Kent State’s 34th annual fashion show, FS Crescendo, took place last weekend. A team of select students and faculty produced the show, which took place in Rockwell Hall.
Inside Rockwell Hall before the chairs and displays were set up.
The production team, led by seniors Morgan Hall and Meghan McCarthy, transformed the second floor of Rockwell Hall into a glamorous runway. Seating was set up throughout the atriums. Guests could also sit inside the auditorium where the models entered the runway. After sashaying across the stage, the models wound their way through the beautifully lit aisles, allowing everyone in attendance to have a front-row look at the action.
Dani Bennett, a model and sophomore fashion design major, described the experience as being “way too cool.” Bennett said, “At first I was nervous…but was put at ease after about a million dress rehearsals to help us practice.” She had several favorite pieces including a “big ball gown and a flowy lingerie piece.”
One standout collection was from junior fashion design student, Julien Remi Bach Nguyen, who is currently studying abroad in Italy. His collection was originally designed for a show, Fusion, he held in December.
Designer Julien Remi Bach Nguyen with his four-piece collection.
Another standout collection was by freshman design student, Kara Kime. Kime used nontraditional materials like coffee filters, gloves and sticky notes to create her looks. She drew her inspiration “from looking at various items and picturing how they could be used differently.”
The show would not have run as seamlessly as it had if it weren’t for the 225 students involved in production. Each of the five committees (merchandise, model, venue, catalog and public relations) served a unique role in the process. Aside from committee members, ushers and dressers were also involved in the later stages of the show. Not to mention the models are students who dedicated a lot of time to the show.
Cody Risinger, a senior fashion merchandising student, was one of the three merchandise coordinators on the management team. He said that he “absolutely loved pairing models with for the show. It’s fun to bring out each model’s personal style by pairing them to garments that fit them well.”
Most of the participants in the show, from models to ushers to committee members, were at Rockwell 24/7 on the days leading up to the three shows. Each show brought something unique, and had it’s own vibe. Public Relations and Media Coordinator Kathryn Reaven explained that the Friday matinee and evening show were more for prospective students, families of designers and the Kent community. The Saturday show, which took place at 7 p.m., was the VIP show for donors and industry insiders.
Hall and McCarthy reminisced on their time at Kent State thus far to create the show’s theme, Crescendo. “For many students, the Annual Fashion Show represents the moment that their Kent State experience builds to a crescendo. With Crescendo, we recognize not only students’ accomplishments but the journey they undertook to get here.”