Fashion Student Organization Kent State University: 2016

For ten years, FSO has been participating in the Soroptimist annual fundraiser by presenting a fashion show at the event. This year’s theme for the fashion show was titled Diamond Jubilee, which was meant to commemorate the seventy-fifth year anniversary for the Soroptimist fundraiser. The Soroptimist organization is a group that helps to improve lives of women through social and economic empowerment. The word Soroptimist actually means “best for women,” which is what the organization strives to achieve. They want to give women the resources they need to achieve their fullest potential.

This year’s Soroptimist fundraiser and fashion show took place at the Brookside Country Club for an audience of Soroptimist members. There were seventeen design/styling submissions all created by FSO members which all made it into the show. Each design or styling submission had to follow the theme of the fundraiser, Diamond Jubilee, so garments were very elegant and glamourous. The main inspiration behind the student's submissions was sequins, glitter, a blue/silver color palette, and glitz. Members of FSO modeled the garment submissions during the beginning of the Soroptimist event. FSO President Sabrina Pierotti said, “Every year around the same time Soroptimist holds a fundraiser that includes a brunch and a silent auction. Our fashion show not only serves as entertainment while everyone is eating, but it also represents FSO supporting everything Soroptimist stands for!”

There is a lot of preparation that goes into this fashion show behind the scenes. It all begins with the announcement of the fashion show’s theme and a call for designers/stylists for garment submissions. Next, as submissions begin to come in, Abby the project manager for FSO begins to pair garments with models. What comes next is submission day, in which all designers and stylists submit their look for the fashion show. Finally, comes the day of the show, models begin to arrive around eight o’clock and get ready. Then the FSO exec team and models head to the location of the show and have a practice walk-through. Then it’s showtime!

The event is a fun time for not only the Soroptimist members but also for the FSO members who attend as well. One FSO member, Montana Moyer, also one of the photographers of the show, said, “I would say that my absolute favorite part of the show was seeing everyone’s amazing designs go down the runway. The designs were all amazing and I was so obsessed with them all!” This was her first year attending the Soroptimist show, and she loved being able to capture each and every moment of the fashion show, such as the center pieces on the tables to the stitching in each design, through the lense of her camera. FSO President Sabrina Pierotti also said, “Like any fashion show that I'm involved in, my favorite moment is seeing everyone's face light up when they see a beautiful look. For example, this year a designer submitted a look made completely out of coffee filters! When the audience realized that this beautiful crop top and skirt were made out of this ordinary item, they all gasped and applauded. I love having that impact on people with fashion! In addition, my favorite part of the Soroptimist Fashion Show is taking pictures outside afterward... the grounds are so beautiful and the pictures always come out great.” The show was definitely a success and a tradition that will hopefully be apart of FSO for years to come.

By: Katelyn McCullough

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Everyone and especially their mothers have heard of crocs, which have been criticized for years as being one of the ugliest shoes ever made. Do you think crocs could ever be fashionable? This year Christopher Kane partnered with the brand for his Spring/Summer 2017 line during London Fashion Week, in which he sent all his models down the runway in a collection of various colored crocs adorned with geodes. This collection was titled, Make Do and Mend, which as stated in a Vogue.com article was also the name of a 1940s British pamphlet used by women on how to adapt their clothes to last longer during a time of rationing. This collection was also Kane’s ten year anniversary of showing at London Fashion Week. According to Footwear News, this collaboration between designer Christopher Kane and Crocs will be produced and sold, so you can buy your own pair of embellished crocs coming this spring.

Although this new collection of crocs has been given a fashionable update, is it enough? I sat down with a few members of FSO to hear their take on the subject. Manny Sullivan, a freshman Fashion Merchandising major, stated, “Before I saw the Christopher Kane collection I definitely did not think that crocs could be as fashionable as the collection made them. I never thought that crocs were all that attractive to begin with, they seemed childish to me.” Manny went on to say, “After seeing the collection, I do believe that crocs can be fashionable depending on how they are styled. I believe that almost any garment or accessory can become fashionable depending on the styling and execution. Fashion is all about self expression, and if crocs express who you are, then go for it! Crocs can express a certain mood based on the color and embellishment and the collection used gems and color as a way to convey a rather sophisticated image!” Manny makes a marvelous point when he says that style is all about self expression. Anna Wintour once said, “Create your own style. Let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others.” Your style is like a brand, because represents who you are to the world, so if you like crocs and they are apart of your style, ROCK THOSE CROCS. Another student, Kayla Plants, replied, “I don't believe crocs are fashionable because the Croslite material makes the feet appear heavy. Neither fit or loose garments compliment the crocs making the body look large or disproportionate. Although patterns, designs, and colors can assist in making the crocs more fashionable, the concern for finding matching garments arises.” Typically when you are trying to achieve a stylish look, you want the clothing to compliment your body and make you look and feel amazing. Kayla has a point when she says that crocs can make you look disproportionate, which may hurt the look you are trying to achieve. With that being said, what are your views on the subject?