We’ve already mentioned that Grace Bratsos, Miriam Tolentino, and Lauren Flex took the top honors in this year’s Stylesight Competition — but the competition also recognized eight more of our textile design students as emerging talents! Congratulations Tai Lin Hsieh, Adrienne Browning, Aricka Henderson, Eunjin Lim, Hallie Gray, Jisun Lee, Kimberley Szeto, and Marisela Gonzales!

Follow the jump to view their work! Read more…

Each year, our students continue to take the top honors in the Sylesight Prints and Graphics Contest – and this year is no exception! School of Fashion students Grace Bratsos, Miriam Tolentino, and Lauren Flex took the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd spots, respectively in the Spring/Summer ’13 competition. We are so proud – amazing job ladies!! Read on to learn a bit more about each of these stellar students and see their swatches!

Academy of Art University President Elisa Stephens, Design Icon Award Recipient Dakota Jackson, and School of Interior Architecture & Design Executive Director Laura Blumenfeld

Last night, the School of Interior Architecture and Design hosted their first annual Winter Show. The evening showcased student work and honored famed Interior Architect, Dakota Jackson. Jackson is known for his whimsical yet architectural designs, creating beautiful furniture that reflects true artistry and craftsmanship. Dr. Elisa Stephens presented Jackson with the School’s first Design Icon Award, for his commitment to design excellence and innovation throughout his impressive career. “Dakota Jackson’s work and unique perspective are a constant inspiration to our students as they prepare for careers in design,” said Dr. Stephens.

Executive Director of the School of Interior Architecture and Design, Laura Blumenfeld, was very excited about Jackson’s visit, saying, “This will be a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn from one of our industry’s most revered design professionals – he really is a design icon.” Jackson spoke about the history of furniture design and his career in the industry, offering inspiration to the design students and even quoting Bob Dylan. The evening was absolutely wonderful, and everyone at the Academy of Art University was truly honored to bestow the Design Icon Award upon such a talented and creative individual.

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British Style Award Winner Alexa Chung

This evening in London, Britain’s most fashionable ladies and lads descended upon the Savoy Theatre for the 2011 British Fashion Awards. The room was full of beautiful people and even more beautiful clothes, among them Marc Jacobs, Kate Hudson, Stella McCartney, Alexa Chung, Caroline Sieber and Kate Moss.

Winners for the evening included Alexa Chung, who was honored with the British Style Award, which was given based on a public vote. Stella McCartney was presented with the award for her ravishing designs on the Red Carpet by close friend Kate Hudson, who joked about the first time she wore Stella’s designs on the red carpet and was put on every worst dressed list – but just that one time! Stella recently released plans to hold a fashion show during London Fashion Week this Spring. The show will debut a limited edition collection which will be available in the designer’s retail stores and on her website. She will still be showing her Winter 2012 Collection during her usual slot at Paris Fashion Week.

The biggest winner of the evening was Sarah Burton, who was bestowed with the Designer of the Year award. It has been quite a year for the designer, who, besides designing two stunning collections, also designed Kate Middleton’s wedding dress and oversaw the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Savage Beauty Exhibition, celebrating the work of Alexander McQueen. “This feels like the icing on the cake on a really amazing year,” the designer said as she accepted her award.

Congratulations to all of the winners! Follow the jump for the complete list and photos! Read more…

Just on the heels of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards took place Sunday, September 18th at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. The major attraction was happening on the red carpet where Hollywood starlets shined in gorgeous gowns for last night’s highly anticipated awards.

The silhouette of choice was undoubtedly the body conscious dress. Embellished with sequins, plunging necklines and elegant accessories, the Hollywood Golden Girls put their own little spin on this trend and wore it well. Big winners of the evening rocking the body-con included Kate Winslet, Julie Bowen and Julianna Margulies who all took home an Emmy in their respective categories. Outstanding Lead Actress In a Comedy Series winner, Melissa McCarthy, opted for a dress of her own design {which she created with Daniela Kurrle} when she took the stage for a hilarious and heartfelt acceptance speech.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries winner, Kate Winslet in a classic red Elie Saab dress

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series winner, Julie Bowen shined in a plunging Oscar de la Renta gown and Neil Lane drop earrings

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(Photo Credit: 7×7 Magazine)

Today’s photograph is of our very own Simon Ungless, the Director of the Graduate School of Fashion. He has been named one of the seven best-dressed citizens of San Francisco by 7×7 Magazine. You can read the entire article here. Hope this gives you a little inspiration to dress your best all week long!

