Tim Maurer does Rachel Kaplan's makeup before an appearance on NBC4

THE CCAD 2011 Senior Fashion Show, our signature fundraising event, will take place in exactly one week. When friends, family, sponsors, and industry leaders arrive we will be dressed to thrill and lights, cameras, flowers, music, staging—all the little details that make our event a unique memorable experience—will be in place.

But, before that happens, there is a flurry of activity on campus as the finishing touches are put in place.

A personal favorite “finishing touch” for me is the addition this week of local distillery Middle West Spirits as an in-kind sponsor. They will be bringing to the event their signature vanilla cosmopolitan. The base of their cosmo is their exquisite OYO honey vanilla bean vodka—I liked it so much after tasting the cosmo, I went and bought a bottle. They will also be providing the show’s Designer ticket holders a special tasting during the VIP pre-show party. As of this posting there were still some Designer tickets left at www.ccad.edu/fashion.

As this blog goes live, the models working through their second rehearsal. Anyone who thinks it’s easy to stomp it out down a runway in a custom made garment wearing 4-inch heels, should try it sometime. Fortunately for our models (who are all CCAD students) we bring in a runway coach to get their walk into shape.

Earlier this week Jordan Jones and model Rachel Kaplan joined VP Stephanie Hightower and the always delightful Tim Maurer (of Mukha) on Gail Hogan’s Daytime Columbus, and the week before that Sung Kim and Richard Hurley were interviewed for Female Focus with Andrea Cambern–who will again be our elegant MC for the event.

Starting Monday, Lasting Impressions will begin installing the tent. There will be more rehearsals, oh, and if this wasn’t enough to get our adrenaline pumping, the opening of our 132nd Annual Student Exhibition is also Friday night (hint: if you have your fashion show tickets consider coming early so you can check out the exhibition—you’ll be glad you did). And, the next day there will be an event that for 233 individuals is THE most important–graduation day.

Get more info online about the fashion show event, the 132nd Annual Student Exhibition, and parking for that night—don’t worry thanks to our friendly neighbors we have plenty of free parking for everyone.

Jordan Jones

Jordan Jones is not afraid of a challenge.

“Challenges are good,” he notes, “because you learn by doing. Hard work pays off.”

He certainly didn’t back down from a challenge when he chose to do two couture gowns inspired by the iconic Givenchy.

Givenchy is perhaps best known for creating many of the designs worn by Audrey Hepburn in her movies—including Sabrina and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. He was also patronized by other high-profile clients, including Grace Kelly and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis—women well known for having impeccable taste in fashion.

“Fashion isn’t just about creating clothes, but creating a look, a style, and telling a story,” says Jordan, who particularly appreciates couture and the idea of creating a one-of-a-kind look for one person. “Couture deals with a lot of hands-on sewing. It takes a lot of time for just one garment to be made. To me fashion is all about individuality and couture is just that.”

While Jordan’s collection references the clean lines and sheer elegance one associates with his Masters of Design muse, there are edgier touches that are all his.

Jordan hand painted & layered silk organza and charmeuse

One gown, which very subtly references the gown made famous by Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina, features layers of hand-painted fabric. Jordan used multiple layers of silk organza and charmeuse, which are difficult to sew but take paint better than synthetic fabrics. Jordan’s vision uses the layering of the delicate fabric and surface design to give an almost 3D painterly effect to the gown.

“Fashion,” he notes, “gives the creative drive to be expressive in a way that can be worn.”

While Jordan has certainly brought creativity and drive to his designs, he has embraced every aspect of fashion design both technical and imaginative. He notes patternmaking as a skill that was a particularly challenging accomplishment, and one that has served him well. Jordon is currently working as in intern at Abercrombie & Fitch, where he is getting more hands-on experience in technical design.

Jordan came to CCAD ready to study fashion.

“It’s not that I wanted to study fashion,” Jordan explains. “I had to study fashion.”

This Givenchy gown was worn by Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina

He was attracted to CCAD’s reputation, but he also was inspired when he came to visit the college and heard alumna Nancy Binger (CCAD 1986) speak. As she describe the work she was doing (at the time with Limited Brands) he realized it was possible to find work in the fashion industry.

Though he admits that he knew little, as a freshman, about the work that goes into creating a collection; he has been a very willing student. He credits his instructors, in particular Richard Hurley, for being such a huge part of his learning experience. Jordan also looked at every critique (whether from peers, instructors, or the jury panel for the show) as an opportunity to learn.

And the final result? Well, that can be seen on May 13 when his gowns come down the runway.

There is still time to get tickets to see Jordan’s collection along with 24 of his classmates, but they are selling out, buy online now at www.ccad.edu/fashion.