Hundreds gathered Friday, May 11 to be part of the 14th annual Eloise Student Fashion Show. Guests were privy to a highly-produced, New York-style runway show at Liberty Hall at The Factory at Franklin that included individual collections from 25 student designers. 

Jennifer Evans’ was given the 2012 Distinguished Designer award for “Urbanization,” a collection inspired by humans’ impact on

Jennifer Evans’ “Urbanization”

the environment. The student designer chose both social and environmental implications and translated them into each of her looks.

Jennifer’s runway pieces became gradually more detailed and striking, culminating in a dramatic couture gown that was a juxtaposition of refinement and grunge: the dress contained intricately sequined features, but Jennifer also took a specialized blowtorch to the bottom of her finale piece, an organza fabric dress. To complete her collection look, each Reflection Agency model wore an elaborate head piece that hid parts of their faces.

The Distinguished Designer award included a top-of-the-line sewing machine from SVP Worldwide and a cash stipend.  Congratulations, Jennifer!

Anastasia Morozova was chosen for the 2012 Designer Look Book award for “Moments,” a collection that combined different textures

Anastasia Morozova’s “Moments”

and tones to express various womanly traits. The designer was inspired by a sculpture of a lady in Moldova, her native country.
Anastasia used soft, elegant silhouettes for pieces that represented feminine qualities. To express the gender’s strength and independence, she concentrated on the cuts of the garments and employed heavy materials like chain mail. Her collection culminated in a grey finale gown (pictured here) that included leather appliqués and a dramatic neckpiece.
The Designer Look Book award included a designer look book produced by and featuring models from the Reflection Model and Talent Agency. Congratulations, Anastasia!

Eloise Award

The audience chose Krista Allison to win the Eloise award. Her “Sea Legs” collection was conceived during a recent trip to Seaside, Fla., and each of her nautical-inspired pieces mixed whimsical elements

Krista Allison’s “Sealegs”

with practical touches. The collection was one of comfort and ease, and included both children’s and women’s clothing.

Krista’s collection used cotton and knit fabrics to construct a collection of polka dots, stripes and pocket details. Special attention was paid to the pieces’ construction, creating an expertly-crafted collection that exhibited incredible sewing skills.

Last year, the Eloise award was introduced to O’More Design Week. The people’s choice honor allowed sponsors and guests to text or tweet unique codes for their favorite designers at the show. The award included a PGM dress form. Congratulations, Krista!

The Design Achievement award was given to Kat Seaton for “Mrs.

Kat Seaton’s “Mrs. Robinson”

Robinson,” a collection inspired by a 1950s housewife. Her pieces accentuated the female body through purposeful silhouettes.

Kat’s collection was saturated with bold color palettes.

Each of her pieces was carefully constructed and showed incredible attention paid to detail. The collection was congruent throughout and presented garments that many fashion-forward ladies would be delighted to wear.

Friends, family, patrons of the arts and industry professionals gathered Wednesday, May 9,to view the crowning accomplishments of Interior Design, Visual Communications, and Fine Arts graduating students.

The displays exhibited the creative and technical talents of O’More’s seniors across the departmental spectrums. Guests mixed and mingled with students and faculty, discussing the seniors’ capstone projects over wine and hors d’oeuvres.

“Design in ReVue” also served as a reception to announce the College’s 2012 scholarship winners in the interior design and visual communications departments.

Student who received a departmental scholarship were recognized for the excellent craftsmanship exhibited throughout the year.

Interior Design Scholarship Winners

Jessica Langdon

Studio I - Leslie Volz

Studio II – Toni Crowder

Studio III – Sarah Moffett

Studio IV – Ellen Hale

Studio V – Lauren Bennett

Early Impression award – Kat Avila

Sketchbook award – Kimberly Kelly

Senior Award – Jessica Langdon

Read about interior design’s graduating seniors and their capstone projects here.

