Degree Type
Honors Capstone Project
Date of Submission
Spring 5-1-2009
Capstone Advisor
Todd Conover
Honors Reader
Jeffrey Mayer
Capstone Major
Design
Capstone College
Visual and Performing Arts
Audio/Visual Component
no
Capstone Prize Winner
no
Won Capstone Funding
no
Honors Categories
Creative
Subject Categories
Fashion Design
Abstract
My goal upon completing my Honors Capstone Project was to explore the process I went through over the course of the year as I completed my senior collection in the Fashion Design program at the School of Visual and Performing Arts. My senior collection incorporated inspiration I gathered over the past four years to show how I have evolved as a designer. It was a unique experience in that it has allowed me to express my personal design aesthetic through my clothing.
My senior collection consists of six looks that were constructed and styled individually to be ready for two final runway fashion shows in April. We coordinated all aspects of the show from our musical selection down to the shoes and jewelry worn by the student models. Over the course of the first semester, we designed and illustrated three different collections. At the start of the second semester, we chose one of the three and brought six of the looks to life by sewing the garments and styling complete looks.
Much of my inspiration emerged from my experiences studying fashion design abroad in London spring semester of my junior year. One course that particularly inspired me was a corsetry class in which we constructed a real corset over a semester. The full inspiration for my final collection was Victorian 1900’s corsets crossed with exotic colors and textures based on bohemian safari themes. My fabric choices include cotton suiting, leather, silk chiffon, jersey knits, and silk brocade.
I am also interested in the communications aspect of the fashion industry and also what goes on behind the scenes at a fashion runway show. As a board member of the Fashion Association of Design Students and a member of the Newhouse Fashion and Beauty Communications Milestone, I helped to organize and run the 3rd Annual VPA and Newhouse Beauty Milestone Fashion Show and the Family Weekend Fashion Show-off, a student run show. I was also one of the Senior Co-Chairs of the Senior Fashion Show and helped with the backstage details of the show and assisted in organizing the student models. After the Senior Fashion Show was over, I organized a fashion photo shoot of my senior collection garments, where I styled their outfits and coordinated the theme and overall look I wanted to convey with the photographer.
Aside from completing a six piece collection of outfits, over the course of my four years at Syracuse University I have tried to branch out and familiarize myself with all aspects of the fashion industry. I think my involvement in the Newhouse Milestone Program, backstage at fashion shows, and interest in fashion photography shows that I think it is important to know about and gain experience in other facets of the industry besides design.
Recommended Citation
Coyne, Amanda, "Senior Collection and Fashion Industry Experience" (2009). Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All. 424.
https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone/424
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