UC Students Plan a Fashionable Finish to the Year

The University of Cincinnati’s professionally modeled, choreographed and lighted runway fashion show on Friday, April 25, will feature the work of students in the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning.

• Tickets are available for the both the Thursday, April 24, fashion show dress rehearsal; and the Friday, April 25, fashion show. Both will be held in the UC Campus Recreation Center. The April 24 rehearsal begins at 8 a.m., while the April 25 fashion show begins at 7:30 p.m. The fashion show is sponsored by Macy's.
  

WATCH the video, just below, from last year's 2013 show.

Among the designs that will be on display during the 2014 fashion show are the following.

Shayna Arnold: A Collection Inspired by Beach Culture in Sydney, Australia

Senior Shayna Arnold, 23, of Beavercreek, Ohio, is creating a collection of five ensembles inspired by her recent work experience in Sydney, Australia, as part of UC’s cooperative education program. In Australia, she worked for designer Dion Lee and visited a popular nearby recreation spot, Bondi Beach. Her collection, titled “Locals Only,” is inspired by the locale’s beach culture which dates back to the late 1800s.

Her collection consists of

• A “mixed-media dress” made from a combination of skateboard grip tape overlapping in a grid with lambskin matte leather, and all backed with a cotton jersey. Net panels of leather lacing will hang from the front and back of the dress.

• A top-and-pants combination, wherein the top, which extends downward from the collarbone and is secured by a strap tie that is tied at the back features three cut outs featuring chicken wire painted white. White neoprene drop-crotch pants feature decorative seaming and a decorative, low-slung, white, leather belt at the front.

• A surfboard-inspired dress of white lambskin leather. The dress, in the shape of a  surfboard, has a halter top that features an eyelet at the base of the neck with a five-inch hat bin as an accessory. Under this dress is a tunic made from weaving grip tape with leather deerskin lacing. A floor-length, neoprene vest tops the ensemble.

• A top-and-pants combination consists of a short, black, wool top with long-sleeves and a panel cut out where a chicken-wire metal mesh is inserted in the cut-out space. An accompanying corset is made of neoprene. Pants that taper to narrow at the ankle are made from wool from waist to knee and of lambskin leather from knee to ankle. The lower legs of the pants feature metal eyelets that will integrate 17-inch long hatpins as accessories.

• A pink, neoprene dress with a curved hem, topped by a black, leather coat with hat pins serving as front closures.

In addition to her co-op term in Australia, Arnold, a 2009 graduate of Beavercreek High School, also worked while a UC student at Marchesa and American Eagle Outfitters, Inc., in New York City, Rodarte in Los Angeles and Ann-Sophie Back in Sweden.

Ryan Bartoo: Sleek, Easy-Chic Athletic Essentials

Senior Ryan Bartoo's minimalist designs are always heavily rooted in sportswear, with a signature message of ease, sex appeal, & relate-ability.  His "Brave New World" collection takes inspiration from dystopian themes like government surveillance and behavior conditioning.  The look is sexy in a precise way, and the conceptual elements are applied with restraint.  Bold geometric cuts and panels nod to futurism.  To allow the fabric to speak for itself the silhouette is kept minimal.  Featured fabrics include a 4-way-stretch wool/lycra blend, scuba jersey, mesh, wool crepe and a specialty wool/silk crepe-back-satin.

The five looks in his “Brave New World” collection consist of

• A white monochromatic ensemble consisting of a scuba jersey pullover, with a-symmetrical zip detail layered over a tunic.  On bottom, a tonal slouchy sport-pant with mesh racing stripe panels down the sides.

• A black backless dress constructed in a four-way heavy stretch wool/lycra blend jersey. This little black dress features a body-conscious skin baring cut and midi-length.

• A long white collarless tunic dress of a mesh fabric layered under a midi-length body-conscious pencil skirt.  The skirt features exposed side seam zippers reaching from waistband to hem.

• A shorts and blazer ensemble consisting of a white wool crepe blazer with exposed zip details, a bralette made in a specialty crepe-back satin/mesh combination, and a short in the same fabric.

