Photo by Alexis Brooks, Las Vegas HS

Students in Shannon Sheldon’s fashion class walk the runway at the Fashion Show Mall as participants in the “Paint the Town Red” fashion show. From left to right, second place winner Lessette Serrano, first place winner Ruth Witting and third place winner Brianna Schuler. “

Fashion Forward

Students take designs from classroom to runway

Photo by Alexis Brooks, Las Vegas HS

“Fashion is ever changing. Designers have total control of what is in,” says LVHS student Ruth Witting.

A combo of Las Vegas High School’s level II and III Fashion classes held a “Paint the Town Red” fashion show at the Fashion Show Mall on Feb. 28, 2009. The event was held because LVHS was selected to be sponsored by the Junior League of Las Vegas.

LVHS was the only school in this competition. Fashion teacher Shannon Sheldon had to pick students from her higher classes that she thought would be the best for this competition. Everyone picked only had about six weeks to make a fabulous red dress that would be modeled at the fashion show and then auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Having only limited time to make an amazing dress that the judges would love really brought on the pressure.

Student Breana Schuler says, “It was stressful. Everything had to be perfect and if we messed up it cost a lot of money to replace the expensive fabrics.”

Finally Feb. 28 rolled around and it was time for the fashion show. All the student models were getting dolled up at a place called G Skin and Hair Institute. Then the models were ready to strut their stuff.

Says model Ruth Witting, “When walking down the runway I felt fancy, I felt famous, excited, not scared at all.”

At the end of the fashion show, it was time to see who placed first, second and third in the competition. Third place went to Breana Schuler, second place to Lessette Serrano and the first place award was bestowed upon Ruth Witting. Witting’s prizes included a sewing machine, a check for $500, a scholarship to an art school and her dress auctioned off.

“It was unreal,” says Witting. “I didn’t think I was going to win. Oh my gosh!”

Witting adds that the whole experience was crazy, so unbelievable and she would love to do it again.

“When walking down the runway I felt fancy, I felt famous, excited, not scared at all.” -Ruth Witting, Las Vegas HS

Photo by Alexis Brooks, Las Vegas HS

From left to right, second place winner Lessette Serrano, first place winner Ruth Witting and third place winner Brianna Schuler.

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