Dunedin's Simore Montgomery "Steampunk Award" Design

Among the glitz and glamour and the scores of black-clad audience members, a trio of steampunk punters turned heads at the Hokonui Fashion Design Awards.

When Port Chalmers woman Simone Montgomery took to the stage of the 26th awards to claim the steampunk category award, sighs of recognition rang throughout the the room.

Montgomery was decked out in full steampunk - Victorian-era-science fiction attire.

With a clear passion for the style, it comes as no wonder it transferred into her elaborate design which went on to be crowned The Southland Times overall Award of Excellence.

The steampunk creation was as complex as it was polished and had an added dimension of an opening booty chest - handy for putting things in while you're time-travelling, Montgomery said.

A long-time fan of costume and design, Montgomery had been involved in the Nelson Wearable Arts for many years and participated in Oamaru's thriving steampunk subculture.

She spent about a month pulling the garment together from a collection of odds and ends picked up at various op shops around the region.

Most of the elements of her garment were recycled, something that was very important to her, she said. Read more...

For more Dunedine Fashion Show, check out iD Dunedin Fashion Week on Fashion Glitter and

NYC Full Figured Fashion Week

The fashion world is about to be thrown a curve ball.

For three days starting on June 16, the catwalks will be filled with models showing off the styles from the premier designers from all over the world who specialize in flattering the figures of women over a size 12.

The third annual Full Figured Fashion Week is all about the sizes that are largely ignored by the mainstream fashion world and snubbed during the hoopla of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

The interest this year has been overwhelming. Events have sold out, and women are clamoring for tickets to the shows. Gwen Devoe, the organizer of Full Figured Fashion Week, expects over 1,000 people to attend the grand finale showcase.

"It's been crazy," said Devoe. "It's just exploding. Women are finally getting a chance to see fashion come alive on models with bodies they can relate to."

The event is answering the call from all the plus-size women who want one thing: The same choices in the marketplace that their skinnier sisters get.  They want variety and good quality at a fair price.

"Plus-size women in America want fashionable, well-made clothes," said Devoe. "We have money to spend. and we're happy to give it to the designers and stores who help us celebrate our curves."

There are events for buyers, bloggers, models and sponsors as well as sample sales, trunk shows and a shopping crawl for out-of-town fashionistas who want to see what New York City has to offer fuller-figured shoppers. Read more...

Sexy swimwear, high-end eveningwear, shoes and cocktail dresses will be on display for women who want a little individuality in their wardrobe and not just to shop at the big department stores.

"A lot of clothing for plus-sized women is just really ugly," said Rachel Kacenjar, the Cleveland-based designer of Sweetooth Couture.  "There's a lot of business-casual apparel but really not very much for women who want something different or unusual."

Kacenjar designs for larger-size women with a taste for retro glamour.  With an accent on comfortable and flattering fabrics, she creates sexy dresses, skirts and tops that go from the office to the dance floor.

For designers who love what they see on the ready-to-wear runways, the options for plus-sized women can be disheartening. Read more...

Check out Plus Size Samples for the Runway on Fashion Glitter.

Pheline showcases at the Full Figured Fashion Week...

Spring Fashion Show 2014 - Columbus College of the Art and Design

Columbus College of Art and Design was the site for 2014 Spring fashion show. a capacity crowd gathered along the NY styled runway front-row seats were reserved for fashion industry executives, magazine, the city mayor, and other who's who in the fashion industry. A standing-room-only crowd lined behind the VIP seating area giving it a touch of Paris.

The designers were graduating seniors who collaborated with underclassmen in the program to model their fashion creations. 

The event has been held for several years, but in 2007 it was changed into a New York-style runway show. It is now a major fundraising event for the college, garnering about $200,000 this year for the general scholarship fund.

Check out Columbus College of Art and Design 2013 Senior Fashion Show on Fashion Glitter.

The NEXT BIG NAMES in Fashion

Check some of the best highlights from 2014's SCAD Senior Fashion Show

Savannah College of Art and Design's Annual Fashion Show took place May 17th. This year it was held at the SCAD Museum of Art. Stephen Burrows received the Andre Leon Talley Life Time Achievement award.

For Fashionistas and fashion experts in the industry, May is always marked for SCAD's Fashion Event, and definitely one event you don't want to miss.

Every year, they got a new line-up of equally talented and promising designers who creates unique designs and every year, SCAD never fails to offer something new. This year, they have set the bars again by producing some of the most exquisite and attention grabbing master pieces, something you would be thinking about and looking out for after leaving the show. And you cannot wait to see these designs in stores and be the first to grab them.

It is indeed remarkable how SCAD does it every time, finding the best and most passionate and carefully guiding these young designers and developing their skills and preparing them to compete among the bests in the fashion world.

The Show has just concluded but people are already anticipating next year's. 

Check out more student-run fashion shows on Fashion Glitter

Highlights from Central Saint Martins BA Graduate Catwalk Show 2013



There are 2 things the CSM student designers showed that night; the idea that women’s wear and men’s wear can be interchangeable and indefinable. Many of the designs worn by men can be worn by women and vice-versa, which is really awesome.

