With the room full of white folding chairs organized in rows of four, walls adorned with high fashion editorial photographs and a runway outlined with black tape, patrons were in the right place for a showcase of style.

The eighth annual Fashion & Beauty Communications Milestone Fashion Show took place Friday night at the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium in Newhouse 3. The show incorporated the theme “School Daze: Fashion and Education,” and commented on education issues and criticized current industry standards.

The Fashion & Beauty Communications Milestone is a program open to students in either the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The program’s curriculum aims to let students become either mass media or fashion design specialists.

After an introduction from milestone co-director Carla Lloyd, an advertising professor in Newhouse, and a performance from the Syracuse University Marching Band, the house lights dimmed, the spotlight shone and the show came to life.

The sold-out fashion show included original designs and eclectic thrift store finds to provide the narrative of the American school system through fashion and accessories. It also included creations from milestone students made to fit women sizes 12 and up.

Emme, an SU alumna and supermodel, was present at the show. Last fall, she established the Fashion Without Limits design initiative in collaboration with VPA. The program was started to increase the availability of clothing for the curvier woman. The initiative gave student designers a chance to create looks that 68 percent of the female population could wear.

“I had like a vision that I wanted to include all women in the fashion quotient,” Emme said before the show began. “I said, ‘We’ve got to go where children and students are educated to create change in anyway.’”

While Emme said students were initially hesitant to work with style forms with a size ranging from 12-18, the results were one that had a tremendous impact on the models who wore them.

Kristen Misthopoulos, a freshman acting major walking in one of the finale looks, said it was a one of a kind experience.

“Walking was amazing. I’ve never modeled before, but it’s something that I’m interested in, performing just in general, so that was a cool, new experience that I hope to do again,” said Misthopoulos. “I feel like it’s so great to be a part of something that’s promoting body positivity, and I just think that it’s about time that we start doing that.”

Segments of the show included “Standardized Testing,” where models wore everything from plaid skirts, button down shirts and gold buttoned blazers. “Rebel With a Cause” showcased dress styles through the decades for the punks and the preps of school daze fashion.

As a nod to some of Hollywood’s big blockbuster films, clips from “Grease,” “Beetlejuice,” “Pretty in Pink,” “Legally Blonde,” “Mean Girls” and the Harry Potter movies were shown as styles used as inspiration and made anew as a statement for fashion trends of the modern day.

The segment “And the winner is…” began as an homage to the classic Tom Cruise “Risky Business” slide, full with a model in a white button down, boxers and socks.

Paola Santiago, a freshman public relations major, worked with the communication team to help plan and promote Friday evening’s event. She believed the show was a success and that the crowd left feeling satisfied.

Said Santiago: “I think the perks of working in PR is that you work really hard to plan the show and make sure everyone knows about it and organize everything and then the end product’s awesome and everyone enjoys themselves and really having a good time.”

 

Published on April 10, 2015 at 11:27 pm

Contact Lauren: ljporter@syr.edu