In pressed dress shirts, striped ties and four-inch heels, UF students showed off some of Gainesville’s finest business casual attire Thursday night, but a job interview was the last thing on their minds.
Top-40 music pulsated through the room as strobe lights flashed across the runway.
About 45 models strutted down the runway to raise money for the Lupus Foundation of America Inc. at Gamma Eta's Seventh Annual Lupus Fashion Show.
The show, held at Stereo Nightclub, featured a Vegas-style “Smokin’ Aces” theme, with different styles of clothing representing the four suits of a deck of cards.
Lauren Pashkow, the executive director of the sorority’s lupus committee, said all of the proceeds from club admission and half of the proceeds from a raffle at the event went to the Lupus Foundation of America Inc. The event, which was attended by more than 100 people, raised more than $1,000 for the Lupus Foundation of America.
Gamma Eta’s Director of Public Relations Jennifer Garcia said the sorority started raising money for lupus about seven years ago when one of the sorority’s members was diagnosed with the disease. She said there seems to be a lack of awareness about lupus.
“The show is entertaining for people to see, but at the end of the day it’s making people aware that there is this autoimmune disease out there that is affecting people,” Garcia said.
According to the Lupus Foundation of America Inc., lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that leads to pain, inflammation and damage in various parts of the body. There is no known cure.
Along with raising awareness about the disease, five members of Gamma Eta raised money throughout the week in a “penny wars” competition to raise the most money in donations. The member who earned the most points, Joselyn Rivas, was picked to walk down the runway in a “Queen of Hearts” outfit, complete with a sparkling crown and gown adorned with hearts.
Rivas paraded down the aisle carrying a large cardboard card to kick off each category of clothing as models walked down the runway.
Pashkow, said hearts represented casual clothing and beachwear, while spades represented business casual, diamonds represented elegant, semi-formal clothing and clubs represented “hipster”-style clothing and natural colors.
Clothing was loaned by companies such as Banana Republic, Buckle and Ann Taylor, Garcia said. All of the clothes were returned after the event.
David’s Bridal loaned the sorority six dresses for the event, said Sharon Marsh, the Gainesville store’s sales supervisor. She said the store tries to reach out to the community by helping with charity events.
Patricia Posey, a 21-year-old political science and sociology junior, said she attended the event to support her roommate’s sorority. She said the event was a creative way to raise money for a worthy cause.
“It’s kind of an interesting idea to mix the party town with actually doing something for a good cause,” Posey said.