• A black, backless bias cut slip dress of specialty crepe-back-satin with a thigh high side-seam slit and skinny strap details.

Bartoo, 23, and a 2009 graduate of Beavercreek High School in Beavercreek Ohio, opted to create a luxury sportswear collection because he “loves the versatility that high-quality, contemporary sportswear lines provide to someone's wardrobe.” Having worked professionally in both New York City and Columbus as part of UC’s top-ranked

cooperative education program

, Bartoo plans to move to California upon graduation. While on his UC co-ops, he worked for L Brands, Inc. (formerly Limited Brands) in Columbus. His experience in New York City includes The Natori Company, Nicole Miller, and Michael Kors Collection.

Calle Evans: Romantic Womenswear with a Dark Edge

The eight ensembles in the collection created by senior Calle Evans, 22, of Urbana, Ohio, is inspired by the crime novel, “Ice Princess,” by Swedish author Camilla Lackberg, and by the painting, “Le Jeune Martyr” by Paul Delaroce. The painting, which hangs in the Louvre in Paris, exemplifies the romantic yet dark and mysterious imagery embodied in Evans’ collection, which is titled after the painting.

The ensembles in the collection progress along a color palette from white representing innocence and naiveté through to red, dark navy and black representing death and darker emotions.

The collection consists of

• A skirt suit of ivory silk and satin wool gabardine. The fitted jacket features full sleeves gathered at the wrist, with a long, elegant cuff. With a deep V-neck, the jacket is snugly fitted to the waist by means of a grosgrain ribbon on the inside of the jacket. The hem of the jacket is gently rounded in the front and back, topping a high-waisted, tailored skirt that falls to just below the knee.

• To be worn as either a coat or a robe, the second ensemble of silk and satin wool gabardine also features a deep V neck set wide on the shoulders with long sleeves cinched at the cuff. Beneath the coat/robe is a slip trimmed in white lace at the neckline.

• An ivory-white, lace slip dress topped by a sheer organza dress that falls below the knees and features long, billowy sleeves. The nude organza of the outer dress is set off by a red, silk-ribbon belt.

• A fitted, full-length, long-sleeved nude organza gown features all-red beading embroidered in the shape of a large rose at the chest with large-sized petals (also red beading) dripping down the skirt. In creating this embroidery, Evans is using skills learned while studying abroad at a renowned embroidery and beading school in Paris.

• A red slip dress topped by a fitted, red, wool dress, scalloped at the neck link with a deep V and fitting wide on the shoulders, with long sleeves and dramatic cuffs.

• A trapeze gown of navy, silk charmeuse and trimmed with lace. The deep V neckline extends almost to the waist.

• A navy slip dress overlayed by an ankle-length dress of black, pleated chiffon, set off by a black-satin ribbon waist band.

• A long, full, flowing gown that uses 45 yards of black organza overlays a full-length, navy, silk charmeuse slip dress.

Evans, a graduate of Urbana High School, eventually wants to start her own label. She’s already earned professional experience via UC’s co-op program, working for Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and L Brands, Inc. (formerly Limited Brands) in Columbus, Ohio; Althea Harper LLC, and Marchesa in New York City.

Molly Hunsaker: A Lingerie Collection Inspired by Fine Arts

Molly Hunsaker of Beavercreek, Ohio, is a senior in the fashion design - product development track at the University of Cincinnati. She explains, “For our product-development track thesis collections, we are to find and solve a problem through design or find a gap in the market and design into that - so it blends fashion design with practicality, business, and newness. In product development, our collections are heavily research based and showcase not only innovative designs, but designs that are likely to be sold to a certain niche or in a specific market.”

For her thesis project, Hunsaker is designing a new store concept where art is sold alongside inspired designs - an art gallery and boutique called Belle Époque. She has also designed a line of lingerie inspired by local artist, Cody Gunningham, a Springboro native. This 14-piece lingerie collection, which will appear on the runway at the April 25 fashion show, would (theoretically) be sold in the store concept she envisions. She explains, “Collaboration is key in the design world today, and based on people's interest in both fashion and in art, I have found that people will enjoy shopping for both in a gallery store setting. My opportunity statement is to create a line of high quality art inspired intimates for the curatorial and curious consumer. The private intimates label will be featured as wearable 'fashion as art' pieces sold alongside inspirational fine art work in a gallery boutique setting.”

