 "Photo: Hannah Carroll/ THE DAILY GAMECOCK")
A passerby looking through the windows of 701 Whaley St. last night might have dreamt they had been transported to New York Fashion Week instead of Columbia.
Models decked in local fashions sauntered down the runway to raise money for breast cancer research in an event sponsored by USC’s Fashion Board.
Every penny of the proceeds from “Modern Mocktail: Breast Cancer Benefit Fall Fashion Show” went to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Amy Woodell, a second-year retail student and vice president of programming for the event, saidit was the board’s first charity show.
“We wanted it to be about something other than ourselves,” Woodell said.
The show, which was organized in four weeks, featured two student designers and five local boutiques. The Modern Mocktail theme displayed cocktail wear for the upcoming holiday season. Fashion Board members dressed in black and pink handed out pink mocktails and information about breast cancer awareness and self-examinations.
Camille Petty, a fourth-year English student, was a designer for the show. Her collection, under the name Camille Yanair, featured drapey, jewel-tone dresses with ruching, origami-influenced folds, and intricate ties. The simple, single-color fabrics allowed the spotlight to stay on the detailed folds.
The Emma Graham Designs collection, by former USC fashion marketing student Emma Mahons, featured preppy high-waist skirts and feminine dresses in bright pinks, blues, greens, and yellows. Girly details, like large bows and strapless sweetheart necklines, gave the clothes a fresh, young feel.
After a short intermission, the vintage-inspired Bohemian boutique showed its latest looks. Floaty blue silk dresses, yellow fingerless knit gloves, turqouise tights and a neon yellow-green pea coat stood out. Bohemian’s dramatic, colorful clothes are a perfect fit for edgier fashionistas.
Pink Sorbet boutique shared its preppy Lily Pulitzer print dresses, nipped-in waistlines, floral prints, and sparkly neckline embellishments — a perfect fit for the perfect Southern belle. Then models for M boutique took to the runway with tough rock chick grommets, red paisley print dresses, pea green silk blouses, and long pendant necklaces.
Finally, models wearing La Roque strutted past the audience in big bows, bright yellow strapless cocktails, brocade skirts, and sparkling broaches. After a final lap around the room in the elegant designs, the models and designers were applauded by the audience.
The audience, a mix of the who’s who in the local fashion scene including boutique owners, guest photographer Travis Teate, USC professors and retail students, seemed delighted with the clothes and smiled their approval the whole time. Crystal Garrett, a fourth-year voice major who modeled for the show, said the night was a big success.,
“It is always great to give back and have fun at the same time,” Garrett said.
The Fashion Board is open to students of all majors and meets every Wednesday in COL 3001 at 7:30 p.m. New students are welcomed at the start of every semester.
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