
- Judges reserve the right to remove anyone who is showing discriminatory behavior and/or mistreating their fellows from the show. We’re all here to show off and have fun in front of our adoring audience, and as much as everyone loves a little drama, let’s save it for the reality show cruise lines! :)
That’s all! Have fun, and let’s get ready to set sail!
Show Off Segment (S.O.S.)
The Fashion Show crew is happy to announce a NEW segment for the show this year: the Show Off Segment! There are always so many excited folks who want to share their fashionable side at BLFC, but joining a competition to do so is daunting or otherwise not something they’re interested in. With this segment, we invite anyone who wants their 60 seconds of fame to join us for a promenade across the deck in whatever convention-appropriate outfit they want to show off!
While S.O.S. will not be judged like the Fashion Show and is not required to match the theme, we do ask that you follow all other requirements (appropriate level of cover and showing respect for your fellows).
We hope all of you seabound fashionistas are ready to S.O.S. and strut your stuff with us!
Preliminary Judging Panel
All participants must plan to attend the Preliminary Judging Panel, even if you just want to participate in the Show Off Segment. We need to know the number of people who plan to participate overall, and get some basic information from those involved so we can plan accordingly! We will also be providing very important information for the day of the Show.
The Preliminary Judging panel will be held in the McKinley room between 11:00AM and 1:30PM on Tuesday, October 13th. Please note that, besides pre-scheduled Competition Contestants, all judging will be done on a first-come, first-served basis. While we do not anticipate running out of slots for people who wish to participate in the Fashion Show, we request that you arrive before 12:00PM to make sure the judges are able to give you the time you deserve.
Things to Know
- Please arrive in your fashion show outfit, even if you are just signing up to be part of S.O.S.
- If you are participating in the Competition portion, please plan to spend the entirety of the two hours in the panel room. If you have a prior obligation you have to attend, please let judges know as soon as you arrive, and we can try to accommodate. No accommodations for schedule conflicts can be promised, only attempted.
- Once you have arrived at the judging panel and have submitted your paperwork, please do not leave the room without letting a judge or other volunteer know. If we call you up for judging and you are not present at that time, you will be disqualified from the Fashion Show.
- You are welcome to bring a friend, support person, or family member with you to the Judging panel, but we request that you limit your companions to no more than 2 extra people. The judging panel is not intended for audience observation, and we want to make sure people are as comfortable as possible.
- You are welcome to bring food/snacks with you to the judging panel, just please be mindful of any mess you may leave behind.
When arriving at the Preliminary Judging Panel, you will be asked to provide some standard information via our physical application forms. While some information may be repetitive for those who have already submitted a form online, having it completed physically will help the judges keep track of who is who, and also allow us to have everyone’s information in one place.
Judging Criteria
Our judges will be inspecting your cruise line ‘fits for the following:
Theme Matching
- How well does your outfit match BLFC at Sea?
Originality
- Does this look like something we would see on any other cruise adventure? If it does, what sets your outfit apart from those other, more usual looks?
Overall Aesthetic
- How well does your outfit work together? Does it look like an actual outfit, or a bunch of miscellaneous accessories?
NOTE: This year, judges will NOT specifically be judging people based on creating their own outfits. If someone did make their own outfit or parts of their outfit, they will get a small bonus to their score (enough for a tiebreaker but not enough to prevent anyone from passing their score). This rule may change in the future.
Entry Categories
Categories will be implemented if there are a minimum of three people for each category. If this requirement is not met, individuals will not be separated based on Suiting Level. If there is only a single Group entry, their individual scores will be tallied and then averaged to find the Group Score, and then included in the general pool of contestants. If there are at least two (2) Group contestants, they will be judged as a separate category.
Group
This is for anyone wanting to enter as two or more people. Please remember this is a fashion show, not a performance, so your outfits will matter more than how you coordinate with one another on stage. You may coordinate a skit if you would like, but this is not necessary. If only one Group entry is participating, the individual scores within the group will be tallied and then averaged out for the joint “Group Score”, to be scored against all individual contestants.
No Suit
This category is for anyone not wearing a fursuit or other furry mask. Tails, ears (“nekomimi”), and other accessories that do not limit mobility or visibility will place you into this category. Certain foot paws and hand paws may place you in this category, but it is to the judges’ discretion.
Partial Suit
This category is for anyone wearing a partial fursuit. At minimum, a fursuit head is required to place you into this category. Optional accessories include hand paws or foot paws, tails, wings, and arm sleeves.
Fullsuit
This category is for full fursuits. This means a fursuit or other similar animal costume that wholly covers the body, including a head, body, feet and hands, and any additional appendages with clothing worn over it. Note: Partial suits that consist of full arm sleeves and paws and fur “pants” or bottoms may also count in this category, even if they lack a torso portion of the fullsuit. This is to the judges’ discretion based on level of coverage and mobility limitations.