Visual Communications Scholarship Winners

Jaana Huusko

Helvetica award – Lloyd Norman

Garamond award – Stephanie Reith

Gill Sans award – Sarah Keaggy

Gill Sans award – Courtney Allen

Senior Presentation award – Jaana Huusko

Each of the graduating seniors are award-winning designers. To view their work and individual portfolio sites, go here.

14th annual Eloise Student Fashion Show

14th annual Eloise Student Fashion Show

Emily Mae Anderson’s “I Got Life” mixes the ’60s fashion era with contemporary aesthetics to produce a collection of costume pieces.

The garments that will be seen in the 14th annualEloise Student Fashion Show were all inspired by the Broadway-American tribal, love-rock musical HAIR. The production is about a group of young people that are the New York contingent of flower children, living in an era that Emily says she has always connected with.

Local Artists, Crafters, Farmers, Musicians & Others Invited to Participate; Next Event May 19

Pick up the scissors or grab the guitar!  A group of locally owned Spring Hill businesses is hosting its second “Saturdays at The Commons,” a small-scale vendor fair on Saturday, May 19. Organizers are inviting local artists, crafters, farmers and musicians to set up at this once-a-month event at The Commons at Spring Hill, a development anchored by Early’s Honey Stand. The Commons is located at 5075 Main Street in Spring Hill, and the event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

To become a vendor, organizers are asking that all products sold are “homemade or homegrown” to promote the community aspect of the event. Curtis Gibbs, president of Early’s Honey Stand, said the group decided to start the free community gathering after noticing Spring Hill craftspeople and artisans had limited resources to display work.

“Because this is all about the community, we’re asking that local vendors make it, bake it, or grow it,” Gibbs said. “We’d like this to form this Saturday event into the perfect family outing.”

April’s event included a country music artist, a parked classic car and several vendors. Gibbs said he believes the May event will include everything from local produce and plants to handcrafted jewelry and woodworking. There will also be live music, free sausage samplings from Early’s Honey Stand and retail and restaurant options at The Commons.

Entrance to the gathering will be free to the public.

The Commons merchants include Addison’s Attics, The Cigar Station, Amelia’s Bakery, Jack of Hearts BBQ, the Polka Dotz personalized gift store, Exit Realty and All That Dance, along with the world-famous Early’s Honey Stand retail location.

“We feel like our merchants represent a slice of Americana,” Gibbs said. “With this event, we plan to build on that with the talent of Spring Hill artisans and better connect with our greater community.”

This will be the second Saturdays at The Commons event.  The Commons’ expansive grounds encompass five acres, including large grassy areas, flat surface lots and plenty of parking alongside a scenic lake.  Spots for Saturdays at The Commons are limited and open on a first-come, first-served basis. The group will reserve the right to jury vendors if their merchandise does not align with the event’s community setting.

Entrance for the public is free. To cover traffic control and other incidentals, the vendor fee for a 10’ x 10’ space each Saturday is $10. Vendors are responsible for their own tables, chairs and power. That fee may be waived for non-profits, school groups and others working to assist the community.

Saturdays at The Commons is still accepting applications. To apply, email SaturdaysAtTheCommons@gmail.com or visit www.TheCommonsAtSpringHill.com.

If O’More students and/or faculty are interested in selling your merchandise, please contact Lexi Nash at lnash@omorecollege.edu or email them at SaturdaysAtTheCommons@gmail.com. An application is here. For more information, go here.

14th Annual Eloise Student Fashion Show
Jennifer Evans’s collection “Urbanization” was inspired by humans’ impact on the environment. She chose both social and environmental implications and translated them into each of her looks. The designer says the artificial footprint on the ecosystem has always been compelling for her, and she has incorporated both destructive and beautiful aspects in the collection.

Her runway pieces gradually become more detailed and striking, culminating in a dramatic couture gown that is a juxtaposition of refinement and grunge: there are intricately sequined features, but the designer also took a specialized blowtorch to the bottom of her finale piece, and organza fabric dress.

