Fashion Design Students Prepare for Spring Show From: University Currents Date: April 24, 2000 By: Mary Bridget Reilly Phone: (513) 556-1824 Archive: Campus News, General News Fingers are flying in the fashion design studios at the University of Cincinnati. Students in the highly regarded fashion design program are in stitches as they prepare their capstone collections for public review during the program's annual fashion show set for 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, at the Albert B. Sabin Convention Center. In preparation for this moment, the UC students have studied and worked with the best in the business, routinely spending cooperative education quarters in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami, and abroad -- with firms like Tommy Hilfiger Corporation; Liz Claiborne Inc.; Ellen Tracy; Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation -- gaining invaluable experience. About 100 UC fashion students, 20 of them graduating seniors, will display their best work, a variety of childrenswear, formalwear, sleepwear, sportswear, swimsuits and more: Something old fashioned into something new by Elisabeth Robertson of Findlay, Ohio. She is creating bridalwear that stylishly incorporates antique linens and fabrics -- like a plush antimacassar once used to cover valued furniture -- into a flattering dress bodice. An antique linen tablecloth is similarly refashioned, newly draped as a softly flowing dress. Neva Kraatz of Anderson Township is turning the event into a family affair, asking her daughter, Danielle, 22, to serve as one of the models of her full-length lingerie designs. Jill Bucher of Circleville, Ohio, is designing for a bridal party, creating gowns for a bride, bridesmaid and flower girl. Her designs are full and dramatic: the tulle bunches beneath the satin skirt of the bridesmaid s dress for a more voluptuous silhouette. The box pleats of the bride s gown also create a full effect topped with the elegance of an Italian, striped silk bodice. Anne Marie Abbott of Ross is basing her collection on the art of Salvador Dali after viewing his work in Italy when studying abroad. Her colors are the rust, aqua and light bronze of Venice s waterways and architecture. Just as Dali manipulated the shape of the human body in his work, Abbot drapes her chiffons and accessories to change perceptions about the shape of the body. Mari Bart of Springfield, Ohio, inspired by her great aunt's pre-Civil War mansion and her grandfather s home, is fashioning playful garments for preteens from antique drapes and upholstery fabric. A vest of intricately patterned antique drapes tops three layers of skirts: a wrap skirt of furniture fabric, a bias skirt, and a crinkled, organza skirt. "The designs recall my feelings about those houses. They were magical. Similarly, I'm designing a collection for preteens. It's a special, magical age between childhood and adulthood when playfulness and sophistication mix," she said. Raegen Salchow of Clifton combines lush, hand-painted, Indian organza with mohair knits and boiled wool. "During my last co-op in New York, I saw that many stylish women were a contradiction of punk and refined. It called to mind, in some ways, a rag doll. I'm likewise mixing elements and fabrics," she explained. One ensemble consists of the richly decorated organza skirt and a top of silk. Over these falls a one-piece, apron dress of mohair. A "corset" coat of burgundy, boiled wool accessorizes the ensemble. The coat, without sleeves or shoulders, is cut and fits more like a sleeveless, strapless evening gown. Kelly Korman of Columbia- Tusculum, is creating practical, water-repellent garments, influenced by her cooperative education work with outerwear firm, Patagonia of Ventura, California. "Mountain climbing, which I learned while co-opping in California, is my inspiration. The garments are neutral greys on the outside but bright corals and oranges on the inside. The outside of each garment is treated to be water-repellent while the inside of each garment is a natural fiber like cotton or silk," she said. All of her garments -- pants, wrap, dresses, skirt and top and poncho -- are made without seams, yet remain very flexible. Each, spiraled with snap closures, can be manipulated into a variety of shapes and forms for wear. Kim Sajnog of Colerain Township is producing exotic eelskin (eels are not an endangered species) garments -- a skirt, pants and corset that are combined with silk chiffon tops and dress studded with Austrian crystal beads. Sponsors: UC College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning Abercrombie & Fitch Aveda Environmental Lifestyle Products Time Warner Cable Structure (part of The Limited Corp.) The Kenwood Towne Centre Ticket information: Tickets for the show and a 6-7:30 p.m. reception are $100. Tickets for the show only are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. To order tickets, call 513-929-2065. Proceeds benefit the fashion program at UC.