PrintAt Academy of Art University’s Spring 2010 show, seven recent graduates of the School of Fashion had the one-in-a-lifetime chance to show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Attending this show featuring new talent was Miss J. Alexander of America’s Next Top Model fame and writer and champagne bubble of a man-about-town Patrick McDonald.
Each collection was promising and unique, and some may very well become the new darlings of fashion soon enough. But it was clearly Richelle Valenzuela who stole the show with his collection of silk and satin-faced organza petaled dresses and vests in slate blue and stormy grey. The collection was inspired by the facets of a gem, which accounted for the intricate ruffles throughout the collection. Sharp white Oxford shirts worn under cutout dresses complemented the softness of the intricate designs.
Jie Pan’s collection also stood out with it’s contrasting shapes and materials. Pan used fabrics like horsehair and chiffon in conjunction with one another to create wonderfully shaped dresses with stiff shoulders and flowing mini capes and skirts.
It’s simple to get the structured looks of both Valenzuela and Pan even as a student. Just keep an eye out for jackets with structured shoulders, and pair them with a flouncy chiffon skirt for an outfit that’s both feminine and powerful.
For additional coverage of Fashion Week, click here.