It makes me proud to live in a city where the most highly attended and well-produced fashion show comes from that of college students who are taking their first steps into the fashion industry. Every year, senior textile and apparel students at the University of Texas at Austin, along with a big help from the UT University Fashion Group, produce a show with designs that showcase everything they have learned and been inspired by in their college careers.
This year’s show was given the name “Fusion,” which culminates in the unity of multiple aesthetics, feelings, and techniques in each garment. While combining so many elements into a single piece sometimes had me scratching my head during the course of the show, it also left me wanting more, making for one of the most exciting fashion shows I’ve attended all year. Each look was totally different from one to the next, giving the audience a first glance into each emerging designers’ creative minds.
Keep reading to see some of my favorite photos from the show!
Active Sportswear
Janet Ko:
Shelby Smith:
One of the chicest skateboarding looks I’ve ever seen by Seung Kicho:
This look by Cheryl Lam makes me want to take up horseback riding:
Seihak Long:
A creative take on the meaning of “Active Sportswear” with this bee-keeper ensemble by Mary Beth Newton:
Kara Lechtenberger’s ballet dancer ensemble was adorable and well-constructed:
Billie Green:
Lexus of Austin Design Challenge:
Three-Piece Collections
Simple and casually elegant dresses in Courtney Gilmore’s “Cracked” collection:
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Dakota Batch:
Tina Tran:
Seungki Cho’s “Winter Memories” collection seemed a little bulky for my “I’ve lived through too many Texas summers” mindset, but I loved the seam detail on these dresses:
Alyssa Reavis, “M.O.D.”:
A favorite look of mine because I will never get over crop tops and high-waisted everything, and those cutouts are perfection:
Claire Kwak, “Romantic Edge”:
Janet Ko’s “Gifting” collection made me realize how much I need a cropped trench:
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Kara Lechtenberger, “Caught Up in Capri.” This red dress made me swoon - I love the exaggerated cowl neckline:
Candace McKinney, “Desert Bloom”:
Ida Nematipour, “Femme Fatale”:
Katherine Wang, “Rebel Without a Cause.” The perfect sexy LBD featuring rib cutouts:
Billie Green:
I’m way too claustrophobic for this look, but I also couldn’t stop staring at it...
Leeloo Dallas Multipass, anyone? All she needs is an orange wig and a sweaty Bruce Willis clinging to her:
Mary Beth Newton, “Wanderers”:
I feel like this semi-culotte look is popping up a lot these days, so this uniquely structured garment might just be right on trend:
While I find this collection interesting as a whole, this look just screamed modern JNCOs to me:
Shelby Smith, “MidKnight”:
Leonie Versteeg’s “Dovah” collection was actually my favorite of the three-pieces. It balanced almost perfectly on that fine line between being dramatic and being wearable. Translation: I would totally wear all of these, but I don’t know exactly where to:
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Evening and Bridal Gowns
Shelby Smith:
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Andrea Fernandez:
Loved the ‘40s Hollywood glamour vibes in Ida Nematipour’s gown:
Billie Green:
Tina Tran:
Janet Ko:
Mary Beth Newton:
Candace McKinney:
As if I wasn’t amazed enough by that full skirt, check out the back:
I always love a good mermaid silhouette like that in Carissa Melendez’s wedding dress, but what really makes this dress eye-catching is the back detail:
Lillie Noe:
Claire Kwak:
Alyssa Reavis’s wedding dress is proof that you don’t have to be over-the-top to look completely elegant on the big day:
Cheryl Lam:
You guys. I can’t even begin to explain to you how beautiful the fabric in this skirt was. It was so flouncy that it made her look like she was floating down the runway. Bravo, Leonie Verseeg:
Katherine Wang:
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I’m glad Dakota Batch decided to steer away from the traditional American white wedding dress to show off this updated vibrant bridal saree:
Saving the best for last, Seihak Long’s high fashion bridal gown and extravagant headpiece wowed the crowd:
Congratulations to all the graduating seniors - you put on a great show!
