By Marsha Labunsky
A student-run fashion show, Fashion for Action, will raise money for Mentor L.A., a non-profit organization committed to assisting disenfranchised schools in the downtown Los Angeles area, on March 24 at Taper Gym at 7:30 p.m.
The student planning committee for the show is headed by Liana Weston â07 and Mark Doumet â07, who have been planning the event since January 2006.
Sponsors include Forever 21, LF, American Apparel, Terra, Fred Segal, Milk, Modern Amusement, JL Marks and Seven Jeans.
âI know that [fashion] is very influential within the Harvard-Westlake community, especially with students, and a fashion show is something kids donât have the everyday opportunity to go to,â Weston said.
âA lot of things that happen within our society have to do with clothing and the fashion industry, so I thought what better way to attract people to help out than by having a fashion show?â
The clothing will be modeled by 15 upper school students and four middle school students, and it will be sold after the show.
Each of the 29 stores sponsoring the event will have its own rack. People can browse through the racks and choose the clothes that they want to buy. Clothing on the racks will also include items not modeled during the show as well as additional sizes. Proceeds from the ticket sales and the sale of the clothes will all go toward Mentor L.A., which was founded by Megan Chernin (Margaret â05, David â03 and John â02).
Supermodel Cheryl Tiegs (Zack Peck â10) will be opening the show and teaching the students how to walk the runway like professionals. The Bobbe Joy Make-Up Studio in Beverly Hills will provide make-up for the show, and hair will be done by the Beverly Hills Cristophe Salon.
Lighting for the show is being provided by Santa Clarita Studios, and all rentals are being provided by Paramount Studios.
Entertainment will include a professional disc jockey, a surprise celebrity master of ceremonies and performances by Carlotta, a band composed of Clay DeRouen-Hawkins â07, Jordan Abergel â07, Andrew Smith â06 and Matt Baker.
Weston and Doumet hope to sell 600 tickets.
âItâs been a lot of work, but we both love fashion, and we both, more importantly, love to give back to the community at large,â Weston said.
âI think itâs a great way for students to get involved in supporting a charity,â Doumet said.
