Student oganization holds annual fashion show

By Deanna Frances

The Fashion Industries Organization (FIO) brought together students for a night of style and high energy.

FIO, a group made up of textiles, apparel and merchandising majors from the School of Family, Consumer and Nutritional Sciences, held its annual Kohl’s Kouture Fashion Show. Students displayed their designing talents Thursday in the Barsema Hall Auditorium for the event.

Each design student from FIO was given $100 to spend toward a complete outfit made from Kohl’s designers like Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, Lauren Conrad and Vera Wang.

Each outfit was styled to meet one of the featured themes: business casual, two looks in one and date night or work social events.

Volunteers from fraternities and sororities assisted as models for the students’ designed outfits.

“We’re going Greek,” said Nicole Perrella, FIO president and senior textiles, apparel and merchandising major.

Perrella and other FIO officers had planned the event since early January.

The audience almost filled Barsema Hall Auditorium. Loud music and bright lights were used as each model walked down the stage featuring one of the designer’s clothing choices. At the end of the show, a PowerPoint was shown where the student designers explained their outfit choices and looks.

Afterward, guests were treated to a dessert reception in the building’s atrium.

“I loved the shoes! Every model had awesome shoes,” said junior accounting major Natalie Mierzynska.

The show also had some male models and featured a view of style trens for guys.

“I really liked all of the clothes the guys modeled,” said Christopher Leifel, senior hospitality administration major.

The Greek models also enjoyed helping FIO with the event.

“The best part of being a model was being able to do it with my brothers from Omega Delta,” said Keith Stiggers, senior political science major.