On February 5th, students from Crown Point High School put on their high heels and did their makeup for the school’s Annual Fashion Show, where girls and boys modeled prom dresses from shops like A Pink Boutique, White Iris, David’s Bridal, and Louie’s Tux Shop.

Not only did our Crown Point students step into dresses and suits, the event actually helped them step into more confident and expressive versions of themselves. 

“Fashion is just about like expressing yourself and trying to break out of the norm, or whatever the norm is for you. Doing this really helped me gain confidence,” freshman Claire Hart said.

This isn’t the first year the school has held a show, and it definitely will not be the last. This year, models also got to help with the production of the show, allowing them to be more interactive with the process.

“It’s been really fun so far and I’m definitely doing it next year. I chose the theme and I was kind of like the creative head so definitely designing the runway and the archway was my favorite part,” junior Marissa Drummond said .

While everyone turned heads, the proceeds from the show even helped turn new corners for St. Jude’s House, where all proceeds were donated to help those surviving and recovering from domestic abuse.

“St. Jude House is the domestic violence shelter in Crown Point, so we raise funds to help support the house because it’s nonprofit,” Leslie Bonner said, teacher at the high school and director of the Fashion Show.

Behind all the vendors and stylists, this was at the heart of the operation. Helping others in need was incredibly important to everyone involved, including the sponsors of the show.

“I am a survivor of domestic violence and when I found out the proceeds go and help the organization of St. Jude House, that’s very important to me. My business, I’m all about paying it forward and helping women, a lot of my products are products with a purpose, so myself being a survivor of domestic violence it’s very important that I’m here” Latissia Vasera said, owner of Aurora Boutique whose clothes were sported by the models.

Although things were rocky at first, everything seemed to come together in the end for everybody involved. 

“It actually just started when I was on maternity leave, but the president of the Fashion Club formed it because they wanted to have a fashion show at the high school, and the best way we figured out to do it was to make a fundraiser for St. Jude House,” Bonner said.

To everyone there, fashion is about more than just wearing clothes. It was created to help others, to create an expressive outlet, to help one grow into a more confident version of themselves.

“My motto is when you look good, you feel good, and it is so important. If you walk out of your house and you’re like, ‘I know I look good,’ then you’re going to feel good,” Vasera said.

Regardless of the part played in the show, whether that was model, worker, sponsor, or donator, this year’s Fashion Show was memorable to all with just enough sparkle.