Jennifer is from Paris, Tennessee. After graduation, she hopes to work under a well-seasoned fashion industry expert who participates in couture shows. She hopes to eventually become a designer herself, one who creates thoughtful clothing that can be viewed as works of art. To learn more about Jennifer and the 14th Annual Eloise Student Fashion Show, go here.

14th Annual Eloise Student Fashion Show
George Bray modeled her “Crystal Flowers” collection after Modernist painter and poet Florine Stettheimer.

There are 10 looks hitting the runway in her collection, and each reflects a certain painting by the artist. It is ’20s inspired and dominated by sheer materials, exquisite beading, hand-painted silk and incredible detail. The student designer says each look took her nearly 20 hours to construct. George has hand-made hats for each of them and handpainted every pair of shoes to complete the collection.

George became fascinated with Stettheimer after reading a biography and discovering several similarities between the painter and herself. Many of Stettheimer’s paintings are portraits of family and friends, and George’s designs often hold a nostalgic component.

George–whose parents are third generation dry cleaner owners–has been sewing since an early age. In 2009, the student designer began selling vintage clothing. She hopes to expand the online business in order to fund her desire to create avant-garde collections.

This is the Nashville native’s third Eloise Student Fashion Show. After graduation, George will expand her online vintage clothing business. To read more about George and the 14th annual Eloise Student Fashion Show, go here.

Popular broadcast personality Cody Alan and television host/model/actress Alecia Davis will be the masters of ceremonies for the 14th Annual Eloise Student Fashion Show this Friday, May 11 at The Factory at Franklin.

CMT Radio Live with Cody Alan originates from Nashville and is CMT’s ultimate radio show, broadcasted on radio stations across America. Alan can also be seen on CMT’s Hot Headlines, updating viewers with the latest on weekday mornings. On the weekends, catch Alan hosting #1 Music and a Movie with co-host Alecia Davis. He is a regular columnist in Country Weekly magazine, has hosted CMT’s CMA Awards Special and was recently the official voice of the CMT Music Awards.

You can currently see Alecia on CMT’s #1 Music and a Movie and ReelChannelz’s Fashion Fanatics. You’ve watched her interviewing Hollywood’s biggest stars on the red carpet at the Grammys, Golden Globes, CMAs and other major awards ceremonies, and on EXTRA, E! News Live and TLC’s For Better or For Worse.

14th Annual Eloise Student Fashion Show
Hannah Scantlen’s collection “The Caring Curse” was inspired by her internal battle between expressing her “rock ‘n roll” personality and living out her faith.

Her collection takes fabrics with a tainted association–like PVS–and reclaims them as fashionable fabrics. The black, white and red collection produces strong integration between each of the ten looks and culminates in a floor-length, feathered gown that is both feminine and edgy.

The collection is dramatic throughout, and Hannah says she believes many of her garments could be seen on the red carpet on Lady Gaga or Katy Perry.

Hannah is from Milford, Indiana. After graduation, she will move to Brooklyn to work for a seamstress in the Big Apple. She hopes to eventually become a designer herself, one who creates couture and costume designs. To learn more about Hannah and the Eloise Student Fashion Show, go here.

14th Annual Eloise Student Fashion Show
Krista Allison’s “Sea Legs” collection was conceived during a recent trip to Seaside, Fla. Each of her nautical-inspired pieces mixes whimsical elements with practical touches to produce a collection of comfort and ease.

She says she took a cue from the initial patterns she picked, using cotton and knit fabrics to construct a collection dominated by different styles of polka dots and stripes.  Each piece in her collection is meant to be mixed-and-matched with the rest of the garments.

Krista is sending ten looks down the runway, including five children’s outfits. She paid special attention to the collection’s construction, creating expertly-crafted pieces that show incredible sewing skills.

This is the Franklin native’s second Eloise Student Fashion Show. After graduation, Krista will continue selling hair accessories in salons and boutiques in Middle Tennessee. She will also pursue a career in independent design. To read more about Krista and her collection, go here.