Looking to mingle with celebrities, socialites, and renowned journalists? Pepperdine’s Women of Color, WOC, club is hosting its second annual fashion show this Saturday night in the Waves Cafe. The event opens its doors at 6:00 p.m. for guests to peruse the merchandise, shop around, and get settled. The runway fashion show, which is the highlight of the night, will run from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The theme for this years show is ‘Wish Upon a Star.’
The primary purpose of the show is to raise awareness for the WOC club and promote the idea that all women are women of color, and internally have no differences.The show celebrates womanhood through fashion by embracing the differences of women everywhere.
Funds raised by the ticket sales, which only cost 10 dollars for students, go directly to the Los Angeles Make-A-Wish foundation which helps children suffering from different illnesses. Last year, the event raised over $1,500 for the foundation, as well as raising $1,000 for Autism Speaks. Two hundred guests attended last year’s event prompting the club to expect 300 guests this year.
The 2011 event was meant to be a one-time engagement, but the club believed the outcome was so great that the group decided to make it an annual event. Last years theme was ‘Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend,’ which complimented the symbol of Women of Color, a diamond. The event resulted in rave reviews by the press, as well. This years invited press includes the LA Times, LA Weekly, Genlux Magazine, Angeleno Magazine, Extra, WWD, and Apparel News. Last years event included entertainment by Pepperdine students and Camille Winbush from ABC’s “The Secret Life of an American Teenager.” When asked about this years performers, Kayla Brown, a member of the WOC, said “we’re still finalizing our performance list, but we have confirmed that the famous drummer Sheila E will be in attendance, and she will be drumming the music for one of the designers. Also, Pepperdine student Jamie Grant will be performing.” Brown also mentioned that the group had been planning the event since mid-summer. “It takes a long time to plan such a grand event,” she added.
Michele Weaver, a co-founder of Women of Color and this years Service Chair, said “Tara Akinwande and Christina Kenney, who are the President and Vice President, did most of the planning for the fashion show.” Weaver shared that Ariel Tinsley, a FIDM student from downtown Los Angeles, was a big help to the Pepperdine WOC with the planning details. “She helped coordinate the show by contacting the designers and planning auditions for models,” Weaver says.
Auditions for the fashion show were held in early February in downtown Los Angeles, and the models who tried out were all professionals. Each designer went to the auditions and hand selected who they wanted to model their clothes in the show, personalizing their collection for the show. This years featured designers include Aji by Amazinda Christine, Crave Girl, Emigee Couture, Merci Belle, Roni Burks, Sacred Hearts, and Shanna Gall.
The Women of Color group meet on campus once a month. The club is open to all women on campus, and they are currently looking to add more diversity. The WOC club is hoping that the event will give them a bigger name on campus. Besides the fashion show, the group does a plethora of activities, such as attending athletic games, having organized slumber parties, and meeting to discuss issues.
The WOC ‘Wish Upon A Star’ Fashion Show event will exude Hollywood glamour. Tickets are on sale in the Waves Cafe.
