Thanks to our title sponsor Limited Brands Foundation

7 p.m.

This is my third year live blogging from our fashion event, and each year I have paused, just before the party starts, to give thanks.

This year I want to get straight to the point—to naming names, as it were.

CCAD is honored and grateful to have such wonderful partners. Each year we go out and ask organizations and individuals to support this event and help us raise money for scholarships. Each year we are humbled by the response.

Below are our 2013 partners. These are individuals and companies that not only support CCAD, but they show a real commitment to making the Columbus community a better place.

Title Sponsor: Limited Brands Foundation

Runway Sponsor: EXPRESS

VIP Cocktail Reception Sponsors: Nationwide and Justice & Brothers

Easton Fashion Award Sponsor: Easton Town Center

Fashion Lookbook Sponsor: Abercrombie & Fitch

Couture Sponsors:  Diamond Cellar, Huntington Bank, Lane Bryant, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Polaris Fashion Place, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP,  R.G. Barry/Dearfoams, and THE LIMITED

Host Committee, chaired by Peg Mativi & Donald Dick: Dana & Mitch Acock, Jakki & Jerry Allen, Pam & Jack Beeler, Teresa & Brian Biernat, Kimberly A. Blackwell, W. Daniel Cordray, Loann W. Crane, Bev & Bob Darwin, Steve & Lynnda Maria Davis, Diane & Andrew Dunn, Phaedra & Michael Edwards, Karen & Michael Fiorile, Erica & Micky Fullen, Nedra Patison Hadley & Alissa Hadley Hines, Fran Horowitz & Michael Bonadies, Alexis Jacobs, Andrew Johnson, Patty & Jerry Jurgensen, Stephanie & Adam Lewin, Tim Maurer & Sanito Mendoza, Jamie & Bill Reinbolt, Arlene & Michael Weiss, and Lyn Williams

Creative Direction: Ologie

Media Sponsors: CD102.5 and Capital Style

In-Kind Sponsors: Baesman Group, Cameron Mitchell Catering, Details and Florabunda Designs Inc., Heidelberg Distributing Company, Lasting Impressions Event Rental, Live! Technologies, LLC, Mukha Custom Cosmetics, Mumm Napa, and Nick Fancher

In-Kind Supporters: Jolie Laide, Middle West Spirits, Pepsi Cola Bottling of Columbus, and Rainer/S77

Check out the 2012 show!

The fashion show tickets are here!

The fashion show tickets are here!

Ok, I got that out of my system (and I swear I wasn’t just jumping around my office shouting that. Really). But seriously, tickets are now on sale for CCAD’s May 10 fashion EVENT. That’s right, I said event, because it is so much more than a show (haven’t been? Check out the video).

The three most important things you need to know right-this-second are:

1. We are once again offering a special advance-purchase price. Buy now, and not only do you save a few bucks but you ensure that you actually get a ticket—we keep selling out and we’ve run out of places to add seats (believe me we’ve tried).
2. Limited Brands Foundation has once again stepped up as our title sponsor. This generous sponsorship is further evidence of the foundation’s commitment to and investment in our creative community.
3. This event raises funds for scholarships—every attendee and sponsor is investing in a CCAD student’s education while having an amazing night on our campus.

Each year we strive to top the year before. This year we have a larger senior class. With so much talent to tap into we are planning to extend the show; however, with so many designers, each allowed to present for consideration up to six garments, there is going to be even more fierce competition to impress the jury and get those looks on the runway.

We’ve brought back fashion blogger Kristen Foley, and she recently shared another exciting twist to this year’s runway show.  Each designer will be truly presenting their own collection. That is, there is no overarching theme. The work we see this year will be a pure reflection of the designer’s inspiration. Soon, Kristen will be sitting down with each designer so we can learn a little bit more about what they have planned for this May.

Each year we are thrilled and humbled by the support we get from our business partners through sponsorships. Their generosity ensures we produce a great event and still raise those critical scholarship dollars.

If you happen to be checking out this post after the publish date there is a very good chance more partners have joined us, so please take a second to visit the event page for a full list of supporters—and show that you appreciate their support of local causes, by supporting them.

