May 13, 2009

Teen fashion show features style and virtue

By Julie Filby

Teenage models at the Pure Fashion Show on May 3 were asked to describe the program with one word. Their responses included: inspirational, graceful, confident, respectful and responsible.

Admittedly, these are not always the first words associated with teenagers. Nonetheless this is how participants characterized Pure Fashion, an international Catholic program that educates young women, age 14 to 18, in social graces and personal presentation.

“Pure Fashion is an incredibly fun way to learn more about yourself, make amazing friends and learn how to walk down a runway,” said model Angie Fitzsimmons, a freshman at Lakewood High School. “I feel confident knowing I am a beautiful woman made in the image and likeness of God.”

The program encourages teens to live and dress according to their dignity as the “daughter of the King” in a world that has become desensitized to immodest and inappropriate fashions.

“People have become so desensitized they don’t even think about it,” according to Sallie Hurley, Colorado’s Pure Fashion director. “The program teaches girls they don’t need to be victims of what’s ‘out there.’ There are clever ways to make an outfit modest—and still cute and stylish.”

Model Ellie Wroble, a freshman at East High School in Denver, agreed saying she’d rather be a leader than a follower.

“I want to set fashion trends that carry on—rather than ones that ruin (a reputation),” Wroble said.

Wroble, one of the program’s 30 models, said she liked modeling and when she discovered Pure Fashion was a faith-based program, it was a perfect opportunity for her.

“You can be confident and beautiful, without exposing (body) parts that should not be exposed,” she said. “You get more respect from boys that way.”

The fashion show, held at the Grand Hyatt hotel in downtown Denver, drew a crowd of nearly 450.

“Even in a time of recession, we had a good turn-out,” Hurley said. “People still see value in the message, and they want to share it.”

Following Hurley’s welcome to the crowd, the tone for the Celebration of Style and Virtue was set by one of the organization’s spiritual guides, a consecrated woman of Regnum Christi, Florencia Vicuna.

Vicuna explained to be beautiful one simply needs to love the way God loves. She used Mother Teresa as an example.

“Mother Teresa loved every person she encountered with a pure and unconditional love—the love of God,” she said. “It’s not difficult to be beautiful if we have the love of God within us.”

Vicuna challenged guests to spread beauty by finding ways to communicate God’s love in their daily lives.

Miss Rodeo Colorado 2009, Audra Dobbs, served as mistress of ceremonies.

Dobbs presented the group of models in true Colorado style, as each stepped onto the runway wearing a black top and pants, accessorized with a pink cowgirl hat and bandana. She introduced each model individually by reading the young woman’s personal testimony about Pure Fashion.

“Pure Fashion has helped me believe that I can be the woman God created me to be,” according to testimony from model Olivia Washburn, a sophomore at Heritage High School.

The crowd was entertained by Christian music trio, the Miller Sisters Café. Between songs, the teenage sisters shared anecdotes related to what they described as the four virtues every girl needs: generosity, courage, perseverance and love.

A feature new to this year’s show demonstrated how prom dresses could be altered from Pure Fashion don’ts to Pure Fashion do’s.

Organizers obtained popular prom dresses off the rack—complete with plunging necklines and suggestive peepholes. The dresses were given to seamstress Kay Washburn, mother of model Olivia, who used extra fabric and trim to transform the revealing dress into gowns that met Pure Fashion guidelines, such as necklines no lower than four finger-widths below the collarbone and shoulder straps at least 1½ inches wide.

Photos of the original dresses were splashed across giant video screens at each side of the runway prior to the models appearing in the “adorably adjusted dresses” as described by Hurley.

Additional outfit themes were dressy casual, play clothes, trendy but tasteful and Bohemenian—with outfits from retailers Maurice’s, JC Penney, Francesca’s and Dillard’s. Arbonne International Skin Care and Pure Salon Spa provided hair and make-up services for the models. Way FM radio (FM 89.7 in Denver) also sponsored the event.

Prior to the show, there was a dessert bar and silent auction. Nearly 60 items were sold, raising more than $3,000. Ticket sales generated more than $14,000. All proceeds support the volunteer-run organization.

The participation fee to join the eight-month formation program is $250. Although program funding is limited, scholarships are available—with the organization paying half then encouraging the recipient to raise the remaining $125 in their parish, family or community.