More stylish men after the jump! Read more…

Chris Li, (from left) Casey Evangelista and Ran Bi were presented with CFDA awards by New York Times fashion critic, Cathy Horyn. Photo credit: Randy Brooke

Three students received some special news last week when New York Times fashion critic Cathy Horyn announced the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) 2011 Scholarship Award Winners.

Horyn, a special guest at our fashion show, presented the prestigious CFDA scholarships to Chris Li, Casey Evangelista, and Ran Bi. Li was awarded a $5,000 scholarship and Bi was awarded $10,000. Evangelista scored the $10,000 CFDA Scholarship for The Clara Hancox Scholarship Award for Menswear Design.

Congratulations to all three! The awards were well-deserved.

A year ago, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Scholarship Awards were announced and four students from the Fashion School were on the list. Three of them are doing their own collections for the upcoming Graduation Fashion Show.

Peter Nguyen

Peter Loc Tan Nguyen, B.F.A. Fashion and Knitwear Design, was the first place $10,000 CFDA Scholarship recipient. He has interned with Rodarte, Abercrombie & Fitch, Porto LLC., and Noblu Clothing.

Lisa Relth

Lisa Relth, B.F.A. Fashion Design, was a $5,000 CFDA Scholarship recipient and a Fashion Group Foundation Scholarship finalist. She is a bikram yoga instructor and has interned with Gr.dano.

Jannika Lilja

Jannika Lilja, B.F.A. Fashion and Knitwear Design, received an honorable mention for the 2010 CFDA Geoffrey Beene Design Scholarship and a Fashion Group Foundation Scholarship finalist. She has interned with Rodarte and Tiia Vanhatopia, and freelanced for Marimekko Oyj.

Tell us about your inspiration.

Peter: My collection stemmed from the process men’s tailoring. The proportion comes from playing with lines and angles and seeing how they relate to one another on a women’s body. The silhouette is achieved by mixing masculine angles and sharp lines with feminine curves and fabrications. I wanted the collection to be structured yet light and airy.

Lisa: Giuseppe Arcimboldo, a 16th century Italian painter, combined objects such as fruits, plants, and animals to create unique and unconventional portraiture. The vivid colors, combined with the black background, served as inspiration for my color and fabric manipulations. The painted objects of Arcimboldo’s works found their origins all over the world, which contributed to my ethnically inspired silhouette.

Jannika: Beauty in Decay. Abandoned spaces and dark moody stories. Androgyny. Layering fabrics and pieces to reflect the layers of life. Also, most of knitwear is fully fashioned and hand made which leaves no waste.

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Camilla Olson, 2010 M.F.A. Fashion Design Alumna, dressed James Franco’s mother, Betsy Franco, for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards.

In addition to creating a floor length evening dress for Betsy Franco to wear to the Academy Awards, Camilla designed a series of outfits for her to wear for television appearances and other events surrounding the event (both reside in Palo Alto, by the way).

In case you didn’t know, James Franco who co-hosted the Awards with Anne Hathaway and was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for his role as hiker Aron Ralston in 127 Hours (we had some lively discussion on our Facebook and Twitter pages last night — feel free to put your two cents in).

In the photos below, Betsy is wearing designs by Camilla.

Photo credit: Rabbit Bandini Productions

In an interview for Oprah.com, Betsy Franco talks about wearing designs by Camilla Olson in her interview.

For Camilla’s collection from September 2010 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center click here.

And FYI: More designs by Camilla Olson retail at the Academy of Art University Atelier at 79 New Montgomery Street between Jessie and Mission Streets.

In May 2010, Alice Spies (BFA Fashion Design) she was the recipient of the L’Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne as part of the Sister City Scholarship Exchange in Paris. She will be doing weekly photo blog posts for us to show us her adventures in the City of Lights.

This is a picture of Jim Morrison‘s grave at Pere Lachaise. When I was here, I met this young Polish kid who actually lived at Jim’s grave and survived off of what people left for Jim.

Oscar Wilde is another famous person buried at Pere Lachaise — along with the amazing Edith Piaf. It is completely covered with kisses so of course I had to contribute.

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