Guiliana Zaza’18 shows off her New Year’s Eve outfit.
Photo courtesy of Olivia Cantarella’18

Sunday, December 5^th, IHA held its annual “Fashions at the Heart” event at the Estate at the Florentine Gardens. Junior and Senior students walked the runway with escorts from Bergen Catholic, Don Bosco Prep, and St. Joseph’s Regional High School, while family and friends dined, socialized, and enjoyed the show.

Doors opened at ten thirty in the morning. Early guests were treated to a buffet assortment of brunch items including quiche, muffins, and pigs in a blanket. As they enjoyed the food, attendees surveyed the room full of raffle baskets. Some popular raffle items included designer handbags, college gear, restaurant gift certificates, and a television. Each IHA homeroom collected money to purchase a basket to contribute and many friends of IHA generously donated gifts. The special alumnae raffle was a Louis Vuitton handbag, and the Mega Raffle was two tickets to New York City Fashion Weeks. There was also a 50/50 that came to be around $27,000, about $13,000 for the winner.

Mrs. Caufield and her daughter share an embrace.
Photo courtesy of Olivia Cantarella’18

The luncheon part of the event began a little after twelve fifteen. Guests started with a raspberry salad and then moved to the main dish of teriyaki chicken and salmon. As attendees finished up the main course, IHA faculty and members of the Fashion Merchandising and Design Club brought the raffle baskets out to the winners. Guests sat at the edge of their seat hoping that the next basket was heading to their table.

Once all the raffle items were distributed, the main event began. IHA juniors strutted the runway in classy holiday attire, while seniors donned prom wear. Mrs. Theresa Skjold and Ms. Ana Echeverria were the “mistresses of ceremony” and proudly read each model’s biography and outfit description. The physical education and Spanish teachers also got to walk the runway along with other educators like Mrs. Cori Tucker and Mr. Matt Sartori. Moreover, three future blue eagles, Mrs. Tucker’s two daughters and Mrs. Janell Caufield’s daughter, wore their holiday garb.

The IHA models were escorted down the runway by students from Bergen Catholic, Don Bosco Prep, and St. Joseph’s Regional.
Photo courtesy of Olivia Cantarella’18

The models picked out their outfits from Lord and Taylor and had the opportunity to buy them after the show. The suits the escorts wore were borrowed from Biltmore Tuxedos in Ridgewood. IHA’s Fashion Merchandising and Design Club assisted the girls in hair and makeup.

The fashion show was a big hit with students and families alike. “I really enjoyed seeing the confidence that the girls had while walking the runway, it reminded me what how powerful the community of women I am part of truly is,” explains Julia Mancuso’18.

Members of the Fashion Merchandising and Design Club, like Natalie Perella, help the models get ready for their runway debut.
Photo courtesy of Olivia Cantarella’18

All in all, the Fashion show was a successful event that was enjoyed by many parents, students, and alumnae. Mrs. Amy Wojnarowski, P’18, thought “it was such a fun event and packed with people.”

Having the Fashions at the Heart in December was a change from the past few years when it was in the spring. However, the committee hopes to do a winter show again next year. The show could not have happened without the contributions of the planning committee, especially Mrs. Beth Garrigan’76 and Mrs. Michele Manning’88. Their handwork truly made the event the success it was. All the attendees were impressed and can’t wait to come back next year!

By Heather Farrell’18, Junior Editor-in-Chief