Catwalking

Catwalking is the action of walking along a platform in a fashion show. It is more likely known as a “runway”. The history of catwalking can be traced back to the mid-1860s when English designer Charles Frederick Worth began using live models to present his designs. The term “catwalk” comes from the careful, delicate way a cat walks. The first show that contained a catwalk was in 1901 when English designer, Lady Duff Gordon. Catwalk modeling originated in midcentury department stores rather than at glitzy fashion shows. Local fashion models walked down narrow runways to help shoppers see how the clothes looked on a moving body. In the 1960s, catwalks became a staple of high-profile fashion shows. To walk a catwalk a woman has to be 5’8 and a man has to be around 6’0. “I would try catwalking,” Scottie Shreves (12) said.