When you think of October, the first thing that may pop in your head is Halloween, but it’s also breast cancer awareness month! It’s a month full of celebrating breast cancer survivors and helping to find a cure for anyone, man or woman, that is fighting it. The 17th Annual Breast Cancer Fashion Show occurred last Monday, October 28, benefiting the Susan G. Komen foundation and showcased fabulous clothes from multiple local and Internet boutiques that were be worn by the even more fabulous and fashionable Greek organization representatives! Meet the collegiettes who worked (or werked) this Panhellenic Council sponsored event.
Katie Esler, co-chair
Year: Senior
Major: Health & Exercise Science
Hometown: Westfield, New Jersey
Greek Organization: Delta Zeta
Her Campus (HC): How did the Breast Cancer Fashion Show start?
Katie Esler (KE): To be honest, I don’t know. I think the Panhellenic Council wanted to do a big fundraiser. We also do a “Go Red for Women” Event for the American Heart Association in February. So those are just our two big philanthropy events. They bring all of the Greek organizations together! All of the committees are made up of girls from every sorority, which is really nice because everyone collaborates.
HC: Have been to any past Breast Cancer Fashion Shows?
KE: I actually was the silent auction co-chair for the past two years. I didn’t go my freshman year, but I applied to be a silent auction co-chair my freshman spring semester, and then I was on it sophomore and junior year. This year, I’m the big co-chair, but I was a committee chair the past two years so I learned a lot about the show and that’s why I applied to be co-chair for it.
HC: What did you do to prepare the show and get everything together?
KE: I pretty much oversee all of the committees and help them out and organize them. I have another co-chair as well, Eliza, and in the spring we accept applications from girls in all the sororities. This year’s theme was “Join the Fight,” so the logistics committee was turning the stage into a boxing ring and the theme colors were black and hot pink. This year, Bevello did a tailgate look, Gusto did a day look, J. McLaughlin did doing an interview look, Monkee’s did a cocktail look, Pure Barre did an athletic look, and Rent-the-Runway did a concert look and a President’s Ball look. That’s new this year since this is the first year that Rent-the-Runway was involved; and they aren’t a boutique in Winston-Salem, they’re an online clothing company, so that’s really cool. Also, Christopher’s Formal Wear did the men’s look for the President’s Ball and M. Christopher’s did the men’s look for the tailgate.
Caroline Kemp, model, Alpha Delta Pi
Year: Senior
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Richmond, Vermont
Her Campus (HC): How did you feel about being chosen to represent your sorority?
Caroline Kemp (CK): It was really cool! I didn’t know anything about it but it was really cool to go around Winston to all of the fittings and stuff. I think it’s going to be really fun!
HC: Do you have any past runway experience?
CK: I actually do! I’ve competed in pageants for a while. I was Second Runner-up at Miss Vermont, USA last fall and I’m doing it again in exactly a month. I have a coach that only taught me how to walk!
HC: How would you describe your personal style?
CK: I’m very preppy, but also a little edgy at the same time. I transferred here from NYU, so I wear a lot of the Wake fashion trends, like boots and leggings, but I also try to make it my own and add a little of the edgy, upbeat New York style with it. It also differs where I am. Here, I’m definitely conservative and much more traditional, but when I’m in New York, or SF, or LA I’ll dress very differently. So it differs, but I always try to make it something I like or would look good on me.
Emily Mannon, model, Kappa Delta
Year: Senior
Major: Theatre
Minor: Communications
Hometown: McLean, Virginia
Her Campus (HC): How did you feel about being chosen to represent Kappa Delta in the show?
Emily Mannon (EM): It was an honor! It was really nice to be chosen by my peers to do something that’s for such a wonderful organization. And my mom is a breast cancer survivor, so it was wonderful just being chosen so I can honor her in that way.
HC: Were you nervous about anything?
EM: No, I actually was not. As a theatre major, I’ve been on stage in front of people a lot and I love it. This is kind of performing and I love performing, so I was really excited. And the dresses we got to wear were beautiful.
Kelty O’Brien, model, Chi Omega
Year: Senior
Major(s): History and Politics and International Affairs
Hometown: West Port, Connecticut
Her Campus (HC): How did you feel when you found out that you were chosen to represent Chi Omega in the fashion show?
Kelty O’Brien (KO): It was a nice feeling to know that my sorority sisters wanted me, trusted me, to represent them for something as important and as nice as the Breast Cancer Fashion Show. I’m a little nervous, but I’m excited. It should be fun!
HC: Are you nervous about anything in particular?
KO: I’m really clumsy, and I know that I’m going to be wearing high heels, so that doesn’t bode well for my walk down the runway. So I’m a little nervous to fall, but I think I’ll be ok. Slow and steady.
HC: Which runway outfit is your favorite?
KO: Probably the dress from Monkee’s. I tried on a few dresses there that were really cute, but the people at J. McLaughlin and Bevello were so nice and helpful. The outfits that they styled were also really great. But the dress from Monkee’s is really cute.
Cassie Brown, model, Delta Delta Delta
Year: Senior
Major: English
Hometown: Mendham, New Jersey
Her Campus (HC): How did you feel about being chosen to represent your sorority in the show?
