Orange County’s runway kids

After a summer of pastel-colored fashions and sizzling-hot beach

wear, Newport-Mesa students are getting ready to go back to school.

While the early birds may have finished their shopping weeks ago,

South Coast Plaza was bustling this weekend with parents and children

shopping for the latest fall styles. To help some choose the right

fashions, a back-to-school fashion show featuring clothes from

Gymboree, Beach Works, Oilily and other stores was held twice on

Sunday as part of the Festival of Children.

The fourth-annual festival -- a month-long celebration that takes

over Carousel Court and Jewel Court at South Coast Plaza every

September -- was in its second day Sunday. The fashion show was just

one of many events taking place. The festival has a strong charitable

component. The Festival of Children Foundation, founded by Sandy

Segerstrom-Daniels four years ago, supports many nonprofits and

charitable organizations that serve children. The charities set up 56

booths around Carousel Court to provide the public with information

about their activities.

More than 120 entertainment events are scheduled on Fridays,

Saturdays and Sundays throughout September -- ranging from animal

displays to theatrical performances. The festival features talented

and energetic youth doing whatever it is they do best.

At the fashion show Sunday, dozens of young women and a handful of

young men tested their catwalk capabilities while showing off new

school clothes and costumes.

Nick Ossipoff, 18, may have been born to walk the runway. He said

his mother works at South Coast Plaza and asked if he would

volunteer.

“It was awesome,” said the suave Orange Coast College student. “I

just like to have fun with it.”

He said he was allowed to choose his own outfit from Beach Works,

although he had to return the clothes when the show was over.

Many of the stores offered the models a discount if they wanted to

purchase clothes after the fashion show.

Oilily store manager Marissa Ceja said models were offered a 15%

discount.

She said some of the runway stars were actually

models-in-training, but many were the children of store regulars or

employees.

“We do this every year,” said Ceja, a Tustin resident. “The kids

have so much fun with it.”

Jon Jarema, 21, an employee of Beach Works, said this was his

third year as a model. He too was able to choose his own outfit.

“I might actually buy them, because I look so good,” said Jarema,

a Cal State Fullerton student.

Jarema said this was the first year there were two shows

back-to-back at different stages, which made it a little more

exhausting.

However, he said modeling for the show is always fun. Eileen

Daniher, director of programs for the festival, said the crowds have

been great and everything has gone off without a hitch.

Daniher said she works to bring a wide variety of entertainment to

the festival. Although many of the performances are repeat acts from

past years, she is always looking for new stuff.

“I love theater and music myself,” she said, “so I love bringing

it to the kids.”

* LINDSAY SANDHAM can be reached at (714) 966-4625.