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More Information - Fashion Show History
The Fashion Show is the longest running event of its kind in the bay area! Essentially it is an opportunity for our community to come together, celebrate our boys, and raise vital funds for tuition assistance.
Our 175-year legacy and 71st Fashion Show are both reminders of the deep love and commitment that binds our community. The Fashion Show is one of the main arteries for supporting the Bellarmine Direct Tuition Assistance Fund and the Tuition Assistance Endowment. By choosing to give to Bellarmine through the Fashion Show, you are keeping our cherished tradition alive and helping ensure that every qualified student can call Bellarmine home.
The Fashion Show has a storied history and the first one was held in a backyard garden at a home in the Menlo Park/Atherton area. At that time, Father Wade was a junior student at Bellarmine, and the mothers did most of the modeling. The show moved to the Cabana Hotel in Palo Alto a few years later. In 1979, Father Wade became president of Bellarmine and shortly after, the show relocated again to the Marriott on the Great America Parkway. The following two location stops for the show were the Fairmont in downtown San Jose and then, more recently, the Santa Clara Convention Center. While the location has changed over the years, according to Father Wade, the philosophy of the show has always been the same: mothers organizing and proceeds going towards Bellarmine tuition assistance.
The fashion show has evolved and expanded over the years. In the late 80s, a second evening show was added and formal event chairs were introduced. As per Father Wade, the program really took off in the 80s when students became the models which infused new life into the show. Still today, boys from Bellarmine and girls from local area schools are the runway stars.
At 80 years old, Father Wade retired from walking the ramp. One of his most memorable moments was when he modeled leather pants. Still today, Father Wade laughs as he recalls sitting on the floor to pull the leather pants up and needing assistance peeling them off. Father Wade remembers that the Fashion Show was and still is about meeting new people and making lasting friendships. For him, it is all about the people and coming together to help Bellarmine in such a significant way.
Thank you for being a part of this special event. Go Bells!