Highly anticipated fashion show brings Latin flavor
Three models featured in the show laugh together as the embody the Spanish look. (Karissa Duda)
Celebrating Cinco de Mayo in style, the students of the special events and coordination class, led by instructor Diane McGroarty, will host their annual end-of-the-year fashion show in the McKinney Theatre on Thursday, May 5.
The show titled “Viva Por La Moda” will present a variety of work by student designers from Saddleback College’s fashion department.
Along with the work of the students, boutiques such as Apricot Lane located in the Shops of Mission Viejo, and the Laguna Beach-based stores Blue Eyed Girl and LF will also display their collection.
The online-based clothing brand, Urban1972, will also showcase their company’s clothing in which they describe as an expression of “urban behavior.”
“Being that our show will be on Cinco de Mayo, we decided the theme should be Latin-inspired with lots of romance and fun in the air,” said Karissa Duda, one of two directors of the show. “This is not a serious fashion show, our models will be having fun on stage, they’ll be smiling and having a good time because we want our audience to be smiling, too.”
But it takes two minds to get a fashion show of this extent to work, Duda said. She, along with fellow director Brittany Caldwell, have been working hard together to perfect this show.
She explained that this show is a great way for rising designers and stylists to get a chance to be seen and expose their ideas to a full house of guests, as she said that this year-end fashion show has always sold out in previous years.
“In the past, we’ve always sold out, so I know that this show is a big deal to our students and that’s why a lot of effort is being put in by everyone,” Duda said.
“I enjoy watching the students create the show from conception to completion. Every year we have a different group that bring new ideas to the table,” McGroarty said of the showcase’s diverse collection of work. “It’s an excellent way for students to get hands-on experience producing and directing a fashion show.”
Overall, there will approximately 60 student-crafted pieces that the audience will see strut down the runway by models donning Latin looks in both their wardrobe, hair, and makeup.
The student designers will be competing with one another, being judged based on the design of their apparel in categories including corsets, fantasy, ready-to-wear, and evening wear.
Beside creating friendly competition between classmates and providing a show for the audience, this event will also fund a scholarship given to students who would like to continue an education in fashion.
Saddleback President Tod A. Burnett encourages everyone to come out for a great time and support a great cause.
The event will start with a reception at 6 p.m. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. showcase will be $15 during the pre-sale and $20 at the door.