Without further ado, a big thanks to: Runway Sponsor, EXPRESS;  Fashion Lookbook Sponsor, Abercrombie & Fitch; Easton Fashion Award Sponsor, Easton Town Center;  VIP Cocktail Reception Sponsors, Nationwide & Justice; Couture Sponsors, Diamond Cellar, Huntington Bank, Lane Bryant, Macy’s, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, RG Barry/Dearfoams, and THE LIMITED; In-Kind Sponsors, Cameron Mitchell Catering, Heidelberg Distributing Company, Live! Technologies, LLC, Mukha Custom Cosmetics, Mumm Napa, and Ologie; In-Kind Supporters, Middle West Spirits; and Media Sponsor, CD102.5.

While you are heading to our event page to get your tickets, also be sure to check out our ever-growing host committee chaired by the fabulous Peg Mativi and Donald Dick.

Ippolita discusses career paths with CCAD students

CCAD welcomed jewelry designer Ippolita to campus this week. The Italian designer, whose designs are represented by Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, local Diamond Cellars, and her own Madison Avenue shop, gave a special presentation on her career path to students, followed by a visit to a jewelry making class where she critiques student work.

During her presentation Ippolita discussed the career path that led to her having her own jewelry line, and noted that she considers not only raw talent, but luck as equal in a designer’s path.

“It may be daunting sitting in here and thinking you won’t find a job at your dream place, but those businesses that you want jobs at are all currently looking for you,” Ippolita told the students in her presentation. “They are looking for raw talent and innovative minds.”

Over the past decade Ippolita has become a force in fine jewelry. She was born and raised in Tuscany and after earning a degree in sculpture from the renowned Istituto D’Arte in Florence, she went to New York to pursue opportunities in her craft.

She told the students her career did not immediately start at designing fine jewelry, but rather ranged from working in ad agencies and designing jewelry for other stores until the right opportunity and venture came up. Her current jewelry line is inspired by her love of organic shape and form and every one of her pieces is made by hand.

Ippolita’s visit to CCAD was arranged by the Diamond Cellar, a business that has partnered with CCAD often to bring nationally renown jewelry designers to campus and has supported CCAD’s annual Senior Fashion Show event.

A packed crowd.

7:30 p.m.

One of the many things I love about this event is the spectacular people watching it affords. The nature of our event—cocktails, runway show, dancing—is such that our guests are encouraged to have fun with their fashion choices.

There are no rules.

Jeans are fine. (I’ve seen people here make jeans look like high fashion.)

Wanna rock your club wear? Bring it.

Look sassy in a cocktail dress or feeling like full-length couture? Go for it.

Jewelry your thing? Make it shine.

As a spectator, I get to take it all in. The crowd, for me, is as much of a fashion show as what happens on the catwalk.

Don’t worry dear readers, there will be plenty of pictures. This year we set up a photo station thanks to our title sponsor Limitedbrands Foundation to ensure we capture our fashionista guests on their way in to the VIP cocktail reception, which is courtesy of Nationwide. (Let’s face it, the lighting that’s great for a cocktail party is not so great for fashion photos.)

Mayor Michael Coleman and Janelle Simmons.

Guests are starting to arrive and already I am wowed—this year will not disappoint. One shoulder dresses seem to be a favorite pick of some of the ladies. Lot’s of light shimmering fabrics, an ode to the coming summer I suspect. One dress has a harem pant affect at the bottom, it’s subtle and lovely. Sequins are shining and there are even a few gentleman sporting bow ties for the evening. Wait, is that a blue tuxedo jacket I see? That rocks.

The atmosphere here is oddly both charged and relaxed. People are clustered together in groups talking and laughing while sipping their drinks—it’s like they’ve taken a big collective breath after a long week and now they are ready to let loose and have fun.

Lots of local celebs and media are joining the crowd of VIPs. A few high-profile lawyers gather in one corner, perhaps recapping today’s courtroom antics, while competing newscasters trade a few stories and perhaps fashion tips in another. It’s an elite crowd but inviting just the same.

Ok, I have to pause here and pay homage to a stunning cobalt blue dress complimented by big chunkie gold bangles.

As a little preview to the show, there are garments from the designers on mannequins throughout the party space. The Diamond Cellar is also here and once again they are raffling off a piece of exquisite jewelry (the winner will be announced next week). Helping them out is Fine Arts junior Carson Weaver, who was the winner of this year’s Diamond Cellar design contest.

This group certainly appreciates well designed accessories, one woman has a fabulous multitude of black and white beads streaming around her neck.

While lots of ladies, both young and young-at-heart seemed to opt to pull out the pearls and they look stunning.

Wow. Time went fast. They are already urging guests into the tent for the runway show.

