Fashion Speaks
San Diego Mesa College’s Fashion Program presented the 33rd annual Golden Scissors Fashion & Awards Gala on May 15 at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina. The Fashion Show was produced entirely by the students. Professor Susan Lazear, program director, was Mistress of Ceremonies introducing the fashion movements scenes. Each segment reflected the theme of the show, “Fashion Speaks” with names such as Small Talk and Gossip Girls.
The finale showed the student collection of the Advanced Design Class. Finishing the evening was Mesa College President Dr. Pamela T. Luster presenting the awards to the deserving students. First place winners were Weekend Wear, Estefany Maxim; Day/Career Wear, Ademir Serrano; Special Occasion, Ademir Serrano; Evening, Sarah Sisson Christensen; Retro Redo, Gustavo Villalobos; Un-Fabric, Amy Aguirre; Millinery, Katherine Totaro; Costume Influenced, Rebecca Rowan; Children’s Dresses, Christina Aguilera; Collections, Stephanie Castro. The Best of Show for Creativity was Amy Aguirre for her Rhinestone Rebel Collection and Best of Show for Workmanship was Stephanie Castro for her Hush and Blush Collection. Ademir Serrano received the Rising Star award.
Mesa College offers degrees and certificates in fashion design, fashion merchandising, computer fashion technology in both design and merchandising. For more information visit sdmesa.edu.
The “IT” Fashion Show
The Art Institute of California-San Diego presented the sixth annual “IT” Fashion Show at the Headquarters of Seaport District on May 24. The runway was set up outside in the courtyard of this new retail center with specialty shops and restaurants located in the old San Diego Police Station on Harbor Drive. The students, faculty, and administration produced this knockout fashion show.
Darlene C. Ritz, academic director of fashion, was mistress of ceremonies and got the runway moving. Students receiving their Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) showed off their creations on the catwalk. The esteemed judges included Allison Andrews (founder of FWSD and President of APA Business Consulting Inc.), Dean Hall (celebrity stylist for FOX 5 San Diego), Joe Vecchiarelli (founder of Fashion Supplies Inc. and producer of Fashion Star on NBC), Jennifer Pickett (owner and designer for Jennifer Pickett Inc.), and Antoinette Love Ransom (executive producer “Exhibit Ambush”).
There were two runway shows at 5 and 8 p.m. Josiah Dietrich entertained the audience with singing and guitar playing. Honored were Angela Fillmore, with the Trendsetter award; Carolina Hernandez received the Innovator award, and Karla Franco received the “IT” award. For more information visit new.artinstitutes.edu/san-diego.
A Martian Holiday
The Gaslight Gathering 4 took place this year at the Town & Country Hotel. The dress code was Steampunk and the convention included presentations, workshops, and multiple fun events.
The theme this year was “A Martian Holiday” because the Red Planet is our closest neighbor. One of the many festivities was a Gentlemen’s Steampunk Fashion Show on May 3. For those of you who are not familiar with Steampunk, it is a subculture of science fiction combined with the 19th Century Victorian era or the “Wild West.” Think Jules Verne technology or machinery that is steam powered. These creations combine top hats, bowlers, corsets, goggles, and a whole lot of imagination.
The men in the fashion show were very inventive, using movable parts for wings so they could fly. The models were of all ages and happily showed off their creations. Some costumes were reflective of the American West and others reflected the Victorian era. I was amazed how creative everyone was. One model came out into the audience with satchels on either side of his hips. He took a teacup out of one side and gave it to a lady in the crowd and then took out a teapot from the other side and filled her cup. Another model had a cage on his back with a fan inside. Everyone had movable parts that all did something.
The fashion show was a huge success and everyone is looking forward to next year. For more information visit gaslightgathering.org.
Upcoming Events
June 6 — The San Diego History Center Costume Council will present a luncheon and fashion show from the Past, Present and Future at House of Hospitality in Balboa Park from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For information call 619-232-6203.
June 28 — Style in Motion presents a fashion show by Fashion Forward at Harley Davidson’s new showroom at 7 p.m. Chair is Kristi Pieper and it will benefit D S Action/Down Syndrome Rady’s hospital. For more info visit downsyndromeaction.org/styleinmotion.
— Diana Cavagnaro is a nationally recognized hat designer and milliner, and has been in the fashion business for 30 years. The last 20 of those years she’s operated her business from Downtown San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter, while moonlighting in the Fashion department at San Diego Mesa College. She can be reached at [email protected].
