Crashing the Antioquia Mia Fashion Show

The day seemed like any other, at first. But this is Medellín. Something fun is always lurking.

I went to happy hour with a couple of friends and we split a bottle of Aguardiente.

About an hour or so later, I returned home, where my roommate was waiting for me because he had just scored two tickets to Antioquia Mía, a fashion show at the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, only a few blocks from our place.

We arrived to the Coliseo to find beautiful women outside giving out free shots. What kind of shots? I have no idea. All I know is they were colorful and sweet and I don’t care for sweet liquor. I limited myself to two. Bruce indulged a little more.

Then we went inside to take our seats. About 2,000 people showed up for the event — invitations were given out on a limited basis, and we were lucky to get two of them.

Bruce and I chatted with some girls sitting next to us who are studying fashion design and hoping that beautiful models will some day be wearing their clothes.

But on this night, the aspiring designers looked to Beatriz Camacho, Lina Cantillo and Juan Pablo Socarrás for inspiration. All three are apparently quite famous in Colombia. Just check Google.

About an hour and a half from the time the doors opened, the show was ready to begin. We all got quiet as most of the lights dimmed and the music started.

One after another, models strutted from one end of the runway to the other. It was one of those Medellín moments, where you pinch yourself to make sure you’re not dreaming.

If I had to guess, I’d say that 80 percent of the outfits looked pretty fashionable, while the rest were either too ostentatious or just plain strange.

Of course, I’m no expert on fashion design. But to me, it’s like art. I like what I like, I don’t like what I don’t like. Hardly a professional opinion, but I’m still entitled to one, right?

The only really surprise was that the show was so short. First there were the female models, then the male models, and then the females again. I think only half an hour passed.

When the lights went on, I looked at one of the girls sitting next to me and said, “That’s it?”

Regardless, it was a great time, experiencing the paísa culture and enjoying the conversation we had with the people sitting next to us.

On the walk home, Bruce and I had a discussion that we’ve had many times before.

We are very lucky to live in Medellín. It’s paradise.