Windermere Prep students, teachers to model in fashion-show fundraiser

WINDERMERE  The third floor of Bloomingdale’s at Mall of Millenia will turn into a runway for a few hours Saturday, March 19, with Windermere Preparatory School students and teachers as models.

Windermere Prep Volunteer Association’s first Love, Peace & Fashion Show event will have 30 WPS students of all ages and six WPS teachers showcase Bloomingdale’s spring collections, fashion-show style, as guests cheer them on. 

The event begins at 1 p.m. with a silent auction and VIP reception. The Capital Grille will serve hors d’oeuvres and refreshments to guests, and Nothing Bundt Cakes will bring along some of its confectionaries. The silent auction will end at about 2:30 p.m., with the fashion show to follow. Seating is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Elsa de Lemos, chairwoman for the event, said one of the primary objectives for the WPVA is to build community, not only between the school and Central Florida area but also between the school’s students. Because students are often divided by lower-, middle- and high-school classes, de Lemos said it can be difficult to bring them together.

“It’s hard to make them do things together, and in this case, we are having kids from lower-, middle- and high-schools modeling,” de Lemos said. “We will have teachers modeling as well, and it’s been perfect because it brings them all together.”

Tickets were on sale for $25 each until March 4, and Bloomingdale’s will donate 10% of all sales in-store to the WPVA. All collected proceeds will go back to benefit the WPS students, staff and families through the WPVA’s various events, such as the school carnival, father-daughter dance and teacher appreciation breakfasts and lunches.

Event sponsors include Schellman (formerly BrightLine), Casabella at Windermere, The Bar Method (Orlando-Dr. Phillips) and Royal Cypress Preserve.

“I think it’s going to be very nice that all the kids will work together and help each other at the show, even if it’s a 6-year-old helping a teenager,” de Lemos said. “It’s nice to have a few hours to help each other in the community.”

Contact Danielle Hendrix at [email protected].