Second is that the clubbing thing is back, most of the designs looked as if the models are ready for big party; there were neon colors, disco fabrics, shaggy and lose or oversized coats and pants. Really cool designs.

Check out more student-run fashion shows on Fashion Glitter

Nottingham designer has big dreams of conquering the couture fashion world

Amber-Louise Snow with her jumper design

hand stitching and sewing from her spare bedroom, young designer Amber-Louise Snow may be starting small but she has already been inundated with fashion possibilities.

The 22 year old proudly showcased her self-named collection in London last month at Graduate Fashion Week, and now has big plans to take her couture clothing to the Big Apple.

But she insists that she still wants to be known as a Nottingham designer - the place where her passion for fashion started.

"My real education and knowledge started here," says Amber, who was raised just over the Derbyshire border, in Borrowash. "I feel like I've spent a lot of time in the city and it's widely-recognised as a stylish place," Read more...

Find more student-run fashion shows on Fashion Glitter

University of Ulster Graduate Fashion Show 2014

The University of Ulster launched an impressive line-up for the 2014 Ulster Festival of Art & Design, which includes some of the most creative and inspiring minds from the film, fashion, music and business worlds.

Running from 10-14 March, the festival showcased nearly forty separate events that brought the very best of international creativity and innovation to local audiences.

David Bowie’s album designer, Johnathan Barnbrook; Jane McCann, technical designer for Nike; Sandra Scott, Harry Potter’s special effects producer; Chanel’s fashion forecaster, Beryl Gibson; Paul Smith’s shop designers, 6a, and acclaimed photographer Martin Parr, are among the line-up that have showcased the impact of art and design with the university.

The University of Ulster’s very own Professor Greg Maguire who worked on Oscar winning films, Avatar and Harry Potter also hosted an animation workshop for young people. Kano, the DIY computer kit company, demonstrated how design turned their concept into an international business success.

Launching the programme, festival Director Tim Kerr said: “Art and design played a much bigger part in our daily lives than we actually realise. From the films we watched and the buildings we worked in, to the very clothes we wear, art, design and creativity enhance our surroundings each and every day.

“Ulster’s 2014 festival line up provided the public, and the students, with access to some of the most influential and creative minds in the world. Surely that the diverse range of events offered showcased the creative flair that enriches the lives and inspired future generations.”

The festival has a packed schedule of activities including the Belfast International Festival of Performance Art as well as a landmark exhibition of work by University of Ulster and Yale University photography graduates and the most anticipated event – where student designers have had the opportunity to showcase their final collection during the Graduate Fashion Show held and produced by the University each year.

The event took place in Belfast. It was as always jam-packed with professionals and fashionistas from different parts of the worlds for the reason that they always come up with such a fun-tastic show.

Each year, Ulster never fails to impress the right people in the industry, producing promising up and coming talents who caters something fresh and unique. This year has a line-up of impressive and immensely creative designers showcasing designs that were current but very unique, collection with interesting features, cuts and layers and amazing combination of colors and choices of textiles and just leaving in awe of the fantastic pieces that walked on the ramp.

Although the designs were different, edgy in some but they were not overly designed and are totally wearable. Often we see designs that are fully layered and looked really chic and glam, but it does not fit the ordinary taste, it does not comfortable and in the sense is not wearable especially to the masses.

This is where Ulster designers excel, they meet the fashion taste of the majority. They make fantastic and fashionable designs that are not just appealing but absolutely comfortable to wear.

Check out some of the fantastic designs and highlights from the show;

Find more student-run fashion shows on Fashion Glitter

Photo Credits: universityofulster

Learn more about the University of Ulster;

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Twitter:             @UlsterUni

Flickr:               universityofulster

Contact:           pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk

Phone:              (028) 9036 6178

Celebrate Fashion’s Night with Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising

FIDM's "Red Carpet Gowns" Fashion Show

Each year, the FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising graduating fashion students come up with a spectacular and awesome runway show, filled with glittering light, color and amazingly interesting designs of clothing and apparel.

It is an annual event that features fashion designs and collections of graduating students, aside from giving this up and coming fashion designers the opportunity to showcase their talents, the show is also designed to call upon the industry’s notables and fashion celebrities and media to help FIDM’s Scholarship Program.

Joshua Christensen

It has been successful for many years now; the show is always jam-packed with thousands of people, whether to witness a spectacular show or search for fresh new designs and talents or to just have fun. The FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising students never disappoint what the audience expects to see, they always serve unique designs that you would want and love to wear.

   

It is one show in a year that most “fashionistas” and the who’s who in the fashion world would not want to miss out on.

        Chelsea Dowell

They are fresh, they are fun and interesting and most of all they are doing it to promote and develop love for art, encourage young individuals to pursue their dreams and they are doing it for a good cause.

For more information about FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, please visit fidm.edu or call 800.624.1200 (within the U.S. and Canada) or 213.624.1201(internationally).

Check out more student-run fashion shows on Fashion Glitter