Sequins, stilettos and Polo shirts graced the runway in the fifth annual Fashion for a Cause benefit show.

Thursday's show was larger than it has been in the past, and the models were all students coming from organizations ranging from sororities to Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Recycling. Involving students in the modeling was a way to encourage student involvement in the cause.

"We want people to come out and support the cause so we get models for the show from different organizations," said advertising chair Amanda Shield. "The other members of the organization come out and support the models, and everyone benefits."

This year, 23 student models displayed the designs of local Nashville boutiques. While the show has featured designers from across the country in the past, this year stores such as Posh and Boutique Bella were the stars of the runway.

"We got our looks this year from local stores," said Fashion for a Cause President Minnie Miller. "We realized that local Nashville boutiques were more accessible and easier to publicize."

While fashion is the main event, the real purpose of the evening is the children. The show changed gears this year and adopted a new cause, the Boys and Girls Club College Tour. Although they have supported the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in the past, the committee said they wanted to make sure they were reaching out to multiple charitable organizations.

"We thought it would be important to support different causes," Shield said. "We also felt like our contribution would really be felt at the Boys and Girls Club."

The children of the Boys and Girls Club opened the show with an interpretive dance, and the student groups VIBE and Spoken Word also performed.
The student-run organization began preparation for the fashion show in November but the organizational process became more intense in the past few months.

"We start preparing for Fashion for a Cause in November after Accessories for a Cause, our fall benefit," said advertising chair Amanda Shield. "It has been a long process getting ready for the show, and a lot of people have been involved."

Like many students in attendance, senior Alex Reich came to the benefit in support everyone's effort.

"My sorority sister Linda was in the show," Reich said, "and I came to support her. It's a good cause."

—Lakendra Scott can be reached at lakendra.j.scott@vanderbilt.edu