As a kickoff to the Centennial Weekend, NDB hosted its first ever “Fashion Show Across the Decades” at the Alumnae Soiree Friday evening. The event, hosted in the Father Downey Garden, welcomed back alumni from different decades, some even flying in from different parts of the country for the special celebration in honor of NDB’s legacy. Upon arrival, alumnae were greeted with beads and a balloon arch depicting their class colors. In the Father Downey Garden there were tables for people to enjoy food, a merchandise station with new centennial-themed shirts and sweatshirts, food by Epicurean and a photobooth. Before the main event, there was an hour of fun-filled socialization with music, pictures and appetizers.
Those who have parents who are alumni, as well as other students involved in NDB leadership, were selected to model outfits from different eras at NDB. The outfits included a classic sweater and polo combination, class and school cheerleading uniforms and P.E. outfits, which were dresses for much of NDB’s history. While some wore the saved uniforms of their parents who attended NDB, others found old relics stored in the NDB archives from many years ago.
NDB senior Kaylee Ellerhorst modeled an old cheerleading uniform found in the archives that represented a blue class from the past.
“I learned a lot about Notre Dame and how much history we have as a school,” said Ellerhorst. “Looking at the alumni, I saw how empowering these women have become and how strong the sisterhood is in the connection they still have to the school.”
The main part of the event occurred when students were called one-by-one to walk in front of the alumnas and around the Father Downey Garden, modeling their outfits. Alisia Bergholm, NDB’s Director of Student Life and Leadership, introduced the era of the uniform as the models walked. Alumnae cheered and took pictures as every student came out. Once the show was complete, the alumni took pictures with the students and reminisced on their time walking around the NDB halls.
“Maintaining a positive relationship with your alumni means that the messages that they share out about the school will also be positive and current,” Bergholm shared.
NDB’s Alumnae Fashion Show was the perfect opportunity for the alumni to engage in their Alma Mater, and hopefully it will become a new tradition that remains for the next 100 years.
