underconstruction...

Here at the SADA blog we are very excited for all the work Jacob Robert Hanson has put into creating the redesign for our blog!!

Please check out his posted art blog for more links to his work at ayudate13.blogspot.com !

Bare Essentials. Photos By: Natalie Probst, Report By: Kelley Hanni

    Be bold this fall and winter by amping up your outfits with this season’s must have accessories. Push your wardrobe further with audacious hardware, metallics, industrial embellishments, and luxe sparkle and shine. When going out at night opt for a shoe with studs. If you are feeling extra adventurous go for snakeskin. This season, it’s all about the peep-toe and sky-high heels. If you’re looking to perk up a pair that you already own, pair them with colored or patterned tights: they always add interest to a simple outfit. When going casual, boots are a must. They are practical, and can be found in all lengths, styles, and material. Suede or a zipper detail is a great alternative, and don’t be intimidated by over the knee or thigh high boots. They come in heels or flats and are adaptable to any outfit.
     The same theme can be seen with bags and jewelry. Look for a bag with a metal or chain strap, or if you want something softer, fringe or lace. These add a touch of charm and ornamentation, working with outfits on all levels, from going out on the weekend or going to class. There is no limitation to size. Go big if you need to carry books, choose stamped leather or a neutral with interesting details. Look for braiding, zippers, buckles, and pockets, because the more variation, the better. For night, go beyond the standard clutch. Select something with a boxy shape and a hard case. Metallic clutches are perfect for the holiday season, and will be sure to catch everyone’s eye.
      Let the jewelry you choose enhance your clothing choices. Necklaces this season tend to be big and bold; boasting jewels, pearls, beading, metal, and ribbon. They are so versatile, and can be worn with a t-shirt and jeans, paired with a cardigan, or added to a dress or embellished top. Another trend in jewelry are large metal cuffs. They range anywhere from molded gold to studded silver, but no matter what, the wider the better. Be careful when selecting jewelry, it is wise to choose one or the other so that you don’t over do it.
            Don’t forget that as it gets colder scarves and gloves are essential, and can be fashionable. Gloves no longer have to be neutral; they come in all colors this winter. Try a pair in a jewel tone, and don’t be afraid to experiment with length. Channel your inner Holly Golightly and pick an elbow length pair. As for scarves this season, they go beyond the ordinary knitted wrap-around. Go for a funnel or tubular scarf, a continuous piece that doesn’t drape down. It could be simple cotton or as extravagant as fur, but no matter what it will keep you warm and in style. This season is all about being confident in how you dress and choosing bold, interesting accessories to complete the perfect outfit.

 

Photographer: Natalie Probst

Creative Director: Nicholas Verburgt

Style Director: Leigh Gervasi

Production & Style Assistants: Amber Bimbnister, Kelley Hanni Kaylei McGaw, Julie Stamos

Feminine Approach By: Diane Paik

Simple, stunning, and sexy are just a few ways to describe Stella McCartney’s show. The show began with subtle, neutral colored pieces, but then progressed to bright colors by the end. The simplicity of the outfits showed off a woman’s silhouette in the most flattering fashion, and a clear vision of McCartney’s understanding of creating beautiful, effortless pieces without all of the extra nonsense. The collection embodied outfits that could be worn by women on and off the runway, even if the runway may be the aisle of a grocery store. Straying from her usual inspiration from the boys, McCartney took a softer more feminine approach. Great prints mixed with eye-popping color and fitted jackets were the evening’s main looks. From structured tops paired with relaxed silk pants, to dresses overflowing with ruffles, not a single aspect of summer was left out of the collection. (Photos By: Marcio Madeira for Style.com)

Albert & M.A.C... Skinny Tie

Shaw Bridge...Classic Chic

Studio Noir

Photos By: Nicholas Verburgt

Models: Julie Stamos & Amy Dust

Styling/Photo Assistant: Kaylei McGaw

To Purchase a SADA 2010 T-Shirt or Apparel & Textile Design Tote Bag email sada.msu@gmail.com

Final Cut By: Julie Stamos

     The 2010 Ready-to-Wear collection from Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana was a study in storytelling. The show opened with an androgynous suit, that consisted of exaggerated jodhpurs and a short fitted jacket, both heavily inspired by the types of clothing that South American cowboys were known to wear. Immediately following this masculine look was a cinch waist black lace dress, with a high slit and a fluttery hemline, evoking an image of a sultry flamenco dancer. 

