Elyse Flores, senior, has decided to photograph her own line as a way to show case her designs and build her portfolio.

“I wanted to show my clothes in a way that I feel express them,” Flores said. “There will be four outfits so that’s about eight to ten pieces total.”

Flores has been interested in fashion for as long as she can remember. She has taken all four fashion classes that MHS offers.

“I don’t think there was a time I wasn’t interested in fashion,” Flores said.

Creating a portfolio is a key part of getting into a fashion school. Flores is interested in many different art schools and programs.

“I’m looking into FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology), Pratt University and Washington University in St. Louis’s fashion program,” Flores said.

Flores creates all her own designs. Flores said she sometimes uses a pattern and sometimes does not, but she sews every single piece herself.

Flores also has participated in programs and internships. She attended an art class at Maryville this summer and had an internship with a local St. Louis company called Kayoss Designs.

“At Kayoss Designs, I mostly organized and sorted clothing,” Flores said. “They had already started to sell their clothes so I was just helping out.”

Along with the hope of going to fashion school, Flores also has other big plans to move toward her end goal and dream career.

“I’d really like to get into a good art program, get internships and work hard,” Flores said. “In the end I would like to have my own line in New York.”

Diane Boschert, fashions teacher, said Flores has taken I, II, III and fashion design and merchandising. Boschert said Flores shows great potential.

“I definitely see her as a fashion designer in the future,” Boschert said. “She has the discipline and perseverance.”

Boschert said she feels Flores definitely has what it takes to become successful in the fashion industry.

“Success doesn’t come immediately,” Boschert said. “It can take years to make it, but Elyse has the determination.”