The second Tuesday in May (May 13) gave the first Monday a run for its money as thirty-five models strutted their way down the makeshift runway of Fieldston’s Varsity Gym in unconventional looks made from unlimited creativity. Besides the absence of fabric, there was every material imaginable – Pokemon cards, polaroid pictures and even Chipotle bags.
This year’s fashion show, led by Shayna Sacks (Form VI) and Rachel Stulman (Form VI) consisted of students ranging from 6th grade to Form VI, and even a special furry appearance from Fieldston’s Therapy Dog, Trixie. While the actual day is an exciting opportunity for the community to gather together, the Fashion Show Committee takes part in a long process of prior planning. This involves meeting with the faculty advisor, Señor Randolph, in addition to communicating with the film and tech crew, AVI and facilities.
Sacks (left) and Stulman (right) pose in their outfits – Source: The Ethical Culture Fieldston School
In regards to planning her last show, Sacks shared, “It was pretty sentimental in a way that I was not expecting, but the fashion show is such a staple of Fieldston and I have loved working on it for the last four years, so it was weird to imagine that this was my last time. There is always so much detail that goes into planning the fashion show so we try to make it a better and better version each year. I’d say the phrase ‘last one, best one’ applies to the way we planned this year’s event.”
What made the show the best one yet, as Sacks described it, was all of the new technological improvements. Stulman explained “We decided this year to make a slideshow of all the participants’ names and materials used to be projected in the gym. It’s hard to hear the MCs in the gym, which is an issue we’ve been trying to solve, but we thought a slideshow would at least help the crowd know a little about each outfit.”
Since her first year in the fashion show in seventh grade, Chloe Keenan (Form VI) has created a total of seven looks. This year, she created three outfits out of paint samples, paper origami, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Ever since watching the fashion show for the first time in sixth grade, Keenan has always dreamt of creating multiple looks. Keenan credits her friends for “comment(ing) when I talked about the fashion show and sa(ying) they would love to model. Last spring, I sketched out a few dresses, with the hopes of creating multiple, either that year or senior year. I didn’t get around to making multiple last year, so I knew I needed to deliver this year.”
Source: Chloe Keenan
For all seniors who have participated in the fashion show over the years, it is bittersweet. Keenan is sad that her time dreaming up looks for the Fieldston Fashion Show has ended, but she plans on starting an unconventional fashion show club at Tufts in the fall. As for the future of the fashion show, Rebecca Flisser (Form IV) looks forward to stepping up in planning next year’s show, along with Samantha Gold (Form V). Flisser exclaimed, “When my parents toured Fieldston when I was four years old, the Fashion Show was a selling point. My mother always said that once I got to high school, this is what I was going to do. She was right!”
Source: The Ethical Culture Fieldston School
For anyone thinking about doing the Fashion Show next year, Sacks advises, “Just do it! It’s a super fun Fieldston tradition and being part of it is such a special experience. Any artist’s abilities are welcomed and celebrated – I’m definitely not talented in the visual arts and I still did four fashion shows. It’s an event like no other!”
