FIT’s Future of Fashion show, featuring graduates of Class 2018, was a complete success. Dr. Joyce Brown welcomed the audience and introduced Lilliana Vazquez, the style consultant.
The graduating designer’s creations signaled fashions of the future. The high quality of the students’ design and construction was noticeable. These new, young designers were nurtured by 10 New York City designers, including Yigal Azrouöl, Flora Backer, Phyllis Chan, Amanda Hsiao, Bibhu Mohapatra, Jose Natori, Dushane Noble, Zac Posen, Sharon Tal and Karolina Zmarlak, who sifted through hundreds of garments and selected specific designs. The show, dedicated to FIT alum Calvin Klein, is sponsored by the designer along with the Calvin Klein Family Foundation. The event started with an amazing video presentation that featured students, professors and tastemakers who were behind the scenes. The video showed what it takes to get to the Future of Fashion runway: hard work, talent and a dream.
The actual runway show featured looks that were selected by the industry’s media and retail judges. The Critic Award winners included Elaine Back, Stacy Isaacs, Kaitlin Barton, Lauren Midelle Yoon, Cabra lissa, Paula Lizaro Umana and Michelle Ortega. Here are some fashion and designer highlights:
Stephanie Navarrete opened the show with a stunning red wool and neoprene coat over white suede pants and top. Her outfit was fused with interesting graphics. Stacy Isaacs offered a multihued screen-printed leather jacket that was belted over a sleek, black cat suit. Nicole Galbraith’s mixed media land jacket and dress received applause. Jessica Lazo’s yellow cigarette jumpsuit worn under a blue smocked nylon top with cut-outs, eyelets and cording created a stir. Lili Shi’s lavender/black laser-cut petal coat looked lovely in bonded felt interlocking.
Plastic was a plus in this show. Khelsea Al-Arefi’s plastic oversized jacket was very attractive. Myielo Yue’s sonoboned, multicolor horse hair and mesh top was zippy and hip over a mesh skirt with zip-lock seams.
Denim was in the house. The denim dreamer jacket by Luis Hernandez set off a futuristic, yet stylish, look. Michelle Ortega designed an oversized hooded, water-resistant jacket in gray. It had a pretty blue lining and several reflective details. Underneath the jacket, Ortega’s model donned a black, long-sleeved bodysuit with blue/black leggings and gloves. For a puffier look, Veronica Apsan’s silver puffer ski jacket went over well. It topped warm, silver jogging pants and a spandex top. In black pinstripes, Leyla Acik’s suspender pants represented the 1940s.
In elegant eveningwear, Alana Fox created a slithery, slip-topped, gray sheer illusion of a dress. This style was very feminine and a very glamorous hit on the runway. It was enhanced with French lace, hand-dipped ombre fringe. Michelle Porrazzo’s ivory Chantilly lace bridal gown was intricately detailed with 3D flower lace and pearl beading. This gorgeous gown closed the show.