I guess I better pack up and get over there.

Click on an image to view a gallery and view them larger.

Back stage chaos.

7 p.m.

It is the calm before the storm.

Well, if you don’t include the backstage area where the storm has already struck in the form of whirling dervish hair dressers, make-up artists, models, and frantic senior designers who are about to see their garments shoot down the runway.

The registration tables are armed and ready for the 800 + guests who will soon come to join us to celebrate another year of amazing art and design—and of course a spectacular runway show.

Thanks to Limitedbrands Foundation, who once again stepped up to be the event’s title sponsor, we truly can celebrate knowing we have raised significant dollars to support the scholarships that help make the dream of a college education a reality.

The VIP pre-show party, sponsored by Nationwide, is set up and ready. The caterers are standing by to share delightful tidbits of nosh that look almost too good to eat. (Almost. There really should be a special bloggers snack plate, don’t ya think?) The bartenders are stocked and ready to pour.

The bartenders are well stocked.

Of course, those bartenders will be extra busy later when all of our guests head back towards our mixologist after the runway show to enjoy a drink and some dancing thanks to our Après Runway Sponsors Capital Style Magazine and Justice. But before the post-show party, there will be one hella-good show as one-of-a-kind fashion struts down the runway, which comes to us thanks to EXPRESS; and, at some point in the proceedings, Easton Town Center will honor one of the fashion students with the inaugural Easton Fashion Award.

But, for now, things are calm. Surrounding the runway are neat rows of seats, each topped with a lookbook, sponsored by Abercrombie & Fitch, and gift provided by Mukha Custom Cosmetics. Soon those seats will be filled by VIP ticket holders.

Sponsors, of course, are crucial to a fundraising event and I really do need to take a moment and be sure we thank every generous business and individual who has helped us build this experience.

Our Couture sponsors are Diamond Cellar, Huntington Bank, Lane Bryant, THE LIMITED, Macy’s, NORDSTROM, Polaris Fashion Place, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, and R.G. Barry/Dearfoams.

Our printing sponsor is Baesman and the General Admission Pre-Party sponsor is Union Café.

This year’s host committee co-chairs are Karen & Michael Fiorile and Ellen & Ed Yen

And our 2012 host committee is: Dana & Mitch Acock, Jakki & Jerry Allen, Jamie & Steve Allen, Trudy & Earl Bartley, Pam & Jack Beeler, Teresa & Brian Biernat, Kimberly A. Blackwell, W. Daniel Cordray, Mary & Colby Crall, Loann W. Crane, Bev Darwin, Phaedra & Michael Edwards, DeeDee & Herb Glimcher, Alexis Jacobs, Patty & Jerry Jurgensen, Charlotte & Jack Kessler, Monica & Doug Kridler, Stephanie & Adam Lewin, Peg Mativi & Donald Dick, Tim Maurer & Sanito Mendoza, Veda Nami, Jamie & Bill Reinbolt, Jody & Jeff Scheiman, Thekla Shackelford, Danielle & George Skestos, Jacqueline & Chris Snell, Arlene & Michael Weiss, and Lyn Williams.

Thank you!

Every aspect of our event is touched by community generosity via in-kind donations for everything from the catering via Cameron Mitchell Catering and the adult beverages from Heidelberg Distributing Company, Mumm Napa, and Middle West Spirits, who designed the event’s signature cocktail ARTini.

Backstage where the pre-show chaos reigns, Mukha Custom Cosmetics is once again making sure our models look fierce on the runway—and they are getting hair support from Studio Fovero.

There are behind the scenes elements (lights, video, sound) that usually go unnoticed other than the feeling the crowd gets when they witness a wonderfully staged event—much of the credit for that goes to Live! Technologies—although the thumping beats that get us from party to runway to party again come via our illustrious DJ Rainer. Oh, and speaking of the post-show party, VJ props go to Rainer and  S77.

And the exquisite lookbook that I mentioned before, well Ologie was a key player in mentoring its production along with the invite and branding for the show.

Flowers, chairs, tables and other event accessories come to us thanks to Lasting Impressions and FLOURISH bespoke floral & event styling.

Yum.

An event isn’t an EVENT, unless we sell tickets. That’s where our our media sponsors Capital Style Magazine and CD101 come in. They have spent the better part of the year helping us get the word out and sell tickets. Did you see our students in the May issue of Capital Style? If not, pick up a copy.

