Lincoln flock party: fashion for fundraising
With vibrant colors and eccentric designs, the Flock Party fashion show aimed to involve students and spice up the straight forward auctions from the past. The event, held Feb 1 at the Sentinel Hotel, provided a place for students to express their artistic talents and have fun as a group.
The Flock Party is held once a year as an event for Lincoln’s parents and the community, as a way to raise money for the school.
Two parents from Lincoln, Shelby Morgan and Lou Featherstone, organized the fashion show.
“I wanted to bring [the fashion show] here [because] I think the auctions are really boring, and I wanted to do something a bit more interesting that the kids are involved in as well,” said Featherstone.
Featherstone is a sustainable fashion activist who has a big wardrobe. Her clothing was worn by students in the vintage runway section which were inspired by past decades.
“I rent out my vintage clothes, I rent out my wardrobe and I have an amazing collection of clothes that need seeing,” said Featherstone.
Several students from the Lincoln community expressed what they learned from this event.
Sophia Marshall, a sophomore who participated in the “Vintage Runway” section, wore an ‘80s Jazzercise outfit from Featherstone’s wardrobe. She really enjoyed the experience.
“I learned to have confidence in myself and just be who I am,” said Marshall.
Students who participated in the “Fashioning the Future” section of the show said they used this opportunity to pursue their interests in designing and creating handmade clothing.
“I’ve always wanted to be a fashion designer since I was really young, and this just felt like the perfect opportunity to follow that,” said sophomore Ava Hudson. “And, I was so excited to do this with Lincoln.”
The inspiration for student-designed fashion ranged from extravagant designs and top designer brands to ideas of living a sustainable life.
Sophomore, Alli Mansberger, also designed a dress with sustainability in mind.
“I wanted to make something sustainable from thrifted objects I found in thrift stores,” says Mansberger. “It is a silver and gold two-piece set and it has [pressed] pennies on the side of everywhere I’ve ever gone as a kid, and this is all from my collection. It has chains and coins on the back of the outfit to symbolize sustainable capitalism,” she said.
Hudson’s inspiration was different from those of the other student designers.
“I designed [my dress] after the collection by the designer Rodarte, one of their spring collections, and [I] used a lot of baby’s breath. [It’s] mystical, ethereal, super feminine but also powerful,” said Hudson.
Before models walked the runway, Featherstone shared her hope for the students involved.
“Please don’t waste your opportunity on the stage,” Featherstone said to the students, “make the most of it, it’s going to last five minutes, make the most of it, bring your poses, take your time, really enjoy yourself and don’t let the moment pass you by, just have the best time.”
The students did just that, showing the parents their confident poses halfway down the runway, overcoming the nerves that many of them previously had about walking the runway.
“It was kind of scary,” said Mansberger, “but it’s almost like muscle memory. You don’t even realize what’s going on and before you know it, it’s over.”
Marshall expressed similar feelings.
“At first I felt really nervous but overall it was a really fun experience and I would 100 percent do it again,” said Marshall.
“I was thinking I was going to be super nervous and trip,” said Hudson, “but it just happened and it was natural. I wasn’t nervous at all and it felt great.”
James McGee, the vice principal at Lincoln, walked the runway with a few students from Brothers of Color. He wore tight zebra pants, a bright red leather jacket and dark shades.
McGee explained his inspiration for his outfit by recollecting his memories of past stars.
“I kept thinking what would Prince wear, what would Prince do,” said McGee.
McGee wasn’t intending to be a part of this event until he had a eureka moment. He decided that since he had just pushed some of his students out of their comfort zone to do the show, that when Principal Peyton Chapman asked him to walk the runway as well, he said yes.
Ultimately McGee was glad he decided to be a part of the event.
“Putting something on I would never wear and going out there and dancing, doing those things I don’t do, it was a lot of fun,” said McGee.“I just remember saying to myself, own it, own it, do it, own it, you know.”
