By MAREN HUN
Models in this year's BYUSA-sponsored fashion show will be stepping out in 'stark and bold' clothing designs.
'Stark and Bold,' the name of Saturday night's show, was inspired by current fashion trends toward 'the '60s mod look,' said Heidi Fitzgarrald, student chair of the show.
Fitzgarrald said the focus of the fashion show this year is to make a statement about current fashion, since staying current is the goal of the fashion industry. This year organizers hope the show will reflect current fashion more than previous shows have done, she said.
Though not all student designers created clothing lines emphasizing the understated, clean-lined look implied by the show's name, most students designed with the stark and bold theme in mind, Fitzgarrald said.
The fashion show is an annual event sponsored by BYUSA and directed by students and faculty from the Clothing and Textiles Department. The show is usually held in March, but because of renovations in the Wilkinson Center, this year's show is being held in January.
The earlier date has been primarily beneficial for students involved in the fashion show. The students have more enthusiasm at the beginning of the semester, said Michelle Hyde, the faculty advisor for the show.
Evelyn Lim, a Senior from Stockton, Calif. majoring in fashion design, agreed. She said that she was able to put all of her energy into creating her designs because there is less pressure from her other classes early in the semester.
Fitzgarrald said the committee in charge of the fashion show hasn't felt pressed for time because they have taken things more seriously and 'wiped out garbage time and dead time.'
Because the students' croquis (drawings and designs) were due in September, the students had an entire semester and the Christmas vacation to work on their designs for the show.
The show features fashion lines and costumes created by students. The show is a good opportunity for students to learn leadership and organizational skills, Hyde said.
It helps them upgrade their abilities and provides a glimpse of the real fashion design world, she said. It also gives students exposure to real fashion designers.
One of the best things about the show is that it brings the fashion merchandising and fashion design departments together, Hyde said.
'It takes both of these keystones to make the show really successful,' she said.
A successful show also helps bring faculty and students together, Hyde added.
The experience provided by the fashion show is valuable to students.
Heather Bailey, a senior from San Ramon, Calif. majoring in fashion design, said she learned a lot last year. She said the work was exhausting but she was determined to do it. Her work paid off. She won the 'Best Overall Line' award in last year's fashion show. This year she said she knows a lot more about creating a line.
In addition to students' clothing lines, the designs of Christian Darby, a fashion designer for Ralph Lauren, will be featured in a segment of the fashion show. The show will be on Jan. 27 at 8 p.m. in the Wilkinson Center ballroom. Tickets will go on sale Jan. 22 at the Varsity Theater. The cost is $5 for general seating or $7 for a reserved seat