This month, teenage girls from across the reservation had a special opportunity to get everything they need for this year’s prom at our annual “Passion for Fashion” event. Approximately 75 teens will attend their 2013 high school prom wearing dresses, shoes, jewelry and other accessories they selected at the Cokata Wiconi teen center through this long-running, much-loved program.
But for the 55 girls who were able to participate in the special Passion for Fashion event on Saturday, March 9, the experience went far beyond selecting just the right prom look. These young women enjoyed a luncheon, a keynote speaker, spa-style pampering, shopping, a real catwalk fashion show and a photoshoot. They also got to travel back in time; this year’s Passion for Fashion theme was “The ’80s: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.”
View our 2013 Passion for Fashion Video on YouTube!
“Each year, about a third of our girls aren’t able to make the day of the event, so we make our inventory available to them at other times,” explained Julie Garreau. “That way, they can still get everything the need for the prom. But for the two-thirds who can attend the actual event, Passion for Fashion is an unforgettable day of bonding, laughing and playing. That’s why we liked the theme so much; this is a day where the girls can set aside the worries of every day life and, yes, just have fun!”
Passion for Fashion is one of CRYP’s longest-running and most popular teen programs. The annual event, created in 2001, provides support for teens who need all the prom essentials. It also promotes intergenerational exchange, improved self-esteem and positive body image, and it helps combat bullying and school violence by giving girls from all social circles a chance to spend quality time together.
This year’s Passion for Fashion gave Cheyenne River’s young women the opportunity to travel back to the vibrant, high-energy 1980s. The theme was carried throughout Cokata Wiconi, where colorful graffiti, cassette tapes, boom boxes, movie logos, celebrity posters and video-game illustrations greeted the girls at every turn. CRYP staff, who each wore ’80s-inspired clothing and accessories, even surprised guests with a giant Rubik’s Cube cake.
“You could hear the oohs and aahs, and I think all of us on the staff breathed a sigh of relief,” Garreau noted with a chuckle. “Normally we have at least one Alternative Spring Break group here at CRYP during Passion for Fashion, which means we have 20-plus volunteers on hand to help us get ready.
“This year, due to scheduling conflicts, we ended up without a service group,” she continued. “As soon as our staff members and long-term volunteers realized that we would have a skeleton crew for this year’s event, it was all hands on deck. Everyone really rose to the occasion, and this year’s Passion for Fashion was better than ever! I can’t even begin to express how proud I am of each and every person who made a contribution. They worked long hours, they stayed late… and they made magic happen for these girls. That’s what real dedication looks like.”
As with every Passion for Fashion, the March 9 event kicked off at 1 p.m. with a luncheon in Cokata Wiconi’s Keya Cafe. Guests — which included teens, family members and community supporters — noshed on taco salad, chips and fresh salsa from the CRYP Winyan Toka Win Garden, and meats, cheeses, fruits, veggies and assorted dips from beautifully arranged trays, then they turned their attention to speaker Lise Balk King. King is a media and communications expert who has worked for more than 20 years as a producer, publisher, advocate, consultant, event organizer, writer, editor, filmmaker and photographer.
“It was such a privilege to be a part of Passion for Fashion,” King said. “What an amazing experience! I loved watching the staff and volunteers creatively transform Cokata Wiconi. They made magic happen with cardboard and paint… and many hours of hard work.
“Staff and volunteers really went out of their way to make each girl feel special,” she continued. “I could see the cumulative effect of all this. The place was buzzing with good feeling.”
After King concluded her talk, the group filed into the gymnasium for spa-style experiences such as hair styling, makeovers, facials, manicures and pedicures. The girls also had plenty of time to peruse the massive racks of dresses and tables filled with shoes, jewelry, hair accessories and other prom essentials — and as they got ready for their stint on the catwalk, they had plenty of time to play.
“They were laughing and playing with balloons,” Garreau recalled. “But even better, they were coming out of their shells. Their confidence and self-esteem was shining through, and that transformation was beautiful to see.”
At 6 p.m., it was time for the runway show. The teens paraded through a giant boom box and down the runway, striking a pose for professional photographer Robert Slocum of Timber Lake. They also visited a photo booth set up by Dawnee LeBeau, a professional photographer and tribal member who, like Slocum, provided her services for free.
“It was a lot of fun to see the girls’ excitement,” LeBeau said after the event. “It was a wonderful event, and I’m looking forward to helping out again next year!”
According to Garreau, the professional-photography component of Passion for Fashion is here to stay.
“We introduced professional photography last year, and everyone loved it,” she said. “Passion for Fashion is all about celebrating and supporting our next generation of young women, so we’re thrilled with the idea of using photography to help each of our girls really feel like a star for the day. And, CRYP makes sure that each young woman gets a free portrait photo to keep.”
When it was finally time to go home, each girl received a large gift bag containing her dress, shoes and accessories, as well as a fun swag bag filled with makeup, bath-and-body items and other goodies.
CRYP is still accepting dresses and accessories for this prom season, and it’s already preparing for the 2014 Passion for Fashion event. If you’re interested in supporting this popular, long-running program on the Cheyenne River reservation, please consider donating new and gently used dresses in sizes 4-26, and especially in sizes 16-26. Also in demand are shoes, particularly sizes 9-12; jewelry and hair accessories; makeup and bath sets; and gift cards.