Budding Fashion Designers Debut Their Work at Rosemont

fashion students worked their magic Monday night, transforming a seemingly-regular classroom into the site of a high-end fashion show. Complete with a dramatically-lit red carpet runway, bodyguards at the door, and walls and ceiling draped in white shimmery satin, this was much more than I expected for the evening.

Students were dressed to the nines and carried silver platters with chocolate-dipped strawberries and cupcakes decorated with logos of fashion designers. I chose a delicious Chanel cupcake and found my way to my seat.

Enthusiastic parents and family members made up much of the fashion show audience.

"My daughter was just dying to get into this class!" said Vicky Martinez, mother of eighth-grade fashion student Veronica. "In April, the class actually took a field trip to New York to learn about high-end fashion. They also go to do some sightseeing at Rockefeller Center, NBC Studios, and Ground Zero." Martinez showed off pictures in a scrapbook as I nibbled on an impressive chocolate-covered strawberry.

The two-semester curriculum is taught by Janna Kasmanian. Students learned about fashion history, sketched designs and constructed their own clothing.

"This has been an amazing elective class," said Marlene Pomeroy, mother of eighth grade fashion student Kaley. "In the fall, they study about fashion through the ages. They learn about clothing and start to sketch out different styles. In the spring, they start to apply what they have learned into re-inventing clothing styles and making unique fashion styles of their own.

"Each week for nine weeks they have to come prepared with a different outfit to model and they even had to model the piece if they weren't ready. This class really captured their creativity and gave them a little taste of how intense the fashion industry really is," said Pomeroy.

During the show, students modeled their unique fashions as they strutted down the runway to music from Lady GaGa, Katy Perry, and Jennifer Lopez. The outfits were truly awe-inspiring.

Student Kelsey Boller talked with me for just a minute in between costume changes. "I really liked making all of the outfits and getting to show off our own style," the young designer said. But the joy of fashion came with hard work. "It is really stressful getting everything together. We got to add all of our own accessories, makeup, and jewelry to our creations. I feel really proud of myself."

Boller realized that is class is not only about history of fashion but about pushing yourself to the limits of creativity.

There were nine different style categories that each of the students displayed: historical, professional, formal, avant-garde, recycled, school girl, a t-shirt with a logo and "unique."  

Father Robert Perez talked about his daughter's love of the course.

"My daughter just loves it. She spent a whole year in this course and this is the most excited she has been about a school class," he said. "There are so many people here to support the students and it is a wonderful turnout."

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