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Danyel Whyte | Staff Writer
May 15, 2014
Retailers surrounding the Mission Inn showcased the creative community of Downtown Riverside with clothing and fashion.
Riverside Community College contributed through hair & makeup and added to the art of the city by styling more than 100 different models at the Destination Style Spring Fashion Show on May 2.
Centered in the middle of University and Mission Inn Avenue, the show was hosted by the Riverside Downtown Partnership, which manages the business improvement district of downtown Riverside.
Since their debut in 2012 this was Destination Style’s largest Fashion Show with about 30 participating downtown retailers and over 100 models. The event attracted press, art goers, local cosmetologists and Mayor
Rusty Bailey.
The fashion show was kicked-off with a special performance by Ballet Folklorico De Herencia Mexicana and Riverside Repertory Theater. The turnout was greater than anticipated.
This represented the first of two fashion shows held annually to promote downtown Riverside as the premier destination fashion district of the Inland Empire. The Spring/Summer half will be followed by the Fall/Winter show in October.
House of Flames, Kelley’s Boutique, MP Couture, Vanity Haus and Sultry Vamps were some of the retailers who participated in the show. Models of all ages auditioned for a chance to present vendor merchandise in the show.
“It was family friendly; my daughters were in it,” said Bailey. “It was great for the small family-owned businesses in downtown.”
This isn’t the first year for RCC to be involved with Destination Style. The college partnered with the city in 2012 to give cosmetology students the opportunity to showcase their skills in a professional setting.
“RCC Cosmetology did an amazing job bringing the retailers’ visions into existence,” said Christie Collins the Public Relations representative for downtown Riverside.
Senior students fashioned hair and underclassman worked with makeup.
“Here at the school we typically work on older women and the fashion show was more current,” said Sharon Park an RCC student.
Students were given a theme with pictures of the model so that they could visualize what to create to showcase their creativity and bring attention to the retailer.
“Peter Westbrook, Program Director and his team were absolutely wonderful to work with,” said Robbie Silver, the communications and event liaison. “The creative work of his students upgraded the quality of the Show.”
The next show will take place in the fall, as another business opportunity for downtown. The same retailers will be participating with new themes to express the culture and creativity of the community.
