On Wednesday, March 25, we attended the USC Fashion Board’s spring show. The event, themed “Golden Glamour,” showcased pieces inspired by past decades of Hollywood style.
President Caroline Kelly and Director of Programming Tatum Marmins opened the show inviting the first round of models to the runway. Pieces from select realtors were put together by student stylists and displayed in a series of separate showcases.
Vendors
Styled by Emma Costanino & Wenti Mercado
Maison de Stoi is a luxury design concept specializing in couture fashion. The styles presented by Stoi’s Design Co. are timeless, genderless, and explore unique silhouettes and daring textures.
Styled by Olivia Burden & Jenna Fritchl
Anton & Maxine was founded by Diko Pekdemir-Lewis and is based in Columbia, SC. With sophisticated designs and an affinity for black garments, the retailer presented effortlessly cool fashion.
Styled by Susana Blalock
The Loft has been a women’s apparel brand since 1998. The brand “empowers women to express their personal style, from workday to every day”.
Styled by Coco Farrell & Kendall Earton
Urban Outfitters is an international brand that creates colorful and distinctive styles for young adults. The brand presented a number of western styles at the show that combined age-old fashion with new.
Styled by Isaak Schumacher & Marissa Roach
Dillards is one of the largest retailer departments in the country. Combining practical and compelling apparel, Dillards presented eye catching styles.
Styled by Olivia Neal
A local dress rental business, Rent Soda City was founded by Sydney Hill and Mia Ortega. The brand has a mission to make formal where more accessible, affordable, and sustainable.
Student Designs
Following the retail vendors’ presentation, student designers shared their own work in the annual fashion design competition where 10 USC courtiers’ dresses were voted on by audience members and special guest judges. The prompt, “Afterparty at the Chateau Marmont,” encouraged contestants to explore the unique blend of styles that have appeared on celebrities after The Oscars and other awards shows throughout fashion history.
Among the student showcases, there were different interpretations of this year’s theme. The winner, Lucy Dixon, presented a dazzling blue dress with a lustrous texture, orange accents, beaded details, and a classic silhouette. Dixon was awarded the opportunity to have her design featured in South Carolina’s fashion and lifestyle magazine, MetroVieve, and to be a part of Columbia Fashion Week next Fall.
trends
During the show we noticed many common themes in styling. Some of these trends include:
1. polka dots
Polka dots were a recurring pattern throughout the night, appearing on numerous dresses, skirts, tops, and more. In the 1950s and 60s, polka dots emerged as a staple of Hollywood glamour, popularized by icons like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn.
2. head scarves
Head scarves, like polka dots, became a prominent element of Hollywood fashion through Monroe and Hepburn, among others. We saw head scarves styled in a multitude of ways, resembling the past fad with new and unique takes .
3. Western
Another common trend in the show were western-inspired outfits. We interpreted this as a nod to old western movies, which were significant in Hollywood culture starting in the 1930’s and lasting well into the mid-century.
4. Open-Back
The final and most elegant trend we noticed were open-back dresses, often accompanied by long, dangling jewelry. Open-back dresses were especially popular in Hollywood style in the 1930s-1950s, popularized by icons like Jean Harlow and Carole Lombard.
Diversity
While old Hollywood itself was nowhere near inclusive, this show certainly was! A highlight of the night was seeing the diverse cast of models walking. Models of all colors and identities were featured in this show, combining cultural backgrounds to produce new and exciting takes on the traditional fashion style.