Emily Brand
News Editor
The class of 2013 had the chance to dress up in the latest prom and casual wear to strut their stuff on the runway last Saturday, March 2 when NCHS hosted the annual Fashion Night Out. The event helps raise money for the senior post prom party, and is considered one of the last bonding events for the senior class. The event promoted many local New Canaan businesses and even featured a number from the upcoming spring musical, “Beauty and the Beast.”
Co-chair Sue Gummeson has been attending FNO on and off for 15 years, and was eager to be heavily involved in helping raise money for the seniors’ post prom this year. According to Mrs. Gummeson, support for the event was crucial in order to have the post prom all seniors envision. “It’s very expensive to run the prom. We’re trying to get a safe environment for the kids after the prom, so we needed people to come out and support it,” she said.
The show was kicked off by a video put together by senior Nick Campbell. Each pair of MC’s kept up with the models as they walked the runway, styled by A Step Ahead, of Stamford, Camillo’s Tuxedo Specialist, of Norwalk, as well as many local businesses such as Athletic Shoe Factory, Caren Forbes, Island Outfitters, Jacks Wills, Suburban Couture and Togs. Mrs. Gummeson emphasized the reasons for attending the show. “It’s a serious fashion show!” she said. “I can’t tell you how many people have gone to the stores who have seen the outfits on the stage and bought them. This happens a lot, so it’s good publicity for the stores and they’re happy to do it, they don’t charge us. They volunteer their clothes so it’s good publicity for them and then it’s a fundraiser for us.”
Senior Maddie Rusch looked forward to the show, not only because so many of her senior friends were participating in it, but also because it helps raise money for her senior prom. “I think both students in the show and the audience look forward to it just because its such a bright, colorful and fun event!”
Tim Casavant, a senior, also modeled in the show. He saw the show really bring together the senior class and excite everyone about prom season. “I think students get really pumped for the show,” he said. “It’s one of the things that defines second semester. I knew it’d be a cool way to kick off prom season and an out of the ordinary event that is fun to do senior year.”
According to Mrs. Gummeson the show really is meant to be a senior event, on top of a fundraiser. “We have 80 plus students who participate in it, and it’s a senior event where everyone comes together,” she said. “It’s a fun event, everyone gets dressed up, there’s MCs, there’s entertainment and you get to see people dressed up and look beautiful for the evening, and then you get to see the clothes too.”
Kristin Laub was another senior who wanted to partake in the show because of the tradition it holds at the high school. She has loved watching it in years past and saw how much fun students had with it. “I think students view this as a humorous event, and the seniors especially look forward to it,” Kristin said. “This year’s show was definitely very different from those in the past, but I think it went well and it was so funny to see our grade up on the stage.”
Molly Joyce, who is a senior and anchor on the morning announcements, has looked forward to her chance to be in the fashion show since she first watched her sister model in it. Molly was one of the ten students chosen to MC, and tried to bring her love of public speaking into her role onstage. She liked how the show is something to look forward to in your last year of high school, and felt that this year, the excitement was definitely there. “I think that the show has always been awesome because there are so many people who work behind the scenes, like the mothers involved and other students, who put all this time and effort into it to make it something that people really want to participate in and attend.”
This year the show raised over $8,500 for the senior post prom. Senior Griffin White recognized the true success of the show, especially the spike in donations from last year’s $600 to this year’s $2,100 profit from the raffle alone. Griffin felt everyone’s energy on stage was what really brought the show together. “My favorite part was seeing everyone’s outfits,” he said. “It’s awesome seeing everyone looking good and making a big deal about clothes. It’s a scene everyone should see.”
