Mount Si organizes fashion show
October 16, 2008
By Laura Geggel
Those planning to spruce up for the Oct. 25 homecoming dance can get an opportunity to glean early fashion tips from the Fall Fashion Gala at Mount Si High School.
The 2008 gala — debuting at first, second and third lunch Oct. 22 — will present to the public at 7:30 p.m. in the Mount Si commons. Admission is free, although onlookers may feel the urge to spend their paychecks on the clothing they see at the show.
Contestants in a past fashion show pose for the camera.
“It’s fun to watch,” said junior Kristina Swanson, one of three gala student coordinators. “It’s a good activity for homecoming.”
Organized by the fashion merchandising class, the gala has been student-run the past seven years. Before teacher Elaine-Marie Berg began teaching the class, Mount Si only hosted a spring fashion show that was organized largely by an outside coordinator. Berg decided to put the decision-making into the hands of the students, allowing the show to evolve into a biannual learning experience.
“I always have students do everything,” Berg said. “Seven years ago I was approached by four seniors who said, ‘we would like to be in a fashion show.’ I said ‘great, you have a month to plan it.’”
To prepare for the fall and spring galas, fashion merchandising students research the latest trends. They pass out surveys to learn more about what their classmates like wearing. They coordinate with stores like Macy’s and Caché that allow them to borrow clothing for a 24-hour period. They find about 60 student models, decorate the commons and find appropriate music. A student emcee narrates the show, telling the audience the designer and price of each item, in addition to a fun fact about the model.
In the last several years, the gala has included younger student models. Freshman Chloe Villanueda started modeling in fifth grade.
“When I was smaller, I went to Macy’s kids and I got to pick out my own outfit,” Villanueda said. “Now I’m older, I get to go to nicer stores like Caché.”
Villanueda also gives the emcee plenty to talk about.
“I played sax in middle-school band, I play soccer and I like to dance,” she said, spouting off several personal factoids.
Other Mount Si classes, including life skills, and clubs help organize the gala.
The Wildcat production club, advised by counselor Thomas Tilton, perfects the lighting while the video production club, advised by Joe Dockery, films the show. Every year, Mount Si’s construction class builds a runway in the commons.
Recently, Berg began inviting students from Seattle Photography needing practice photographing models to take pictures during the show.
“It’s all student-run,” Berg said. “Each year they, amaze me with what they come up with, using their creativity.”
Carolyn Jamerson, a 2005 Mount Si graduate, designed several outfits for the runway.
“When I came, I had 40 sketches and designs,” Jamerson said. “I didn’t think it was that much, but everyone else had accumulated a total of about 10.”
After graduation, Jamerson attended the Fashion Institute of Design & merchandising in Los Angeles and now works at the school’s costume museum. She called the gala “a good way to express myself.”
Many of the students in fashion merchandising are involved in DECA. Success of the Mount Si gala has spread. This year, the class is helping West Seattle High School and Renton High School organize shows of their own. They also consulted for the Washington DECA fashion show two years ago.
Berg commended her students on their work, especially for their inclusiveness.
“It’s not a popularity contest,” Berg said. “I will go out of my way to find somebody who just needs a boost.”
Diane Jamerson, Carolyn’s mother, agreed.
“It was fun to get not just the popular people involved. It was neat how all of those kids rallied and cheered for the handicapped kids,” Jamerson said. “It was a thing of pride to walk that runway.”
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