Middle schoolers strike a pose

A South Coast Plaza restaurant was transformed into a New York runway Friday as more than 100 girls from Corona del Mar Middle School and their moms took part in the Fashion Fever show.

The event was the first of its kind for the school and was an updated version of the tea parties the school used to host to celebrate the bond between mothers and daughters.

About two dozen girls participated in the fashion show, modeling clothes from Banana Republic, Jessica McClintock, Laundry, Max & Co., Miss Sixty, Replay, Tadashi and Traffic. As the girls showed off their new attire, their friends, classmates and parents cheered them on, laughing when the models struck a pose and smiled for the cameras.

“It was really exciting,” said Athena Livadas, 13.

“Everyone was scared backstage,” said 14-year-old Molly Downing. “But once we got out there on the stage, it was a lot of fun.”

“Yeah,” her friend Athena added. “Afterward some of the girls wished they had another outfit so they could do it again.”

The models got out of school early Friday and went to the Clubhouse restaurant, where they were treated to an afternoon lunch and a little bonding time with their parents. A crew of makeup artists, hairdressers and aestheticians from Vidal Sassoon, Lancome Cosmetics and Georgette Klinger helped transform the girls into fashion models.

“Some people even got facials, but we didn’t,” Molly said of herself and friend Athena, who want to be fashion designers when they grow up.

The models had three rehearsals for the event and spent weeks picking out their outfits and preparing with their friends.

“They had been looking forward to it for weeks, talking about it at school,” said parent Gail Ossipoff. “I think they were most excited about getting their makeup done.”

Another mother, Anne Folks, said she thought the show gave her daughter confidence and boosted her self-esteem.

“She wasn’t looking forward to being on stage, but once she came out and saw her friends, she was OK,” she said.

Mom Linda Brombal agreed.

“It’s really a great opportunity for the girls to work on their poise and walk and how they carry themselves,” she said.

The fashion show will continue each year at South Coast Plaza, marketing director Debra Gunn Downing said.

“These families are very supportive of South Coast Plaza. They are our customers, and we are really happy to support their school,” she said.dpt.26-fashion-2-CPhotoInfoE71PB1C520060326iwp4fvkn(LA)dpt.26-fashion-1-CPhotoInfoE71PB1D220060326iwp4fekn(LA)Marissa Cummings stops on the runway at the Clubhouse wearing clothing by Traffic.