Duchesne Hosts Mother-Daughter Luncheon 2019

At Duchesne, there is an annual fashion show called Mother-Daughter Luncheon. It is a show where each grade level, PreK-3 through 12th grade, is represented on the runway. This year, the theme of the luncheon was “She Leaves a Little Sparkle Wherever She Goes,” and it featured dresses full of sequins and glitter. There are about two to four girls representing PreK-3 through 11th grade, but in 12th grade, each girl has the opportunity to walk the runway.

Each model is fitted for an outfit by Tootsies, Chloe Dao, or Little Lords and Ladies, then done-up by a team of professional makeup artists and hairstylists on the day of the show. Little girls have a great time dressing up in fancy outfits and big hair while older girls love having an excuse to dress up. The show can be attended by the whole school, and everyone’s mothers are welcome as well. 

The show has two parts to it. The first section is the fashion show, where the girls strut their stuff on the runway. The girls walk down the runway in pairs or solo, while seniors get the option of walking with a guest. Sometimes, there is a celebrity cameo by an Upper School teacher, Muhammad Ali, or the head of Upper School, Donald Cramp. Whatever the case, the runway is a very fun experience, whether you are in or watching the show.

Everybody smiles as the lower school girls walk down the runway in their fancy dresses and magic wands.

Camille Lobb, an eleventh grader, says, “I walked my sophomore year and now I’ll watch [the show] differently because I know what goes on behind the scenes and how much work it takes to make the show happen.” 

The second section includes letters from the seniors to their mothers. This show is very fun to everyone around the school, but it holds a special importance to the senior class for this reason. Each senior walks alone down the runway as their hand-written letters are read aloud, with a rose in hand for their mother. With baby pictures and senior portraits projected onto the screen and love being shared all around, tears are shed by all.

“It’s a tradition, one of those things we all do as seniors,” Jimena Alamo says, “it’s a checkpoint of being a senior.” Marissa Lundvall adds onto the sentiment by saying “it’s the last time to celebrate with our moms and spend quality time with them before college.”