     These two opening looks set the audience off on a trip through South American symbols, with a Sicilian touch. The designers’ use of lace and fringe only pushed this imagery more. Entire column dresses made out of chunky lace were neither excessively matronly, nor overly provocative. The fringe sewn onto hemlines, bust lines, and every other place imaginable shimmied and bounced as the models walked down the brightly lit runway. The muted palette that dominated most of the show allowed the sheen of the satins and the intricate cut of the dresses to take center stage. The designers ventured into some color, using bright floral patterns and the occasional animal print, as well as some denim. While these pieces were individually beautiful they didn’t fit in with the rest of the collection, disrupting the otherwise flawless procession Dolce and Gabbana had created. 

     The designers were at their best when they focused on their South American story. The expected, upswept hair and bold red lips, and the unexpected, flat riding boots and sheer ankle socks gave the audience something that was both classic and refreshing. (photos by: Marcio Madeira for Style.com)

Letter From The Editor

     I’d like to start my premiere “Letter from the Editor” with a very warm welcome on behalf of the Student Apparel Design Association. We are working hard as a team this year to make SADA the best year yet, and are thrilled to accommodate your needs, wishes, and hopes for your future in the fashion industry.

     Our Social Media Chair, Nicholas Verburgt started this blog as an outlet to everything style, locally and globally. It is my pleasure to sit as editor-in-chief, and bring to you monthly the observations I make and topics I wish to touch on.

     As a senior this year, walking through campus on my way to and from classes has never seemed so odd. It’s as if each day is my last day doing the simple routine of getting up in the morning to go to classes, and begrudgingly walking the twenty five minutes it takes to get there. As the leaves slowly turn the beautiful shades of red, yellow and orange as I walk past the Beaumont Tower I can’t help but think, “this is my last fall as an MSU student.” When these thoughts start going through your head you realize just how important it is to seize each moment of your life as it is. Just today, Carol Beard, the SADA advisor and highly respected professor of the Apparel and Textile Design program stated,

“if I can offer any advice, it is to stop wishing yourself out of your present circumstances into new  circumstances, and miss what is beautiful and good in the present.”

It is professors like Carol that have really pushed us as students to think beyond what is right in front of us, and to really find meaning in what is our lives today.  With that said this month I decided in the name of all things academic, it would be interesting to feature a few of our own professors on campus that show an impeccable amount of style, and to see what drives them towards the clothing racks.

     I started my research with a new face to the Apparel and Textile Design staff this year, Rebecca Clark. Rebecca spends part of her time in East Lansing and the other part in New York City working as a specialist with high profile design firms such as Vera Wang.  It seemed that coming from a very fashion conscious city such as Manhattan, one would see a dramatic change in people’s sense of style. Au contraire. According to Rebecca it is easy to see that at MSU there is definitely a lot of diversity, but that it is much easier to stand out because not everyone makes his or her personal appearance a priority as opposed to New York where “if you don’t dress the part, you don’t get the part.”

     When asked about her own personal style and where she draws inspiration Rebecca listed Rick Owens, Prada and Marni, to name a few, of the designers she looks to every season for fresh ideas. “Be your own stylist, mix cheap and expensive, have one statement piece and keep the rest classic. Make it look effortless, like you just threw it on.”

     Another Apparel and Textile Design professor, known for her great shoes, is Rebecca Schuiling. Rebecca has experience in the industry designing menswear for Dillard’s Department Store and also designing women’s knitwear for Chris Triola. To know Rebecca is to know her many pairs of shoes. The first time I met Rebecca three years ago, my immediate thought was, “this lady has very simple, classic style, but those shoes! Not so simple.” So of course given the chance I had to pick her brain about why she chooses to emphasize her ensembles with shoes. “I like classic clothing, basic colors. But I love bold accessories, big jewelry, architectural shoes. I’m also obsessed with wedges because they’re so comfortable!” I asked her the same question I asked Rebecca Clark, where and how she draws inspiration for her own personal style. “I grew up at a camp, and saw many cultures and learned that it’s okay to try new things. My mom also had classic style and I think I got a lot of that from her.” In closing, Rebecca noted that maturity had a lot to do with the things we choose to purchase, in short, “spend less on trends.”

     It’s amazing what valuable knowledge is available to us on a daily basis, if we just ask for it. Now, vivre dans l’instant! Seize the day! Until next time, au revoir.

-Meredith Gruszka