Packed audiences lauded student fashion designs that ranged from haute couture to children’s ready-to-wear at the Savannah College of Art and Design 2007 Fashion Show, held at Trustees Theater, 216 E. Broughton St., May 19 at 4 and 8 p.m.

The evening show opened with SCAD President Paula S. Wallace and Vogue editor-at-large André Leon Talley presenting designer Marc Jacobs with the André Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award. Past recipients include Oscar de la Renta, Karl Lagerfeld, Miuccia Prada, Tom Ford and Vera Wang.

“I am very honored to be this year’s recipient. I feel like I am in great company; wonderful designers have come before me to receive this honor,” said Jacobs. “It means a lot to me, especially when it is [from] a school. Being a design student myself quite a few years ago … it was my dream to work in fashion and to see the things that we create and make have an effect to the point where we are being acknowledged for it is a fantastic feeling.”

Jacobs attributed his success to friend and business partner Robert Duffy and the myriad handbag, clothing, shoe and fragrance designers and sales associates who support the Marc Jacobs brand. He also shared insights and encouragement with the student designers.

“I think the most important thing in anything is passion and perseverance,” he said. “I am not an advice-giver. I can only share my own experience, which is to find something you really love, and to really believe so wholeheartedly in that love that you persevere against all odds. There is nothing one cannot do.”

Jacobs expressed eagerness to see garments by the 45 student designers whose work was featured in the show.

“A fashion show is a bit of theater, and it gets to a place where creative people, in this case fashion, get to express themselves with a dress or a suit or a sweater — or all of the above,” he said. “I am sure what we will see tonight will be just that, and we will experience their creative voices.”

Those creative visions, along with fine tailoring and months of preparation, culminated in the unveiling of 89 garments by senior and graduate students on the S-shaped catwalk.

“This experience has been great, very eye-opening to what my professional career will be like,” said undergraduate student Kara Nelson. “I also feel really privileged to present my work to an amazing designer like Marc Jacobs.”

Nelson showed a line of clothing in all white fabric and accents that highlighted her adept design and manufacturing skills.

Graduate student Hope Wallace said, “I think the show gets better and better every year. I was pleased with what the jury selected to be in the show; it was really cohesive. Additionally, the catalog looks incredible, and since it was a collaboration — which is what they promote in the fashion department anyway — I was so impressed.”

Wallace, whose designs utilized geometric designs and prints, was complimented by fashion icon Miss J. Alexander, who coached the student models on walking and presenting garments prior to the event.

Ga-Hyum Kim’s sophisticated, tailored women’s suits with fur and lace accents were polar opposites of futuristic neoprene gowns by Aileen Tan. Strategically placed floral embellishments by Christine McGrath and the unique construction of Sabrina Nagel’s pleated, evanescent eveningwear delighted audiences. Angela Ferina’s light dresses were accompanied with sculptural cloaks. Natalie Fragola’s evening gowns married abstraction with divine, flowing garments in an array of rich hues.

Children’s wear was a fun addition to the show, with fashions by designers Alissa Fererri-Feske and Jessica Burchard. Their work included bright colors, petite garden dresses and playful suits.

Finale garments were by students Lorien Chen, Julia Crowell, Jeff Dickhaus, Zachary Fields, Thomas Finney, Jeffrey Hart, Stephanie McCandless, Kristen Monacell, Kramer Newkirk, Emanuel Sepulveda, Lauren Valentino and Samantha Waireri.

The Dandy Dwarves, a SCAD alumni video production group, created the video introduction to the presentation. A host of fashion faculty and staff members, as well as hair and makeup artists, contributed to the runway looks and overall success of the show.

“I think you get out of anything what you put into it,” Jacobs said. “You have people with dreams and ambitions, and you have people with true passion for those dreams. Hopefully, this is just one step on that path and they will continue to have new dreams and work toward their goals.”

source: http://www.thecampuschronicle.com

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