The Show
The Fashion Show will take place at Main Stage on Thursday, October 15th from 3:30PM to 4:30PM. Participants in any part of the show (either the Fashion Show or the Show Off Segment) may arrive as early as 2:30, but must arrive no later than 30 minutes before the show (3:00PM). Late arrivals will not be guaranteed a spot in the show, so please let a judge know in advance if you don’t think you’ll be able to be at Main Stage by 3:00PM on Thursday, October 15th.
Participants in the show will be sequestered in a Green Room offside of the runway area as soon as audience members are allowed into the space (minimum of 10 minutes before the Show is scheduled to start). The Green Room provides fursuit lounge level fans and water stations, as well as chairs, and you are welcome to de-suit or take off outer layers of your outfit for comfort until it is time for the show to start. The Fashion Show moves fairly quickly, so we ask that you are fully prepared for your time on the runway at 3:30 sharp.
There will be a minimum of one staff member or volunteer on deck with the participants in the Green Room, and if they need to alert a judge for any reason they may interrupt the show to do so. While judges will be available leading up to the show, we ask that you do not talk to them about your outfit or other competitors’ outfits at that time.
Placement and Prizes
While the specifics of prizes are still being discussed (what exactly can you fly in dramatically for winners on a cruise ship?), we are planning some exciting things for our placement winners.
For 2026, we are anticipating awarding someone the following places:
If we have enough entries for Categories:
- Best in Show
- First Place Fullsuit
- First Place Partial
- First Place No Suit
- Group Prize
- Judge’s Award(s)
If we don’t have enough entries for Categories:
- First Place
- Second Place
- Third Place
- Judge’s Award(s)
Judge’s Awards are optional and based on what the judges would like to do, either individually or as a group! Judge’s Awards may go to people who have already placed, but are not based on the point system used for decided placement winners.
FAQ
Will there be submitted entries before the convention this year?
Yes, we will be accepting up to 15 early entries via this sign up form. This form will close Wednesday, September 30th if we don’t receive 15 early entries. All other entries will be at-con sign ups.
Do I need to register for the Show Off Segment before the Fashion Show starts?
Yes. We need to know exactly who will be present for the Show, so everyone who wants to participate in any part of the Fashion Show must be present at the Preliminary Judging Panel on Tuesday, October 13th.
Can I have someone else model my outfit for me?
Absolutely! You will need to find your own model and attend both the Preliminary Judging Panel and Fashion Show together. The only person to receive a prize will be the person who put the outfit together, not the model.
May I enter more than one category?
No. In order to be as fair as possible and make sure each outfit truly shines, each contestant is limited to one entry.
Can I enter the prejudging but not walk the stage? Or vice-versa?
No. If you want your entry to be counted you must be present for the prejudging and show itself. If you are unable to attend either, unfortunately your entry will be disqualified.
I want to record the fashion show. Is that okay?
Please do! If you upload any pictures or recordings of the fashion show please feel free to share with us at: fashionshow@goblfc.org
Will there be somewhere to safely put my things while I am on the runway?
Yes. We will have a minimum of one volunteer or staff member in the Green Room at all times during the performance. You will be responsible for moving your belongings from the Green Room after the show. Any abandoned items will be turned into lost and found.
Can a friend/partner/family member (etc.) come with me?
You may have up to 2 people with you as support/assistance during the Preliminary Judging Panel and one person with you in the Green Room before and during the Fashion Show. If your support person would like to watch the show once it begins, we can reserve a seat for them to move to that is close to the Green Room and will not disrupt the other audience members.
Will we be given more instructions on how to go across the stage at the event?
Yes. We will give you a full rundown of the entire show and have a brief dress rehearsal in the 30 minutes before the show starts.
Is this event wheelchair accessible?
While we cannot guarantee that the event will be wheelchair accessible, we are planning to keep the entire show on one level (no stairs or rises for entry or exit). However, things can change very quickly on the high seas, and if a participant needs wheelchair assistance, we will make sure we have someone present to assist you, or find an alternative method for you to strut the catwalk.
If you have concerns about mobility assistance or have questions about the planned layout, please e-mail fashionshow@goblfc.org. You may also check our Accessibility page for more information.
Does my attendee badge need to be visible during the show?
No. We understand that badges can interfere with your overall aesthetic, so they do not need to be visible during the show. If you remove your badge please keep it with your belongings so it doesn’t become lost during the show.
Will anyone be able to help me get on stage?
Yes. We will have helpers to make sure everyone gets on and off stage safely, especially fursuiters who may have limited visibility. While we are not planning for this stage to be elevated as it has been in previous years, we can still provide guidance if necessary.
If my outfit has been judged, do I need to stay in the judging area?
No. If you have already spoken to the judges and had your outfit evaluated, you do not need to remain in the judging area! We only ask that you do not leave before you have been judged, without speaking to one of the judges first. We won’t keep you there if you desperately need a fire hydrant break, but just let us know that you’re not diving into the sea, never to be seen again.
For any other questions please reach out to us at: fashionshow@goblfc.org