Cassie Brown (CB): I wasn’t expecting it! At one chapter meeting, everyone just nominated people and I heard someone nominate me. There were about seven different girls nominated. Even though I wanted to do, I didn’t want to “toot my own horn” so I voted for someone else. I didn’t think I would get it. It was unexpected and I was really shocked, but I’m really excited about it.
HC: How does breast cancer affect your life?
CB: My nanny, who has taken care of me since I was really young, passed away four years ago from a really long battle with breast cancer. It really affected me, and still does to this day. Not a day goes by where I don’t include her in my prayers. I just think about her all the time and I’m going to be thinking of her the entire time I’m walking on that stage. It’s nice that I can do this for her. I’m dedicating my walk to her and everything I’m doing this week to prep for the show is dedication to her.
Kyle Campbell, model, Kappa Kappa Gamma
Year: Senior
Major: Economics
Minor: Politics and International Affairs
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
HC: Do you have any past runway experience?
KC: Only that I wanted to be America’s Next Top Model for like five years. I loved that show, but then it got really repetitive, so I quit watching. But I thought I was going to try out for it! Other than that, no.
HC: How would you describe your personal style?
KC: Really lack thereof. I really do not have a lot of personal style. When I had to go to all of the stores to pick out my outfits, I had to bring my boyfriend with me because he has a lot more style than I do! I can barely match my own clothes. I have to ask my roommates to dress me every morning. So I guess my style is whatever I think matches and it also depends on the time.
Steph Taylor, model, Delta Zeta
Year: Senior
Major: Communications
Hometown: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Her Campus (HC): How did you feel about being chosen to represent your sorority?
Steph Taylor (ST): I was kind of surprised! It was kind of exciting! I worked on Breast Cancer Fashion Show last year as one of the PR chairs and I thought it was really fun helping the girls get dressed before, but I thought that this was a good opportunity for me to be able to wear the clothes and be on the other side of Breast Cancer Fashion Show because I had a lot of fun last year.
HC: What are you looking forward to most this year?
ST: Well, I love fashion, and I want to pursue fashion in a future career, so I’m really excited about wearing all of the clothes! My escort is really excited too about getting dressed up, so I think it will be a fun opportunity to try on new clothes, have fun with friends, and just do it for a really good cause.
HC: How would you describe your personal style?
ST: I honestly just dress up in the morning and dress to how I feel. I like looking put together, but at the same time, I’m not your typical Wake Forest, J. Crew wearing girl. I’ve actually never bought anything from J. Crew, which surprises some people! I kind of have a beachy look during the summer, just being from Florida, and then a more edgy look in the winter because I like leather jackets and black.
Tess Stowers, model, Kappa Alpha Theta
Year: Senior
Major: Business and Enterprise Management
Hometown: Edgewood, Kentucky
Her Campus (HC): How did you feel about being chosen to represent Kappa Alpha Theta in the show?
Tess Stowers (TS): Well it was an exciting opportunity because I wanted to show Theta out there, especially since it’s our first year on campus — well it’s our second semester now. It was an honor being chosen, too because it’s fun and doing this is for a really good cause. I like fashion too, so being able to go to the stores and try on things was fun!
HC: What are you looking forward to most in this year’s show?
TS: I really liked the [outfit] at Bevello’s. The outfit was black pants that were kind-of gold and it was my tailgate look, so it had a white shirt with gold on the sleeves to go with the pants. So it was kind of a punky look, but a classy look too.
Abby Bagliani, model, Kappa Beta Gamma
Year: Senior
Major: Health & Exercise Science
Hometown: Roanoke, Virginia
HC: Which of your runway outfits is your favorite?
AB: I really like the Rent-the-Runway dresses. I saw a picture of one of the dresses I get to wear and that’s fun because those are all really nice dresses. The Bevello fitting was a lot of fun because it’s all really nice clothes. It’s not necessarily what I would normally wear, but it’s fun to wear clothes you wouldn’t necessarily wear and get dressed up in them. Getting waited on and getting dressed up in the store was a lot of fun, too.
HC: How would you describe your own style?
AB: I really switch it up. I don’t really know. I’ve always tried to put a title on it, but I have no idea. I’m always a mixture of styles. I don’t have a specific one. I’m probably a little more boho, but I have some preppy clothes too, definitely. My style is really just a mix of everything, but I’m definitely the kind of girl that likes to get dressed up for class. Not super dressed up, but I don’t look like I rolled out of bed.
Shomik Gibson, model, Delta Xi Phi
Year: Senior
Major(s): Sociology and History
Minor: Spanish
Hometown: Spartanburg, South Carolina
HC: Do you have a personal connection to breast cancer research? Are you walking for someone?
SG: I know several breast cancer survivors, including an aunt and one of my mentors. However, I am not just participating for them. I am participating for all the women who have survived. This can affect anyone. So many women have lost the battle with breast cancer while there are also so many survivors. All of these women are heroes; therefore, on Monday, I will walk down the runway for all of them.
HC: Are you nervous about anything?
SG: I feel more excited than any other emotion. However, I am a little nervous about falling flat on my face in my heels. If I fall, it will be okay. I will just get back up while laughing at myself and continue on.
*Photography by Blake Bomier