Click photo to enlarge Fort Morgan High School student Mattie Hayes models a top made by fellow student Josephine Juanes. The top, which featured an open back and was adorned with silver studs on the pocket and around the collar, was one of the looks shown at the May 9 FMHS fashion design and merchandising class fashion show at the school.
High school students nearly always have ideas about what's in and what's out, creating clothing trends and leading classmates into following and eventually discarding them.
So it's only fitting that some of the students at Fort Morgan High School are learning to make their own clothes, and then they showcased those clothes in a fashion show.
About 75 people watched in the audience as the Fort Morgan High School fashion design and merchandising class held its first fashion show May 9 in the Glenn Miller Auditorium, according to teacher Jeanine Pope.
"Fashion in Bloom" was the show's theme, and the stage was decorated with tissue paper and coffee filter flowers, Pope said.
Students got to showcase the garments they made, as well as some clothes from retailer Maurices. Nineteen different student models took to the runway in the student and professional designs.
The idea began last fall as a potential final project for independent study students Josephine Juanes and Angelica Amezquita, according to Pope.
The two students had previously taken the class, but wanted to study the subject more in depth, so they took it again as independent study, she said.
Their idea for a fashion show spread into an overall project for the regular fashion design and merchandising class, she said.
To put it together, they held model tryouts, and 19 high school students were chosen to wear the outfits the students would create.
The students took a trip to JoAnne Fabric and Craft Store in Greeley to buy the fabric, patterns and notions they would need to create the clothes, Pope said.
While in class, they fitted the patterns and sewed the garments, which included skirts, lace overlay shorts, jackets and dresses.
They had help with completing their designs from several volunteers, including Kristy Moehr, Patty Unrein and Gloria Zink.
All except for one of the 16 students in the fashion design class plus independent study students Juanes and Amezquita completed at least one look, Pope said, and some completed more than one.
The class held rehearsals for the fashion show in early May, and Marla Ng, a community member with fashion modeling and photography experience, provided tips for the models, Pope said.
At least 30 different looks hit the runway during the show, Pope said.
That includes the five outfits that Maurices loaned the students, which were offered to the models afterward at discounted prices, Pope said.
And FMHS students Nancy Hochanadel and April Young provided musical entertainment during the show. Hochanadel sang "Beyond the Sea" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," and Young sang "I'm Yours."
The audience, students and models then got to enjoy refreshments, Pope said.
Juanes and Amezquita's idea for the fashion show could be something that has lasting effects for Pope's fashion design class.
"We hope this does become an annual event," the teacher said. "I have had students ask about doing another show next year."
She said that the show was a good way to combine students' varied interests in the many parts of the class material
"Sometimes the students' interests can also focus on fashion retailing, recycle redesign of clothing or cosmetology," Pope said. "However, (the fashion show) is a great way to combine all of those interests to showcase what they have done throughout the year."
Contact Times Staff Writer Jenni Grubbs at jgrubbs@fmtimes.com, follow @JenniGrubbs on Twitter or check out tout.com/jennigrubbs
