'My confidence grew': Quincy High students own the runway at annual fashion show

QUINCY – "Gorgeous."

"Slay."

"Wow."

Audience members shouted compliments and stared in awe as students strutted across the stage wearing their own designs or modeling for friends at the Quincy High School Fashion Show.

"My confidence grew so much when I walked out there. I just never imagined myself being able to walk out there like that," Elizabeth Chetwynd, a junior whose three-piece collection was part of the fashion show, said.

The event at Quincy High on Thursday showcased the work of students in the school's fashion program.

About 70 students modeled 84 garments, a number that included alumni who were unable to have a final show due to COVID-19, fashion teacher Robin Kaplan said.

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"I think the show is an amazing outlet for these students to showcase their hard work," Kaplan said.

For Quincy High students, the work started in October. Mood boards were made for collections and in Fashion Design 1, the first level fashion class, students honed the craft of garment creation.

Callie Alessandro, a freshman, wore a navy blue A-line dress she created using a pattern.

"First we started with the top and then we made the skirt, we have to like fold the pleats," she said. "Then ... you have to connect (the top and skirt) together and it has to line up perfectly or you have to readjust the skirt."

Preparing for the show meant hours of work and dedication for the students, but they said it was worth it. During "crunch time," Kaplan was in the classroom to help students from early morning into the evening hours.

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"The last couple of weeks are so nerve-racking because you're realizing everything you're behind on, but honestly the last two weeks the students really pulled it together," Kaplan said.

Garments were made with a high level of professionalism. Lana Vangorder, a senior and model in the show, wore a navy blue puffer coat by Kimi Vallee, a sophomore.

"She did a really good job. It's gorgeous," Vangorder said. "Like something you would get at Urban Outfitters."

Jacob Lustig, a senior, strutted down the runway wearing a hot pink blazer by designer Mallory Carlson.

"It's just honestly a great experience because I've seen my friends put their blood, sweat, tears, all their energy into this," Lustig said. "To have them have this moment just makes me want to just scream because they deserve this."

The event was a group effort: the school's culinary program made flat bread pizza and salads for a pre-show dinner and hair was done by Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy in Braintree.

"(The fashion program is) kind of that creative outlet when school gets difficult," Chetwynd said. "It's honestly a home at school because we're all just like family there."

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Reach Alyssa Fell at afell@patriotledger.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Students walk the runway in Quincy high Fashion Show