Every year, on one day in May, the Future of Fashion is revealed in FIT’s John E. Reeves Great Hall. The hall pulses with excitement as notables from the fashion and media worlds gather to watch the best looks by graduating Fashion Design students walk the runway. The professionally produced show is supported by a gift from FIT alumnus Calvin Klein and the company he founded, so the students get to present their work under the banner of a towering figure in fashion. They were thrilled that this year’s host, Nicole Richie, provided extra celebrity cachet.
The students work all semester with leading designers, who visit classes to critique the designs as they develop from sketch to finished garment. The best design in each category—Sportswear, Knitwear, Intimate Apparel, Special Occasion, and Children’s Wear—wins a coveted Critic Award. This year, for the first time, there was also a People’s Choice Award, where online votes determined a winner—a fluffy white confection by Caroline Vagnone. Her dress received 3,800 of the 17,500 votes cast in the two-day poll.