Coco Chanel said that when a woman is well dressed, “you notice the woman,” rather than the clothes. At the BFA fashion show, when the winning designs came the runway, well, we noticed the clothes.
And of course we noticed the models as tall as sky-scrapers, and whispered and pointed out the industry stars. “There’s Calvin.” “There’s Joe Zee.” “There’s Nanette Lepore.” “Ohhh — Sarah Wallace from Channel 7 is here!”
And we wondered where does all that imagination come from, how does it manifest, and can it really be taught? It sure is a long way from home ec class.
“We were intrigued when we walked through that door into the Great Hall,” said student photographer Greg Mario. They created it into a whole different environment, because I know that room and it blew me away.” Mario said that having press access gave him “the best seat in the house.”
“It’s about the movement” said Mario, who wants to become a sports photographer. “I’m still capturing that pivotal moment. When they come down the runway it’s like capturing an action shot.”
For BFA fashion student Jordan Randolph it’s not a long way from home ec class. She’s only 22. She credits the fashion industry pros and FIT instructors who helped her with the black evening dress with a skeleton back that made it to the runway. Yet she also thinks back to her home ec teacher. “I’m her success story,” she said of Katherine McCluskey.
Mario, ever-present, gave a shout out ” Hey, Calvin!” to get this parting shot.
Congratulations to all the BFA fashion seniors. It is all about the clothes!
The crew: The great look of Fashion Design faculty who taught 8th-semester FD students.
To see Sarah Wallace’s WABC coverage go to: FIT Fashion Show Segment