Straight from the Sketchpad:featuring Nicole Album
March 12th, 2009 by 
Amanda Cochara
As I walked into the Waldron Arts Center Sunday and climbed up the fairly elegant flight of stairs, I thought to myself, this is the perfect place for a fashion show.
My ears were guided to the right room by the sound of a live Jazz Band-New Orleans style. When I stepped into the dimmed space, my excitement grew stronger as I noticed the “T” shaped runway, and a sea of gift bags for everyone in the audience.
Nicole Album may only be a senior, but she definitely knew how to put on a true fashion show.
Album is part of the Independent Major Program in fashion design, and as her final project, she decided to feature her designs in a fashion show. Since the beginning of this semester, I have had the pleasure of getting to know Album, and I believe she is an extraordinary designer. Most of her construction is flawless and her style shows true class.
And seeing the transformation of Album’s designs from the sketchpad to the runway was unforgettable.
Below is a Q&A between Album and I about Sunday’s fashion show.
How did you decide upon your inspiration?
“I knew I wanted to do something that had to relate to myself. I felt like my first fashion show had to be something about myself or a statement I wanted to make. It is the beginning of trying to market oneself, and the more personal the better.”
“I am from New Orleans, and basically that is where it started. It is mostly because of my internship in sweater design that the official title became the ‘iron-work of New Orleans.’ It was the curvilinear nature of knits and cables that really made this apparent to me.”
Did you have a favorite fabric or color that you tried to incorporate throughout?
“My favorite fabrics were the laces I used. I bought them in New York, and even though they costed me a fortune, they were exactly what I had in mind. I also really liked a knit I found in the closet at the sewing lab. It was free and had been originally used in someone’s photoshoot a few years ago.”
What was your favorite piece that you designed and why?
“I do not have a favorite piece, because when you have worked on something for that long, you either get sick of everything, or find a little bit of yourself in everything-or both.”
“My top four would be the wedding dress, lingerie, gray dress, and sheath dress. I think these four represent my design aesthetic the best.”
How long have you been working on all the items featured in your show?
“I’ve been working on my garments and show for about two years.”
How long did it take you to plan your fashion show?
“I started planning my fashion show in August 2008. I found contacts over the summer, and when I got back to school in the fall, I began finding a venue, photographer, videographer, models, a band, etc.”
Who were your models? Friends? Volunteers? How did they find out about it?
“I live with two of my models. I met the others through friends and a class fashion show I did last year. I had class with one of the others. They were all volunteers and did a great job.”
Was the show part of your grade?
“The show itself is not graded, because our IMP faculty is not required to attend the actual event.”
“Since it is a live performance, a videotape and pictures are used in the grading process, along with a list of required documents such as two papers, costing, and illustrations.”
“Our actual garments are graded by our sponsors who are professors in our department.”
Did you pay for everything?
“Yes! I was lucky enough to get both a grant and two scholarships. I received a grant from the Hutton Honors College and two scholarships from the Bill Blass Scholarship Fund.”
Overall, how would you rate the outcome of your show?
“Extremely Successful. I do not have any regrets, and I am in a state of immeasurable bliss.”
