Fashion show focuses on eclectic style
Moms Day Fashion Show draws mixed reactions from all

by Kristin Clifford
Contributing writer

Jared Peterson The Daily Illini

Kathy Rossi of Las Vegas takes a picture of Ryan Davis, senior in LAS, during the Fire and Ice Moms Day Fashion Show in the Union Ballroom on Saturday. Rossi was visiting her son Lorenzo Aranda, freshman in LAS, who also was a model in the fashion show.

On Saturday, the Illini Union Ballroom was transformed into Lema Khorshid's conception of fire and ice.

This was Korshid's second year as director of the Moms Day Fashion Show. This time, Khorshid, a senior in commerce, decided to go with an edgier look for the show. She created this desired look - one that was "more runway, but still everyday," she said - with clothing donated from area stores and Marketplace and Lincoln Square malls.

The audience had mixed reactions to her decision. Amber LaLande, a senior in LAS, said she liked the show's style.

"A lot of the clothes gave a taste of campus life. When you go out to the bars, this is what you see," she said.

But Pat Carioscia and her daughter, Mary, a sophomore in LAS, were more discriminating.

"The 'club' clothes were pretty, but not the casual or formal ones," Pat said. Mary agreed.

In a way, the differing opinions are precisely what Khorshid intended to achieve.

"We tried to spice it up a little this year with varying tastes in music and clothes," she said. "We did it on purpose because we feel there really isn't one set style."

The models were an eclectic group, lending further contrast to the styles. They were chosen through a two-step audition process during which 200 contestants were tested on their runway skills and then given a short interview by the staff. Based on these factors as well as looks, the final 81 models were chosen. Sandra Kim, a freshman in commerce, wanted to be in the show because she loves the attention, she said.

Model Steve Hovey, a junior in commerce, had fun being in the show but felt it was a lot of work.

"It's like three hours of practice a night, four nights a week, for three weeks, but it was worth it in the end," he said.

As director, Khorshid put in more time than the models. She began work on the show almost nine months in advance. Her staff also began work earlier than the models. Rendy Nelson, a junior in applied life studies, has been the decorating chair for the show for the last two years. She created the walls of flame and ice, using a product called Link-o-Loons to build the balloon display.

"I had fun this year, and I would probably do it again," she said.

Many staff members were took part in the show simply because they love fashion.

"The amount of work that goes into this outweighs the benefits by a million, but we do it because we love it," said Khorshid.