Along with her lingerie collection, Hunsaker will include another design, an organza capelet with a three dimensional floral embellishment, in the fashion show. This garment is also  inspired by the works of artist Cody Gunningham.  

Finally, she will also have a knitwear project on the runway. It is a sporty luxe baseball raglan tee and skirt set inspired by the athletic trends appearing consistently on the runways today. Says Hunsaker, “I used a shiny viscose yarn along with a stretchy elastic yarn in order to create the ribbing effect showcased in the garment.”

Kaley Madden: Intricate Exploration of Fabrics, Textures and Layers

Senior Kaley Madden’s monochromatic ensembles feature multiple layers and complex textures that echoes fiber art. She states, “The layers, the exposed fibers suggest that these garments are growing things, growing into clothing. Each item or garment in an ensemble helps complete the rest.”

Her collection, titled “Trance/Shaman,” consists of eight ensembles, each with about six layers. The collected layers of each ensemble collectively communicate a density or heaviness that would serve to keep the wearer grounded, according to Madden, adding, “Among my inspirations for this work have been German Fluxus artist Joseph Beuys, who adopted shamanism not only as his presentation mode of his art but also in his own life. Shamans wear physically heavy clothing to stay close to the earth and grounded.”

Another inspiration for the collection is French neoclassical architect Etienne Louis Boullee, whose work emphasized symmetry, balance and simplicity. Madden states, “From a distance, the ensembles in my collection look balanced, but at close range, the layers and rough, uneven textures communicate a sense of chaos. These ensembles all include a woven fiber veil, and the entire effect is one that reflects how we as individual humans might look peaceful from a distance but close up, more turbulent.”

The collection’s color palette progresses from an all-black ensemble to one that is white/yellow. These include

• An all-black pants and top ensemble consisting of a leather shirt topped by a leather shawl and incorporating woven yarn. The pants are knotted at the ankles, and the four-foot long sleeves of the shirt are knotted over the hands, so that the hands cannot extend out of the sleeves.
  

• An eggplant long-sleeved, high-necked jersey dress, again knotted over the hands and at the ankles. The seams of the dress are on the outside, making for a raw appearance, which is also furthered by an organza sash and leather vest.

• A sleeveless, floor-length dress of dark-red jersey topped by a woven yarn skirt and a mohair coat.

• A long-sleeved, floor-length dress of light-pink jersey comprises the bottom layer of an ensemble that also includes a silk, tank-top overdress that falls to the knees.

• A pant-and-top ensemble of ash-colored silk with an organza overlay sports long, kimono-like sleeves.

• A lavender-colored, floor-length dress is the basis for an ensemble that includes three textured layers.

• A peach-colored mesh dress is topped by an asymmetrical skirt, sleeveless top and canvas coat.

• A yellow/white sleeveless, knee-length dress is topped by a short-sleeve t-shirt dress and white, leather vest.

While a UC student, Madden, 22, of Springboro, Ohio, and a graduate of Springboro High School, has worked professionally via UC’s

cooperative education program

at Abercrombie & Fitch Co., in Columbus, Ohio; and in New York City at Cynthia Rowley, THE ROW and Shipley & Halmos, LLC.

Hailey Nelson: A Collection Titled “Hide + Seek” for Children with Sensory Processing Disorders

Hailey Nelson of Fairborn and a  senior in the product development track within the UC fashion program, is creating a collection titled Hide + Seek, a line of kidswear adapted for children who suffer from sensory processing disorders. Currently, one in 20 children are diagnosed with sensory processing disorder, which can make kids extra sensitive or very under sensitive to many things in the environment. She states, “My collection aims to address issues these kids face in terms of tactile sensitivity to clothing to make getting dressed more comfortable, and just a bit easier for both parents and kids alike.”

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