Gallery • 6 Photos

Twelve, six, eight, one, infinity – some numbers that do not fail to illustrate the dazzling Finale show. Twelve senior designers, with six to eight garments per line, presented their incredible talents and hard work in one hour, and received cheers that added up to infinity.

Concise and sweet, the show grabbed everyone’s attention right off the bat. The very first line “Psychedelic” rocked the stage back to the 60’s and 70’s. Designer Sofia Mulhall’s inspiration mainly came from the big musicians of that time and the outrageous prints they used. The wild floral prints and hippie headbands definitely threw the audience some heat waves. Followed by Victoria Noack’s “Signature,” of which inspiration was drawn from Sex in the City, was Calle Iverson’s “Living Freely.” Her Bohemian fabric and loose but fit cutting accounted for her inspiration – the Free People clothing line.

Robyn Taylor’s collection “Classic Spring” was the first that night to use male models, who were absolutely great. Preppy was the first word that came to mind, but the bold use of color – purple or navy blue – and the ready-to-wear look added a classic element to itself. The fifth designer, Amarian Bell, fell in the spring trap as well. Her “Spring Beauty” presented both a fresh look with cute floral elements and a wild one with some garments in leopard prints.

Shelby Waters’ line “I Love Bonnie” creatively paired up male and female models into couples. The effect was extremely lovely and well-received – collective ‘awws’ heard from  across the theater. However, it also hurt her show in that her time was almost cut in half.

Following Waters was Juan Mendoza’s “This Is Not Business Casual.” This odd name led into an extremely different collection from all the others’. His look was less ready-to-wear, but much sharper. Black, white and grey were all the colors used for the six looks. The cuts were straight and narrow; models were in the same low pony-tails and the music added to the Alexander Wang feel. While Mendoza’s designs convey more of an idea of fashion than fashion itself, Jessica Hall’s “Le Cirque des Reves (The Circus of Dreams)” brought in the exact opposite. The show stopper – a bright red gown – was featured at the end when the audience’s attention was taken. Her models were also interactive with the audience, a unique aspect in fashion shows.

The following line, Madie Moore’s “Pouvoir” featured a mature and flirty look with garments like a pink satin bustier and black chiffon poncho. Her inspiration came from pointe shoes and geometric shapes, and the perfect cutting was once again impressive. Next, Rebecca Deschner’s design “Vintage Fantasy” showed up with eye-grabbing makeup for her models. Golden paint covered up their left eyes and foreheads, making them look like both delicate dolls and ancient Egyptian queens.

The last two lines were the absolute highlights of the night – Jamellah Siika’s “Wedding in the Garden” and Claire Brodgon’s “The Perennials.” Siika’s collection consisted of five bridesmaid dresses, two flower girl dresses and one wedding gown. The two adorable flower girls turned the audience into a frenzy, and the massive gown with lace, tulle over satin and a bow finalized her show perfectly. The last designer Claire Brodgon was another extreme. She not only brought the rainbow colors onto stage, but also decorated the gowns with flowers, calling back to her inspiration – her dad’s garden and the essence of springtime that flowers create.

Overall, the show was definitely worth watching and a highlight of the four-day week. Siika won the competition and her line will be featured in Plano Profile next issue.