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“font-family: Verdana;”>“I want people who come to this show to know that you can still be a Christian woman and still be a beautiful woman – and still be in style,” said Elise Stone designer and founder of Adorned Clothing. “You can follow the fashion trends and still look presentable and wear them to church.”
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“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Her collection – which includes a polka-dot bubble skirt, paint-splash print short jumper and an olive pants jumper with the style of sewn-in suspenders – would catch the eye of any fashionista. But the conservative cuts and length wouldn’t cause clutched pearls by church sisters.
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“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>She started with a line of funky, faith-based graphic T-shirts. But now, her designs are inspired by her experience of embracing faith.
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“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I was that chick wearing my club clothes to church – with my back all out and my stilettos,” Stone admitted.
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“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“At the time, I was new into Christ. I now know I can still cover up and be attractive. I don’t have look like Mother Theresa.”
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“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Stone will present her designs as part of the Sisters of Hope 2nd Annual Pink and Purple Benefit Fashion Show Sunday at the Missouri History Museum. Last year, she said, all she had “was T-shirts and tutu skirts.” This year she will feature twelve models ripping the runway in a variety of original designs.
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“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The event serves as a benefit for Sisters of Hope, a non-profit organization that focuses on the personal and social development of women and girls through activities in artistic expression, financial literacy, dance, modeling and cultural competency.
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“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Sisters of Hope was founded three years ago by sisters Rainie Howard and Christie Ruffin. The movement grew out of inspiration at a women’s ministry conference, reflection on their own experiences with self-esteem and peer pressure growing up and the desire to create an outlet to prevent young women from falling victim to their past experiences.
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“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>According to Howard, Sisters of Hope wants to have their own center sooner than later and will once again use the Pink and Purple fashion show to build awareness about the organization.
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“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“We want guests to feel empowered and inspired by the girls,” Howard said. “And hope that when they leave they are motivated to be a supporter or volunteer or even enroll a girl in the program.”
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“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Howard and Ruffin also want to see Sisters of Hope serving young women within schools.
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“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“They’re really about empowering women,” Stone said of Sisters of Hope. “And this particular event is about empowering women through fashion – and that’s all me.”
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“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>According to Stone, programming offered through Sisters of Hope range from etiquette to nutrition. While the idea was born through Grace Church, they hope to broaden their organization to other churches across the area – and the nation.
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“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Pink and Purple will take place this Sunday afternoon at the Missouri History Museum. Along with fashion, featured performances include Sisters of Hope Dancers, The Bordeaux Girls, SistaKeeper Poets, Karah School of Dance, and visual artist Rainie Howard.
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“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“They are going to have fun,” Stone said. “The energy of it is so awesome – seeing so many gifts in one room. And it’s like a big party. They are kicking it and they are doing it with grace and style.”
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“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The Second Annual Pink and Purple Fashion Show starts at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 26 at the Missouri History Museum in the Lee Auditorium. For more information, contact Rainie Howard at 314-368-5380 or
“mailto:rhoward@sistersofhope.org”>rhoward@sistersofhope.org
