The seventh annual Fashion for a Cause event in benefit of Truman Medical Center will feature students from East and around the Prairie Village area in the runway show on April 27 at the Kauffman Center. In previous years, the show has been held at The Midland Theatre, Arrowhead’s Stadium Club Level at the Truman Sports Complex and other premier entertainment venues in Kansas City.
“Many people have been looking for a good opportunity to experience an event at one of the most technically and architecturally superior performing arts centers in the nation,” Kristen Lewis, adult supervisor for the teen committee said. “Now is their chance, while supporting a great Kansas City cause.”
Fashion for a Cause was created in 2005 to not only showcase Kansas City’s most noted style boutiques and designers, but also support Women’s Health Services at Truman Medical Centers.
“Since its beginning seven years ago, the event has raised over $700,000 to support the vital care given to mothers and their babies,” Lewis said.
To make this year bigger and better than any other Giuliana Rancic, E! News Anchor and fashion expert will be hosting the evening, and DJ Sheppa Peppa will be coordinating the music. The marketing department from Fashion for a Cause and Truman Medical Center’s Charitable Foundation have taken advantage of advertising with several media outlets from magazines to social media. The show is already sold out with 950-1,000 people expected to attend.
This year’s theme is an emergence of trends, design, expression and style. The color red will be dominant in the decorations to carry out the theme. The night will kick off at 6:30 p.m. with a Patron’s Party, giving people plenty of time to eat, drink and mingle. Following the Patron’s Party will be the main attraction, an hour long fashion show starring teens from around the city during the “teen-segment” and other professional models. Senior Camille Goehausen will be participating in the show as a runway model for the first time after having attended in past years.
“About 20 other high school students and I are walking in the fashion show modeling younger, more casual clothing,” Goehausen said. “There are about 10 guys, mostly from Pembroke, also modeling.”
SVICA jeans for women and Method for men will be sported on the runway, along with music by DJ Sheppa Peppa. Other featured stores include Feng, Alaskan Fur, Peruvian Connection and Hudson + Jane.
“What’s cool about SVICA jeans,” Goehausen said, “is that they have removable panels on the sides, so you can switch up the colors to go with your outfit.”
To prepare for the show the models have gone to three three-hour long practices. During the first practice the models got a chance to get comfortable walking on the runway and listening to the music they will be walking to. At the next practice they had a fitting. Each model is wearing basically the same wash of jeans, while some are skinny and others are flared. Goehausen will be in jeans and a black and white strapless top. They were also told about the dance routine that they will be performing at the show.
“I’m not the best dancer so I’m a little nervous to dance in front of thousands of people, especially Giuliana Rancic,” Goehausen said, “but I think I’ll be fine.”
Other teens have also volunteered to work backstage. To promote the theme “emergence,” there will be a red carpet leading into the building.
“We are trying to make the theme seem more realistic,” Victoria Sabates, sophomore and backstage volunteer said. “They want us to stand around the red carpet entrance taking pictures and acting like paparazzi.”
The teen models not only get to walk the runway during the show, but have the opportunity to work with the fashion show producer, and choreographer. They also have jobs such as raising money by selling tickets, advertising the event and even hosting and organizing their own parties. Another perk is gaining community service hours for their involvement.
“Ratana Tshibanda, the Fashion Show Producer, really works with them, helping them to gain confidence and poise,” Lewis said. “Which in turn, I think will help them with other aspects of their life. We try to bring out their inner Sasha Fierce.”
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