A Columbus East High School senior believes high fashion and modesty can work together on the runway.
As part of her senior project, Tiffany Collins, 17, is creating fashion looks with an emphasis on modesty. She’s sponsoring a fashion show in the Columbus East High School auditorium at 2 p.m. March 3.
Her creations will be among a variety of looks of locally-made clothing that will be part of the show.
“The purpose is to not condemn women for being immodest,” Collins said. Instead, the idea is to show that modesty doesn’t need to be compromised to be fashionable, she said.
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“I wanted to have a senior project that was impactful to others and important to me,” Collins said. “Women in particular don’t even know how they’re being objectified by the media.”
Collins, who attends Lakeview Church of Christ, received some guidance in learning how to sew from Lela Turner, who also attends Lakeview.
Among the pieces Collins will feature at the fashion show are a turquoise skirt and a white and gray skirt adorned with flowers, she said. Her model will be Claire Kilbarger-Stumpff.
Collins’ project is one that shows creativity, said Anne Edds, senior project coordinator at Columbus East. Senior projects at the school typically fall into three categories: those that involve career interests, self-improvement or a hobby or have a community service aspect to it, she said.
“I think it is a good project and I think there’s a lot of cultural responsiveness to it,” Edds said. “We want students to pick a project that is relevant and meaningful to them.”
Collins said her own faith ultimately led her to change her selection of clothing to wear, noting that peer pressure plays a role in what people choose to wear.
“To me, being more modest has to be more respectful toward yourself and others and not feeling the need to show off your body for others,” Collins said. “It really comes down to modesty in the heart and being reserved and not physically seeking attention from other people for what you wear.”
She also wants to offer a different perspective on fashion as well, adding that she feels most women don’t even realize what they might be wearing could be deemed inappropriate.
“Some women don’t feel comfortable with the styles today,” Collins said. “I want to offer an alternative (for women) that don’t feel comfortable with the styles, but will still be trendy and presentable.”
Collins plans to study secondary mathematics education at Vincennes University this fall.
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A fashion show will be conducted at 2 p.m. March 3 in the auditorium at Columbus East High School, 230 S. Marr Road. The event is free and open to the public.
Individuals who want to donate items for the fashion show or have questions can contact Tiffany Collins at [email protected].
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