Oh, and despite rumors to the contrary, models need to eat—at least our student models do. Thanks to Donatos and Pepsi Cola Bottling of Columbus for keeping our students fed and hydrated during some long rehearsal hours. Also, walking in those heels…not as easy as it looks. Thanks to Foot Petals, inc for providing shoe inserts.

Big thanks and hearty applause to everyone who helped make this night happen.

Guests are arriving and I hear champagne popping, I wonder if I can sneak a canapé?

Weaver's final design for the ring

Junior Fine Arts major Carson Weaver was recently announced as the winner of the Diamond Cellar’s Jewelry Design Contest. Weaver will be given $1,000 to assist in creating the ring she designed and also the opportunity to offer her piece for sale at the Diamond Cellar’s 2012 Designer’s Gala in December.

This is the second year for the competition, which was created as a result of a longstanding relationship between CCAD and the Diamond Cellar.

Thirteen students from instructor Kelly Nye’s jewelry design course submitted ring designs to be judged by Diamond Cellar staff as well as internationally known jewelry designers Michael Bondanza, Steven Lagos, Charles Krypell and Christopher Slowinski.

Weaver discussing her ring with Hill

Before sending their designs off to the judges, students were able to consult with Christine Cooper Hill (CCAD 1987) during a class visit. Hill has been designing and handcrafting fine jewelry for more than 22 years and has had her own business, Christine Cooper Hill Jewelry/Cooper Hill Studio since 2007.

Hill looked over the student’s ring designs, offering advice on marketability, stone use, costs, and overall appeal.

Weaver’s ring will be fabricated using a wax casting process. The setting of the ring will be made of platinum, and the design includes Tahitian pearls and two single-cut round melee diamonds.

The Diamond Cellar will display Weaver’s final drawings at the 2012 CCAD Senior Fashion Show. They will also display work by the judges and Hill.

Diamond Cellar is one of several community clients that CCAD has recently provided significant creative services for, including Scott’s Miracle-Gro, Central Ohio Transit Authority, the Ohio Governor’s office, and Nationwide Insurance.

Click to view video

I feel like I need a bullhorn—something really dramatic to announce that our fashion show tickets are now available for purchase.

If you’ve attended the fashion show in the past you know three important things about this event:

1. It’s awesome
2.  It’s a fundraiser that supports scholarships for the next generation of creative professionals.
3. It sells out—every year.

Sure you may be thinking:  “No rush. The event isn’t until May. I have plenty of time.” If the possibility of being left out isn’t incentive enough to purchase your ticket today, how about a special offer? Right now there is an advance-purchase opportunity—that is, buy now because the ticket prices will increase on March 15.

OK, now that we’ve talked tickets, I want to take a moment to talk about one more very important thing: Sponsors.

Sponsors make this event spectacular. Without their support there is no event. Their generosity ensures that we raise funds for scholarships. Now more than ever, scholarships are the great equalizer. They ensure that talented students can get the education they need to enter the creative economy.

In particular I want to thank our title sponsor the Limitedbrands Foundation. They have been generous supporters of this event for many years. Their philanthropy is an investment in CCAD. Scholarships lead to education, education develops a creative, competitive workforce.

In addition, big thanks to: Runway Sponsor, EXPRESS;  Fashion Lookbook Sponsor, Abercrombie & Fitch; Easton Fashion Award Sponsor, Easton Town Center;  VIP Cocktail Reception Sponsor, Nationwide; Après-Runway Dance Party Sponsors, alive! & Justice; Couture Sponsors, Diamond Cellar, Huntington Bank, Lane Bryant, Macy’s, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, & RG Barry/Dearfoams; Printing Sponsor, baseman; In-Kind Sponsors, Cameron Mitchell Catering, Heidelberg Distributing Company, Live!, Mukha Custom Cosmetics, & Ologie; In-Kind Supporters, Lasting Impressions, Pepsi Cola Bottling of Columbus, & Studio Fovero; In-Kind Friends, Donatos, Foot Petals, Inc., & Middle West Spirits; and Media Sponsors, Capital Style & CD101.

As you head over to the Fashion Show Event page please take a moment to note the sponsors listed there and our fabulous host committee co-chaired by Karen & Michael Fiorile and Ellen & Ed Yen.

