Graduation Is Exercise in the Outrageous

Madonna’s style still crops up everywhere, even at the Otis/Parsons fashion students’ graduation night last Saturday, known as the school’s Critics Award fashion show.

L.A. designer Patti Cappalli, who taught a course there this semester, assigned her students to dress the recording artist of their choice for an imaginary appearance at the Grammy Awards.

One student created a beaded garter belt and a sexy red blouse for Madonna (it was modeled by a lip-syncing look-alike). But the award went to a Janis Joplin look, re-created in tie-dyed chiffon by senior Jennifer Baca.

The slick, annual presentation--the Otis Art Institute of Parsons School of Design’s major fund-raiser--highlights work by juniors and seniors. This year, the school also presented a Design Achievement Award to Nike.

Each year the event includes a black-tie, dress-to-the-teeth dinner party. This time, chairwoman Elaine Goldsmith enjoyed watching people’s faces when she told them that student Duncan McKenzie designed her red evening pajamas.

Indeed, even in these lean times, fashion design department chairwoman Rosemary Brantley predicted that the graduating seniors will all find work.

“To me, Otis/Parsons is the best school of the design in the U.S.,” said the evening’s honorary chairman, Guess? founder Georges Marciano. He said he makes it a practice to hire graduates: “In the last two months, I think I hired four or five.”

During the school year, established designers work with students to push them in new directions, from lingerie to period costumes. Then each design teacher announces a winner in his category during the year-end show.

The fashions can be outrageous and fun. One student’s solution to the task of designing amusing men’s sleepwear was a bathrobe of Astroturf.

In contrast, the evening gowns designed by winner Dorene Williams, under the direction of New York-based designer Albert Capraro, were luscious in the Audrey Hepburn-Givenchy spirit.

Other standouts were the young men’s ethnic activewear by winners Christine Tabora and Laura Romph, awarded by Suzi Chavel for Ocean Pacific; and Avi Wildenberg’s men’s sportswear, singled out by George Machado for Zylos. Aaron Paule of West Hollywood was named Student Designer of the Year.

Other winners were Susan Matheson for her futuristic warm-up suits (Kristen Conroy for Nike Award); Dan Carter’s humorous red men’s sleepwear (Nicholas Graham for Joe Boxer Award); Joseph Walker’s luxurious peignoir (Diane Samandi for Jonquil Award); Marianne Dizon’s tartan junior sportswear (Sobriquet Noriega for West 27th Award); Ramiro Koeiman’s and Dee Ann Lerma’s swimsuits (Gary Nickerson for La Blanca Swimwear Award); Tiffin Dove’s ‘60s A-line dresses and daisy appliques (Roberto Robledo Award); Erich Archuleta’s and Jane Engelman’s fall/winter men’s sportswear (Roger Forsythe for Perry Ellis Award); Julia Sung’s women’s sportswear (Christine Albers Award); Vanessa Wiley’s ‘30s period costumes (Shelley Komarov Award), and Connie Kalupa’s dressy suits and ensembles (David Hayes Award).

Janina Barajas’ swimwear was awarded a prize from Mizuno of Japan. Robin Bolin’s menswear was cited by the Men’s Apparel Guild in California. And the National Assn. of Men’s Wear Buyers Foundation Award went to Avi Wildenberg and Zoe Gerstman.