Nerves, excitement and unique outfits. Twelve student models, including the Webster University Gorlok, walked the runway in the University Center. Webster University Campus Activities presented its Red Hot Fashion Show Thursday and it was a red-hot hit. A small resale shop provided the outfits to raise awareness for a good cause.
Webster University Campus Activities hosts a Red Hot Fashion Show every year. Some students walked the catwalk for the first time. Others felt comfortable in the fashion show. Students picked their outfits from the ScholarShop, an upscale resale shop in Webster Groves. The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis will benefit from any purchases the students make.
Red hot hit
The fashion show was a first for Webster University student Corinne Eschenroeder. She admitted the fashion show was out of her comfort zone. Eschenroeder’s friend didn’t tell her she signed Eschenroeder up.
“I was kind of upset at first, but then I thought, ‘Hey, why not? It’ll be fun.’ and so I just went with it,” Eschenroeder said.
Eschenroeder nervously modeled her first piece. She was rigid and rushed down the runway. Eschenroeder had more fun the second time around. She stopped at the end of the chairs, put her hands on her hips, and smiled as students cheered and whistled.
“The crowd definitely helped,” Eschenroeder said. “I just got really into it.”
Webster University student Alexandra DeClue enjoyed modeling for fashion shows in high school. She walked the runway with confidence and a smile. DeClue felt her black cocktail dress and pencil skirt matched her personality.
“It’s pretty outgoing and I’m pretty edgy,” DeClue said. “It ties in together with my clothes.”
Twelve students were either chosen or volunteered to show off their styles in the Red Hot Fashion Show. The Webster University Gorlok made its appearance on the runway and bowed to applause. Students filled the chairs that were set up on the left, right and middle of the University Center. The models came from behind a black curtain and circled the runway set-up. Friends and other students cheered and whistled for them.
Bittersweet success
It was the last Red Hot Fashion Show for senior Campus Activities Program Manager Abby Bandelow. She’s been in charge of the event for the last three years.
“It was bittersweet, but I think it went over really well,” Bandelow said.
Half of Bandelow’s models said they were going to buy their outfits from the ScholarShop.
Supporting students in need
The ScholarShop re-sells donated items to raise money for the Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis.
The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis is a non-profit organization that provides interest- and fee-free loans to St. Louis students. It awards more than $3 million per year for education expenses, with $7,000 available to each student. The Scholarship Foundation offers a 12-month grace period after graduation to pay back the loans.
Customers from more than 7,000 households and businesses donate items to the ScholarShop. These include designer clothes, handbags, shoes, hats, jewelry and more. The ScholarShop’s goal is to get the students to buy the clothes they modeled in the fashion show.
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