Finally, on a side note, this is my third year blogging about the fashion show; and I am excited to announce a change—I will not be blogging alone. Another writer will be joining me (you’ll meet her later). It will be awesome to bring a new voice to the blog, but I’ll admit—it’s a little bittersweet. This gig is so fun that it’s hard to share even one interview or story.

There’s a lot coming up in the following months. There will be a photo shoot for the lookbook, a team of fashion professionals will come to review the designer’s collection and jury the final garments for the show, and we’ll introduce you to each of the designers.

OK, go get your tickets now.

What a great party!

7 p.m.

I’m stashed away in my corner, the perfect spot for watching the VIPs as they arrive for the pre-show party sponsored by Justice and Nationwide.

I cannot believe the transformation this space has undergone—from raw garage to hip club, all in a few days. (Check out the pre-show album on our Facebook page to see the  week-long progression.)

Ok, so, I confess I am fighting the urge to run up to people and ask “who” they are wearing, and I am having some serious fashion envy. The DJs later this evening (our new friends from NYC) are Miami-chic in matching (of course) pink suites. Later they will have the perfect accessories—ipads, which they will be mixing with during the apres-runway dance party.

The VIP Pre-Show party

I’m seeing every trend imaginable. Cocktail dresses, floor length, pants with sharp fitted jackets, halters, strapless, bow ties, and full-on suites. Lots of sparkle, red, and layered short cocktail dresses. Shoes are ranging from strappy flats to four-inch stilettos. Seeing awesome jewelry, modern silver pieces and more traditional pearls. I love it.

Third looks by the designers are on mannequins throughout the party space. It’s fun to watch people stroll through and pause, taking in each one and discussing it like they were at the Louvre.

8:00 ish—Ms. Andrea Cambern up on stage trying to get this rowdy crowd’s attention with a little O-H-I-O. She’s thanking our title sponsor Limited Brands and supporting sponsor the Davis Foundation … and saying very nice things about CCAD …  and introducing our own lovable president, one Mr. Denny Griffith—and he just announced he’s going off script. But as usual even when he wings it he gets it done.

Denny just made a great point—funds raised by this event go to the CCAD general scholarship fund. Let me elaborate: Scholarships can be the deciding factor on whether a student can come to CCAD. I hate to pull out an old cliché, but this really is a party with a purpose. (Donations can still be made online).

Now our VP Ms. Stephanie Hightower is taking the stage. She is thanking all of our amazing sponsors and our host committee, including the chairs Danielle & George Skestos, who were the driving force behind turning this event from a brunch to a full-on nighttime PARTAY.

Now for the moment where I find out which lucky VIP I will be jealous of for the rest of the night … they are about to announce the raffle winner for the diamond earrings designed by Stephen Webster—Congrats to Dionna Baker! (No, really, I mean it).

Guests are starting to move to the tent—the show is going to start soon. I love the energy in a room right before a show starts, and with this audience that energy is electric!

(Photos are also available on our Facebook page (and don’t worry we’ll add more next week.)

Jewelry Designer Christine Cooper Hill reviews student work for Diamond Cellar competition.

Alumna Christine Cooper Hill (CCAD ’87) and Columbus-based jewelry-giant Diamond Cellar are partnering together to offer CCAD students the opportunity to have one of their designs sold by the company.

The 14 students in Kelly Malec-Kosak’s jewelry design course were given one week to sketch their designs before they were reviewed on Nov. 23 by Cooper Hill.

“Because she’s an alumna, she’s able to be critical but kind, which means the students had an easier time asking her questions,” said Malec-Kosak.

As a jewelry designer for Diamond Cellar and Christine Cooper Hill Jewelry, Cooper Hill offered advice and suggestions to the students. They now have the opportunity to make changes to their design before the final jury by Diamond Cellar’s visiting artists.

The jury will select one winning design. The student with the winning design will receive $1,000 to produce the piece, which will be promoted in the company’s stores December 2011.

Cooper Hill has been designing and handcrafting fine jewelry for more than 22 years, launching her own company  in 2007. She is a two-time award winner in The Ohio Jewelers Association Design Competition.

The Diamond Cellar is one of the largest independent jewelry stores in the United States and represents some of the world’s finest brands, including award-winning designers David Yurman and Stephen Webster.

The Diamond Cellar recently brought both Yurman and Webster to CCAD’s campus, where they offered career advice to students and critiqued their designs. Read more about Yurman’s visit in IMAGE magazine, and Webster’s on CCAD’s News Blog.

Check back with the CCAD News Blog in December to find out who won the competition.