VCC Fiat Mode XXIII Grad Show – Wednesday, Sept 29, 2010

After double-booking myself for the Vancouver Community College grad show as well as Eco Fashion Week, I cast about for help from a guest blogger. The gorgeous, talented Aurora Chan graciously volunteered to attend the VCC show in my stead. Aside from being a Renaissance woman who's accomplished in many fields, she's always impeccably dressed and is quite knowledgeable about Vancouver's fashion industry to boot. Let's welcome Aurora and see what she has to say about the show!

Meet Aurora.

The Vancouver Community College Fiat Mode XXIII Graduate Fashion Show was a milestone event for the twenty-one Fashion Arts students showcasing their final collections before receiving their diplomas and launching their careers. I scored VIP seating – second row centre stage, right behind Virginia Leeming! The show itself was no less impressive; I was pleasantly surprised by the uniformly high calibre of work shown. Kudos to all the graduates!

Some of the common themes I noticed:

MINIMIZE

The less is more philosophy was a prominent approach used by a number of the students, opting to keep lines simple, clean and neutral with masculine undertones. This austere look seemed easy to wear and comfortable as the pieces were loose fitting and layered, often finished off with flat-soled boots. Students who showed that minimalism doesn’t have to mean boring included Leah Mosoff, Nicole Obidowski, Quito Quinn, and Madeleine Scrutton.

Madeleine Scrutton

Leah Mosoff

Nicole Obidowski

Nicole Obidowski

IT’S IN THE DETAILS

For some collections, the interest lay in the quirky details. Jennifer Gagne took a whimsical approach towards design, using geometrical shapes and unusual features such as stringed loopholes more commonly found on manila envelopes. Ave Maria MacIntyre was looking into the post-apocalyptic future when thinking about what to wear, incorporating such details as silver threading, what looked like a cyber neck brace, and wire jewelry to add a distinctive edge to her pieces.

Jennifer Gagne

Jennifer Gagne

Ave Maria MacIntyre

Ave Maria MacIntyre

TEXTURED EARTH

Nicole Mergaert and Robynne Redgrave both used texture to create unique three-dimensional pieces. Nicole used fabric string to drape around her simple dresses to create interest. Robynne also incorporated strings into her ensembles which gave them an airy light feel. Both students wisely kept their colour palettes simple and neutral, allowing the attention to be focused on the textured detailing.

Nicole Mergaert

Nicole Mergaert

Robynne Redgrave McPherson

Robynne Redgrave McPherson

DRAMA DRAMA

What would a fashion show be without a bit of drama? Against the overall neutral palette of blacks and beiges, some students chose to grab the audience’s attention with bright, bold colours and cuts. Monica Fraser’s gorgeous indigo blue, emerald green and gold gowns were inspired by the peacock. Martha Ines Piedrahita looked to Spain for her bright red flamenco styled gowns and bolero jackets. Reyhaneh Sadat put together a sophisticated red, white and black collection influenced by the Far East.

Martha Ines Piedrahita

Reyhaneh Sadat Mansouri

Monica Fraser

Monica Fraser