A cocktail dress made out of Equal packets, a vest of
intricately cut brown paper, a highlighter-yellow evening gown – these were
just some of the threads produced when trend-setting college student designers were
encouraged to shed inhibitions and design clothing for “Unleashed.”
The spring fashion show, by UCLA’s Fashion and Student
Trends (FAST), benefited the nonprofit charity Food on Foot with clothing
donations from attendees. The entire show – planning, fundraising, modeling, ushering
and designing – was produced by UCLA students of all majors and backgrounds.
Set against energizing performances from student hip-hop
groups, flashy videography on screens flanking the catwalk provided by VJ COLLABO, and electrifying techno
music by DJ Lawrence Chang, the two-hour show sent models down the runway in
each respective designer’s set of fashions.
Every student designer was unique from the next: washed
denim crop jackets followed green-and-black zebra prints; a coral train ruffle dress
with a raised front hem came after a metallic green-and-yellow plaid cutaway bathing
suit. There were sailor-influenced navy sheath dresses with gold metal accents
amongst boxer-inspired knee-length shorts for men, and lots of patent leather
peep-toe platform pumps (seen on the runway and off).
Audience members arrived dressed to impress, with summery
corals and teals, sparkly metallic and jeweled sandals and, despite the entrance
into summer, a continued obsession with the plaid flannel shirt for both men
and women. Male fashions flaunted styles plucked from Grandpa’s closet, but modernized:
crisp vests, sweater cardigans and comfy loafers.
The student designers and models at the FAST performance threw
all of their creative selves into their designs. Diana Kohan, a fourth-year history
major at UCLA, has been designing “since [she] could pick up a pen.”
Her line, entitled “moi je joue” (French for “me, I play”
and a famous Brigitte Bardot song), featured smart business-causal wear that is
clean and tailored, with some twists: a mini skirt of red-and-white plaid, a
simple white spring dress with elegant gold button accents, long silver chains
and pretty bow sashes.
“Foofiness, bows and lace and satin: This is who I am,” Kohan
said.
-- Kelsey Ramos
Pictures: more photos from UCLA's fashion show
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Photo: Fashions designed by UCLA student designer Diana Kohan in UCLA FAST's "Unleashed" 2009 fashion show. Credit: Christophe Wu.
