OHCHS fashion show was stylin'

Photo: Meredith Potter

Lee Follete

Photo: Meredith Potter

The grand finale.

On May 12, the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School’s Fashion Design class put on a fashion show featuring some of the clothes the class created this year.

The Fashion Design program is one of many programs at OHCHS, among Automotive Technology, Culinary Arts, Early Childhood Education, Law Enforcement, and others.

The show, called “Beautiful Chaos,” opened with Lori Millett, instructor of the Fashion Design program, speaking a little about the class.

“This has been a very busy year," she said. "It’s been wonderful watching them [the students] grow.”

Following the speech, a short slideshow filled with pictures of the students working hard, whether shopping for fabric and supplies, or designing an outfit was shown.

“Beautiful chaos is the best way to describe what happens in that [little] room at the top of the stairs,” explained Millett. “When they [the students] leave, they take with them the skills that will last a lifetime.”

Millett then introduced the MC for the night, Joey Priebe, a junior at OHCHS. "He participates in Advanced Communications at school, and he’s very funny," said Millett.

The show was separated into four seasons, with collections made by the three-year students, with each seasoning having several outfits. The three-year students got to pick their own theme to base all of their outfits from.

As the first model, Anna Skellenger, paraded her outfit down the runway, the audience cheered. She was dressed in a purple and green sweatshirt she made herself, and as she modeled it, she smiled and turned.

Once the fall collection was finished, another collection came out. All the clothes were created by Taylor Dillingham, an active senior involved in Key Club, who plans on going to Plymouth State University for social work after graduation. As Priebe described Dillingham, “she also plans on continuing with fashion design as a hobby.”

The next season, Winter, was filled with models in cute, cuddly clothing. First came Amanda Swain, a senior, in a purple sweater cinched with a belt.

Next came Lacey Landry’s collection, a senior who aspires in every aspect of her life. She has been in Varsity soccer and lacrosse, is in student council, and was the first member of the Technical School National Honor Society. Landry’s collection was based on an '80s retro theme.

The audience applauded, when Lacey, fitted in a multi-colored floor length gown came out smiling from ear-to-ear.

Snacks during the intermission were generously donated by the Culinary Arts program from the school, and money went to support SkillsUSA.

Michaela Smith, a sophomore at OHCHS, said she liked the collection by Lacey Landry. “I thought it was fabulous! ... I loved her dress.” Smith’s friend, Michealla Corey said that “there’s a lot of potential profession talent. I like the stage-set up and the silhouettes.”

The intermission was followed by the Oxford Hills String Quartet – Jeremy Reed, Kayleen Glover, Carolyn Lamb and Ian Vail.

Then came Spring.

First on stage was Kali Allen, in a purple, green and yellow tutu and a Mardi Gras mask. She strutted down the runway, while Priebe described the outfit that Lee Follett created.

A collection by Amanda Swain followed. Swain is planning on going to Kent State University after high school. She based her collection on a summer trip she took to San Francisco.

Next came Summer. Cassy Surrette opened, wearing a grey pencil skirt and blue high heels, which she created herself.

The next model created the biggest stir, though.

Kersten Curtis, wore shorts that senior Andrea Andrews created, and a fedora perched on her head. Once the next seven models came out, all of the models came out a second time, for the grand finale.

Each model walked out into a row, and then they all went down through the aisles clapping and smiling. At the end, Priebe tacked on, getting lots of laughter from the audience, and so did Ian Vail, one of the players from the string quartet.

Haileigh Oakes, friends with one of the designers, said, “I loved the entire show. It turned out amazing. The students did an amazing job with the outfits!”