PRINTRingmasters of fashion
Stephens designers unleash a circus on the runway
Polina Yamschchikov
Models Sam Anderson (middle) and Sarah Jost share a quick chat before they take the stage in Melissa Theisen’s designs at Stephens College Jury of Selection show.
April 16, 2009 | 12:00 a.m. CST
This circus doesn’t have elephants, trapeze artists or fortunetellers. Instead, it’s a menagerie of fabrics, prints and threads. Student designers will have the chance to showcase their sewing skills as Stephens College hosts “Avant Cirque,” its 65th annual fashion show.
Just because the show is called “Avant Cirque,” don’t expect any clown creations or ringmaster getups. “We don’t choose garments based on whether they look like a circus,” says Kirsteen Buchanan, acting chair of the Stephens College fashion department. “That doesn’t work at all.” The circus theme will be presented in the show’s branding, Buchanan says. The poster, program cover and decorations are all reminiscent of a vintage circus.
What: “Avant Cirque”
When: April 18, noon, 2:30, 5 and 7:30 p.m.
Where: Windsor Auditorium
Cost: $15; VIP $50
Visit: stephensfashion.com
Brandy Hansen exchanges a look with her fellow judges during the presentation of one of ...
Models displaying Melissa Theisen's senior collection await judging onstage from the Stephens College Jury of ...
Clay Schrenger, Ashton Simon, Sam Anderson and Sarah Jost turn around so the Stephens College ...
D'era Hall is stilled for a moment backstage before she takes her place in line ...
Devil Ditrilio stands in line with other models as the Stephens College Jury of Selection ...
Ava Kalamitsiotis fits a woven belt onto another designer's model to measure for size before ...
Meghan Sabados pauses for a moment backstage as her fellow models rush to get ready ...
Ann Ryan writes down scores for a collection as part of the panel for the ...
Designer Jenn Young waits anxiously from backstage as her five-piece senior collection is judged onstage ...
A dress designed by Jane Zachritz, as worn by Michelle Wilke, makes up one six ...
For designer Samantha Henson, clean lines, color blocking and burlesque performer Dita Von Teese inspire her design style. Los Angeles is her ultimate destination, and her love of the city is reflected in her collection called Binary, intended for potential clients such as Los Angeles DJs. “I incorporated swimwear, stretch vinyl, brocades and sequining,” she says. “[The model] is going to go from spinning in the clubs to pool parties.” Henson got her first taste of fashion at a young age. “My mom used to take me to the fabric stores with her, and I would run around and feel all the fabrics,” she says. After choosing an advanced fashion class over color guard in high school, she knew fashion was her thing. And it seems Henson isn’t the only one who’s influenced by a big city.
Designer Melissa Theisen defines her collection, Epica, as “cyber gothic club wear” and includes PVC fabric (a shiny, waterproof material) and UV-reactive elements to make her designs stand out. Ever since her fashion internship in Toronto during the summer of ’08, Theisen has drawn inspiration from the northern neighbor. “It’s from a club in Toronto called Savage Garden,” she says. “It’s the club scene in general and the music at the clubs.” Theisen isn’t really a fan of any well-known designers. For her inspiration, she credits designers such as Laura Stewart, whose company, Futurstate, includes clubwear with futuristic and military detail.
Before the designers could be in the show, they had to present their designs to a panel of judges. Judge Ann Ryan says she sees fashion as a form of communication and pays attention to detail and quality of construction. “There were a few pieces that could almost stand as studio art pieces,” she says. “They were so beautiful.” For two days after the judging, designers anxiously awaited the results. “We are nervous wrecks all weekend,” Theisen says. But Buchanan notes that the objective is not to present the ensembles in the show. “The main point of creating these garments is to gain knowledge, to gain experience and to have a portfolio project,” she says. “To me, the fashion show is the icing on the cake.”
The backstage atmosphere at the pre-show judging is crazy, model Clay Schrenger says. “There’s a lot of running around going on.” Schrenger modeled one of Theisen’s outfits and was part of the first group to take the stage. He says he was nervous to be the opening act. “It’s also really cool,” he says. “It sets up for the whole show and gets the audience wondering what’s coming next.”
Schrenger then made a quick change into designer Kelley Miller’s ensemble. He says the “drastic makeup change is pretty hectic, not only on me but also the designer.” Before Miller’s models took the stage, she gave her collection one last look of appreciation. “It’s like my baby,” she says. “I can’t stop watching it.” Two of Miller’s garments were selected for the fashion show along with five of Henson’s six outfits and all four of Theisen’s. Their pieces will join the others down the runway; more than 130 were chosen. In the words of Barnum and Bailey (reincarnated as Dolce and Gabbana): Get ready for the greatest fashion show on Earth.
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