Haute Event: The Academy of Art University Spring Fashion Show

It was May 3, 2012, in San Francisco, at The Cannery and AAU had their brushed velvet ropes intact and ready for those elite ticket holders. Tickets were cautiously viewed and compensated at the front entrance, while The Academy of Art University was launching their spring fashion show event. So, if one was at home having caviar for one, due to missing their last cab, don’t grab that box of tissues just yet! AAU has other detours and routes, on June 2nd, for those lonely souls that missed out, so stay tuned for further instructions! Now off that note and on to the show! The elite brushed, red velvet ropes were clicking away, the wine was flowing, the hor d’ Oeuvres flaunting aromas were stimulating and incomparable AAU students portfolios’ were ready for inspection!

After appetites were fed, portfolio’s had been inspected and wine had reached its limit, it was time for those ticket holders to reach the gates to the premiere! Designers, fashion, textiles, raw materials, camera’s and a runway…Oh my! Snag a seat, turn those technology devices off and luckily, one might have a seat across from, Alexander McQueen’s creative director, Sarah Burton or maybe even some royalty. Royalty such as Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, which manages Donna Karan and DKNY brands, also world known fashion writers Suzy Menkes, NY Times, Cathy Horyn and milliner Philip Treacy, which has collaborated designs for Lady Gaga, Chanel and so many more. These special guests were here for viewing and were there for passing out internships. Who else was there too, to hand out internships? Well, one more give-away was Abercrombie&Fitch’s, Senior Director, Craig Olman! It was almost as if Santa Claus was there, granting wishes and choosing who was naughty or nice.

Now for the collections and show, how was it really? Well, if one has never been to a fashion show, heels were lined up and down seated rows, the runway was ready for fierce walks, the backdrop screen was turned on, for complete U-shaped viewing of the walks and the models were ready for take-off! There was over 20 intellectual designers, including fashion design/animation/visual effects artists and models waiting to be trimmed, head to toe. Each collection had its own inspiration, hand-made designs, raw pieces and architectural jewelry designs. There was quite a few mod inspired looks, with contemporary twists to it and one breath of fresh air and some color added to the picture was Kim Tran. Kim Tran’s, Grey Gardens, inspired looks meshed well with jewelry designer collaborate, Orly Ruaimi. From silk like textured fabrics, polka dot print tights, loose buttoned blouses and hand sculpted materials for Ruaimi’s creations, why aren’t these two featured in Vogue yet? These two rare gems have seem to be quite the buzz, after the premiered event. Buzz in the fashion world word is, they have just begun to shock us all and hopefully Lady Gaga might just get a glimpse of Ruaimi’s hand sculpted pieces and feature some pieces before anyone else gets to them…if the buzz can get to her!

Now next in line, another eye catcher to the audience and press were fashion and textile collaboration designers, Renata Lindroos and Mina Fadaie. It’s almost as if the textile design printed pieces were inspired from a certain dress Dior had designed, seen on Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and The City. With the color scheme of charcoals, light greys, and black&white color palettes, it seems as if the audience was watching a black and white movie, but definitely not the style of those black and white movie days. The open bell base of the dresses, asymmetrical-modern silhouettes, construction site neon- colors painted on the models lips and 60’s horror films inspired designs, is this what the future runways will crave?
The AAU fashion premier of this event had so many featured designers and collaborations, who was everyone’s pick? Will there be another sneak peek showing at The Cannery? This is a definite, indescribable, see it for yourself show! But this must be kept short and several eye catchers have been mentioned, that caught the eye of yours truly. So one recommends, if one wants all the details of the collections and collaborations, it’s something in writing that just can’t be done. One must physically be buckled in at these showings and see the textured art forms for yourself.

So, June 2nd is highly recommended and if one is away on vacation, missing this second chance offer should make one feel like they just went on death row. Sure pictures can be snapped away and posted online, but the fabrics, the tall tree-like models, the menswear and womenswear designers, the sleek runway and intimidating icons, in the multi-billion dollar fashion world, just can’t do one justice, while one is sitting in front of their electric screens!

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