Student designs hit IU runway

Students from the apparel merchandising program and the fashion design program teamed up Wednesday to show their peers what they have been doing for the past year. Students presented their creations at the annual Apparel Merchandising Organization banquet and fashion show. The show was host to 14 fashion design students and several looks put together by the students in the apparel merchandising program. An eager audience attended, waiting to see one of the best fashion shows put on this year. \nSophomore Lindsay Cannon said she could not take her eyes \noff the runway.\n"I thought it was pretty cool," she said. \nThe organizers of the show transformed the Indiana Memorial Union Almuni Hall into a chic fashion event. The program included a dinner, an award ceremony and a raffle. \n"I think it was a very realistic fashion show," said senior fashion design major Sheri Staff. \nThe fashion show took place on a lit up runway. The models strutted to techno music, while a huge screen displayed colorful designs in the background. \nSenior fashion design major Heidi Schaller, whose designs appeared in the show, said she was impressed with the turnout.\n"It's bigger and better than last year," she said.\nThe models wore outfits from Urban Outfitters, Pitaya, The Buckle, JR Stallsmith & Co, Jim's Formal Wear, and Nedra's Formal & Bridal. Along with formal tuxedos and dresses, the models also wore beachwear. \nThe theme for the male styles primarily mirrored a California surfer boy's style. Long trunks with tropical prints hit the runway. Denim pieces paired with zip-up jackets and tees also figured in the show. For the men, blue was the main color, with outfits ranging from a Puma jacket with relaxed jeans to light and dark blue striped shorts with a light blue top. Male corsets were also included in the show, paired with snug fitting leather pants. \nWomen's fashions used pink as a base color, but bright colors made up the color scheme. The clothes were bright and funky. The outfits included white chinos paired with a white tank shirt and a black and white ruffled tie and black suspenders. Models also wore low slung flared jeans with brightly colored bikini tops. A '50s style striped A-line skirt with cascading ruffles in back and a tight black top made up one of the most memorable looks. \nThe Costume Construction Technology students showed off their tutus at the fashion show. The students met the challenge of making tutus for specific ballets. One student presented an orange, yellow and burgundy-striped corset with a burgundy tutu, made for "Don Quijote." "La Bayadere" inspired a dominatrix tutu, made with a black leather corset and a bright red tutu with leather pieces on top and chains hanging from it. \nShannon Bracy, a sophomore, said she was impressed by the tutu parade.\n"I thought it was good," she said. "The tutus were my favorite (part)." \nThe show ended with a formal scene with the women wearing formal dresses and men wearing modern tuxedos in shades of gray and black. The outfits were picked out by apparel merchandising students or designed by CCT and fashion design students. Just as at the end of a professional designer's show, the models stood on the runway applauding the coordinators as they took their bows. \n"The show was exactly as I imagined," Staff said at the end of the show.