Fashion club presents first fashion show
May 26 in the Black Box Theater, fifteen models strutted down a catwalk, kicking off Brookfield Central’s inaugural fashion show. Each sported a variety of handpicked outfits selected by fashion club members.
BC’s first fashion show marked the start of the Fine Arts Extravaganza. Accordingly, the concept of the show was related to visual art. Each ensemble was based on a different piece of artwork, and each collection related back to an era of art or history. Lines varied from Western European Art to Kandinsky and Pop Art.
The fashion club members spent around two months preparing for the big event. Their job was to create looks inspired by various works of art, while putting their own twist on each outfit. The designers found garments in the Black Box Theater’s costume department, or they brought pieces from home.
As an unexpected surprise, fashion club was able to recruit two professional Milwaukee designers to help with the show. Hostess Vivian Gross (‘15), a professional model with ties to the fashion industry, contacted designers Leevan Roundtree and Sarah Corlett and requested them to contribute their work to the show. Roundtree and Corlett were each responsible for a different collection in the show.
Fourteen of the fifteen models were BC students who had little modeling experience, but plenty of enthusiasm. With her experience, Gross was able to teach the volunteers how to walk.
“Being a model for a show seemed a little farfetched, but I wanted to try it nonetheless. The experience was absolutely fantastic. I didn’t know anything about modeling (or much about runway fashion for that matter) but with the help and guidance of designers and the club, I think I was able to pull it off,” said model Tiffany Kim (‘16).
The show required a combined effort from many people. The Paul Mitchell School of Milwaukee provided the styling and supplies for each model’s hair and makeup; Yearbook helped with lighting, sound, and photography; and the BC custodial staff helped fashion club in the week leading up to the show.
“For our first show, it was definitely a success. Everyone that was there said that they had a lot of fun,” Gross said.
Victoria Lopez (‘18) is pictured above wearing a dress that was inspired by The Swing, which was part of the Western European Art collection. Fashion club member Aritra Chakraborty designed the look.
Evy Doan (‘18) is pictured above wearing one of professional Milwaukee designer Leevan Roundtree’s pieces. Roundtree introduced his collection in person at the fashion show.
