Huntington Fashion Students Model Gorgeous Designs
May 22, 2023
Huntington High School fashion design students showed off their work at two public shows in Louis D. Giani Gymnasium that coincided with the district’s annual art show.
The show consisted of Fashion I, II and III and Portfolio in Fashion Design students plus several guest models. The teenagers made a variety of garments. Art teacher Kim Valerio heads the high school fashion design program and she smiled broadly throughout the afternoon and evening shows.
Portfolio in Fashion Design student Isabella Lanfranco served as master of ceremonies, introducing each of the students’ designs as the models entered the runway.
“Isabella is my fashion program intern this year,” Ms. Valerio said. “Isabella wore a light blue corset top with grommets and lacing that she created. She will be attending Savannah College of Art and Design next fall, majoring in fashion design.”
The student designers showing their work included:
Fashion I: Emily Barba, Jennifer Alfaro Maldonado, Bridget Callery, Hazel Carranza Montoya, Deyci Cardona, Cristina Fazin, Mason Gomez, Grace Gordon, Saniya Jones, Letzy Jimenez Dominguez, Kyra Larsen, Mia Miller, Katherine Moronta, Vesy Molina-Carbajal, Belinda Velasquez Maldonado, Genesis Araujo Amaya, Alison Cordova Moscoso, Ana Bonilla Gomez, Katherine Castro Portillo, Isabella Cruz Ponce, Jaheim Edwards, Ana Guevara, Odalis Mata-Lazo, Caroline McGreevy, Jamie Mejia-Ortez, Arly Moreira Portillo, Jollet Ruiz Meza, Kare Velasquez Maldonado, Maria Verfenstein, Naidelyn Sarceno Gudiel, Brianna Avila Portillo, Sage Cicciari, Kimora Fuller, Grey Hodgkinson, Olivia Kaufman, Shannon Koepele, Giovanna Lanfranco, Grace Oliva, Heileen Torres, Yesly Umana-Cabrera, Angel Bonilla-Cortes
Fashion II: Rosie Arner, Renata Beltran Soto, Idalia Chavez Hernandez, Alexandra Centro, Juliana Dentico, Lea DeVoe, Alyssa Evans, Brooke Evans, Briana Florvil, Rob-Myrna Geneus, Jonah Gillenwater, Izabella Gomez, Cristel Hernandez Reyes, Mia Lopez, Toni Reyes-Sorto, Roberto Rodriguez Bolanos, Stephen Spina, Yareli Campos Valencia
Fashion III: Adriana Abbatiello, Sonia Acevedo Ortiz, Ariana James, Samantha Koepele, Jessica Kuom, Lily Mitek, Gianni Portillo-Moreira, Estefany Quijada Mojica
Portfolio in Fashion Design: Aria Hannah, Isabella Lanfranco
Aria Hannah and Samantha Koepele both walked the runway twice, each time in unique dress and skirt fashions that they designed and created. Ms. Hannah will attend Pratt Institute in the fall, majoring in fashion design.
Several students chose to create fancy evening wear for the fashion show:
• Alison Cordova Moscoso created a cream colored satin gown trimmed with lace.
She will attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in the fall, majoring in fashion design.
• Jessica Kuom created a black gown with a red lace train and grommets and red lacing on the back.
• Ariana James created a halter gown using a pink satin floral fabric.
• Sonia Acevedo created a black gown with sheer black glitter fabric sleeves and skirt overlay.
• Izabella Gomez created a long gold knit dress with white feathers as trim.
• Jamie Mejia-Ortez created a navy gown with a sheer black overlay, accessorizing it with sheer black gloves.
• Odalis Mata-Lazo created a midnight blue long dress with blue lace straps and a tie belt.
• Cristel Hernandez created a midnight blue satin knit gown. She walked the runway twice. Her other outfit was a black and white print matching top and pants.
Show highlights also included:
• Katherine Moronta was inspired by Little Red Riding Hood, but in blue. She made a long blue dress and a long blue hooded cape. She also wore jewelry that she made in her Creative Crafts Class.
• Roberto Rodriguez walked the runway in plaid pants and a matching leather and plaid top ensemble that he created. He also created a white knit top and plaid skirt worn by his cousin, freshman guest model Odalys Salazar.
• Mason Gomez created a unique coat made of black, white and striped satin fabrics. Influenced by French fashion style, he accessorized with a hat, scarf, and boots, and strutted the runway confidently.
• Toni Reyes-Sorto wore a purple and zebra print shawl vest and silky off-white pants. She also created a velvety black knit dress that was worn by guest model Kayla Murillo.
• Kimora Fuller made a three-layered sparkly leopard print and black top and vest combination. She also made a forest green top with green lace on the front for her friend, guest model Synai Hargwood.
• Heileen Torres made two dresses. The green and gold sparkle fabric and navy fabric layered dress was worn by her. The black and white knit dress was worn by her friend, guest model Emelly Herrera.
• Alexandra Centrone made a unique dress using a lilac knit puckered fabric with ruffles and adding a flower on the back.
“We had several large fabric donations this year, which inspired my fashion students to be very creative with their designs,” Ms. Valerio said. “I am proud of all my students who walked the runway this year. They all worked hard to create a huge variety of fashions.”
Art teacher Kim Valerio
A graduate of Harborfields High School, Ms. Valerio holds an undergraduate degree from Parsons School of Design. After working for many years in graphic arts, mostly in New York City, she returned to college and obtained a master’s degree in art education at Long Island University-CW Post.
Ms. Valerio completed her student teaching requirements in Huntington. She then worked as a substitute teacher in Huntington and in several other surrounding districts. She was hired as a part-time art teacher in Huntington in 2010 and became full-time in 2015. Throughout the years she has worked in all eight buildings in the district in some capacity. Ms. Valerio teaches courses in Creative Crafts and Fashion at Huntington High School and directs the student fashion shows at the annual district-wide art show.
