Parsons Fashion Show 2015

You never leave Parsons. That's the tagline the school has promoted and the fact that I was here to support the fashion design class of 2015, well over a decade after my own Parsons fashion graduate show tells you it's true.  The format has changed, the venue has changed, but the spirit is the same.

Technically, this was the 'rehearsal' show in the afternoon. Alumni and press were able to enjoy the actual work of the fashion design graduates in sunlight without the paparazzi, clinking glasses and industry execs talking over themselves.

Unfortunately, I was not given a run of show or designer names during the runway, so if you are a designer, claim your work in the comments so we can recognize you!

The afternoon started with dean Simon Collins bringing out last year's designer of the year Simon Li to catch up on his accomplishments with only one year out of school (considerable). Of course the gala's honoree later that evening was prize alumni Marc Jacobs presented by Anna Wintour. Paper magazine's man about town Mickey Boardman made some off-color jokes to cut the nervous tension of the students in attendance, but unfortunately if flew over their heads, so he got right down to presenting portfolio awards.

As far as the trends I saw coming out of Parsons fashion design, it looked like a focus on texture was key. There was a lot of draped layering on this runway. I saw a lot of mixed fabric weights and textures. Instead of soft draping, there was a lot of sculpted, structured draped silhouettes. There was a lot of play in color or non-colors (creating shapes in white or contrasting black and white).

Congratulations newbies! I have a feeling all of the Parsons Fashion Design Show graduates are going to be okay.

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Coco Rocha's Master Class in the Study of Pose

One of my holiday wish list items I just couldn't wait for was the recently published Study of Pose: 1,000 Poses by Coco Rocha. The Canadian model brought that to life for over 100 students at my alma mater, Parsons The New School for Design last week for an epic live drawing event.

My favorite class by far at Parsons was model drawing. Famous live drawing models at Parsons included Madonna during her early years in New York. Almost every mega-brand fashion designer who Parsons (Alexander Wang, Donna Karan...) also took these classes as a requirement. 

While every student always had favorite models who posed well in our classes, I can't say we really analyzed the art of posing itself. Current Dean Simon Collins hosted a Q & A with Coco Rocha and her collaborator on the book Steven Sebring while artists of many different mediums sketched the model. The best artwork from the event will be shown in an exhibit at the Milk Studio's Ground Floor Gallery launching today.

The book itself holds 1000 beautifully shot poses executed by Coco Rocha herself. I can't even imagine what it would take to be inspired to create that many shapes with your own body. While I don't have as much time as I used to join drawing sessions, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this tome for drawing fashion croquis at home.

For all of you fashion bloggers and #OOTD fans, the challenge has been presented. You now have a textbook to study from. Abandon your cliche teapot stance, no more crossed ankles with your cell phone in a mirror please. I want to see outfit posts on Instagram that push your pose to the limit. 
photos from Stephanie Soto

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You Never Leave Parsons: 560 Parsons Farewell Party

It's the end of an era on 7th avenue. My alma mater of Parsons School of Design is bidding farewell to their campus at 560 7th avenue and moving downtown. I spent my junior and senior years in this building, draping, drawing, sewing... I made some of my best friends (who still are) within these walls.

Current fashion dean Simon Collins hosted a goodbye party to the space last night on the second floor. To the rest of the world, the second floor of the Parsons School of Design Fashion building is home to the Project Runway fashion shows (and judgement).  In my junior year, it served as the venue for my fashion show too.

On my first day in the fashion department, each student had the opportunity for a one-on-one meet and greet with then department head Stan Herman (now a beloved fashion figure on QVC). I had psyched myself up to present myself as professional and sophisticated, only to have Mr. Herman pinch my cheeks and tell me how adorable I was. I was crushed.  Of course, that made me push harder for the next few years.

My favorite teachers were Steven Broadway in illustration and Maria Laveris in draping.  I was lucky enough to partake in Steven's drawing sessions recently, glad to see he is still inspiring the fabulous in young artists.

Standout moments in my Parsons experience, also turned out to be historical fashion industry ones. The school recruited a few of us to assist former alumni Isaac Mizrahi in dressing his fashion show which ended up as the documentary "Unzipped". One of the first behind-the-scenes reality-style movies that preceded Project Runway by a decade. Of course, the man mentoring the designers, Tim Gunn was at Parsons too but was not yet a part of the fashion department.


In my first semester in the fashion department, I also had the opportunity to volunteer for the CFDA at the first Bryant Park fashion shows when it was called 7th on 6th. A bunch of students were invited to Gianni Versace's first fashion show at New York Fashion Week, which ultimately turned out to be  rare and tragic as he was murdered a few seasons later.


For my senior fashion show, I had two mentors, Tracy Reese and Louis Dell'Olio.  I created a big, dimensional origami bridal dress (long before Galliano and Dior). I also made a tailored jacket/tulle ballgown ensemble that represented both the bride AND the groom (with marriage equality progress, I would like to think this was heralding good things to come). A newly single Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson was Tommy Hilfiger's date and sat in the front row.

I don't know how I will feel walking into that building on the corner of 40th street and knowing it is no longer my former home. With the "Garment Center" rapidly disappearing, the departure of my former school feels like the end of an era.

Did you go to Parsons? What were your favorite memories?

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Parsons School of Design - Class of 2012 Fashion Show

The last few weeks, the top fashion design programs around New York City presented new talent to the world.  Parsons was my alma mater and they did me proud with their runway show.  2007 alumni, Carlie Cushnie and Michelle Ochs spoke about their experiences as graduates and presented the new class.

The runway show was an amazing presentation of childrenswear, menswear and womenswear.  The techniques ran from laser cut, digitally printed fabrics, expert tailoring, conceptual avant-garde or masterful knitting.  There were so many stellar designers, I can only show you the photographs below.  To learn about individual collection, download the media kit from the school.

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