Name: MJ (Marjani Sykes)

Where do you live? Atlanta, GA

What is your area of study? MFA Fashion Design

What is your current occupation?
I am an independent fashion designer

If you were to die and come back as [a fashion icon], who would it be?
Either Diane Von Furstenberg cause let’s face it she was a princess and she is gorgeous – oh, and she has the most eclectic and exciting design aesthetic ever. Or ☺ John Galliano, I know, I know he is not on everyone’s favorite person list right now but man, oh man, the art he creates is without a doubt amazing. I would just want to be in that head, who thinks like that?!?!

What is your most treasured possession?
Other than my family, pets and friends, I would say my Louis Vuitton suede, square toed, chunky heel pumps. They have 2 silver balls on the front, one large, one small with the LV emblem and flower. I LOVE them. I have never seen anyone with those before so when I wear them I feel like a D-I-V-A and they go with EVERYTHING! And… my Michael Jackson OPUS, it is the most beautiful “book” ever. It has the awesome pictures and stories about him, he was such an icon and a wonderful human being, the OPUS just highlights his assets.

Who are your favorite [fashion] writers?
Rachel Strugatz – She writes for WWD she does accessories and social media. When I read her articles, I feel like I am learning something new in a fun way. WWD has their finger on the pulse of everything fashion and I think Rachel writes in a way that helps you find your way in this complicated fashion world. I follow her on Twitter and her tweets are very amusing and all her!

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Diane Von Furstenberg and Steven Kolb Announce the 2012 Fashion Awards Nominees and Honorees. Photo Courtesy of Getty.

Last night, CFDA President Diane Von Furstenberg and CFDA CEO Steven Kolb, announced this year’s Fashion Award Nominees and Honorees. Though many of the nominations went to former nominees such as Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, and Marc Jacobs, who have been dazzling fashion lovers for seasons – there were some exciting newcomers thrown in, too. The most surprising name of the evening: Johnny Depp, who will receive the Fashion Icon Award (and is the first man to ever receive the honor).

Seth Meyers will emcee the evening, and is sure to inject some humor into the event, which takes place on June 4th at Lincoln Center. We know of a few other exciting announcements that will be revealed at the awards ceremony, but we can’t tell you about them just yet. Stay tuned for updates!

Follow the jump for the full list of nominees! Read more…

Today’s Alumni Updateis with Stephanie Hoffmann, a 2010 B.F.A. Knitwear Design graduate. She was awarded an internship with Diane von Furstenberg at the May 2010 Graduation Fashion Show and is now back in San Francisco working on a line of accessories – you can check them out at San Francisco boutique Circle & Square! Read on to learn more about her experience in NYC and what she’s working on next!

After graduating, you were awarded an internship with Diane von Furstenberg. What was that experience like?

It was such a interesting learning experience. Even though I was hired to help with the knitwear department, I was able to help a little bit with all the departments there, including embellishments, accessories, and their famous print department. I even had a few of my prints put into production.

What was the most valuable thing you learned?

I guess just the way a major fashion line is produced was the most interesting part. I was lucky enough to work on the DVF Spring 2011 collection pretty much from start to finish, and just to see it take shape from the first inspiration boards to the final pieces was such cool thing to be part of. The evolution of the collection was pretty astounding.

What did you enjoy most about your internship and living in New York?

The other interns while I was there at DVF were all so awesome, and all so talented in their own ways. They were from all different corners of the world too, from Paris to England, to Israel and Sweden. I loved the multicultural environment. Just living in New York too was such a culture shock, and a learning experience in and of itself. I’m from a very small town in Northern CA, and even though I’ve been living in San Francisco for the past 6 years, living in Manhattan was a whole other beast. Part of me loved it–there was always something cool to see or do, and the art and culture there is amazing. But part of me also hated it; just the darkness and loneliness of it at times. San Francisco is my home, it’s equal parts cosmopolitan and beautiful, and it has its own sense of humor about it–pretty much no one in San Francisco takes themselves too seriously, which I like.

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In today’s edition of Monday Morning Photos, we bring you some of our favorite looks from the Pre-Fall 2012 Collections! It is amazing that designers even have the time for Pre-Fall – but these looks certainly do not disappoint. Lots of color, cropped pants, swing coats and more! What were your favorite looks from the Pre-Fall collections? Tell us in the comments below!

3.1 Phillip Lim

Zac Posen

Alexander Wang

Burberry Prorsum

Chanel

Follow the jump to see more – lots more! Read more…

In Diane von Furstenberg‘s campaign video titled “Journey of the Dress” we are treated to models taking fancy strides in DVF’s fall collection — and it’s directed by Tatiana von Furstenberg.

Yes, she is her daughter.

With an Asian-esque backdrop, the video (which can be watched here) features model Tayane Leao and performance artist Zhang Huan.

In addition to this fancy fall campaign vid, Tatiana has teamed up with co-director Francesca Gregorini for a full-length film, Tanner Hall. The coming of age film set in an all-girls boarding school is garnering attention not only because of “it” girl star Rooney Mara but also because it will also feature actors dressed in DVF. It’s like another fashion video, but with a stronger narrative. Check out the trailer:

[Sources: NYMag.com, HuffingtonPost]

First Lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama visited Indonesia this week. As a good Indonesian, I feel the need to blog about their visit.

Michelle Obama has been such an inspiration. She is pushing boundaries of what to expect from a First Lady. Since the day she wore Jason Wu’s dress for the inauguration, Michelle has been a fashion risk-taker. She does not just circulate the expected Chanel suits — she would appear in Dries Van Noten skirt on one occasion and a J. Crew sweater on another.

Michelle loves wearing bold colors and prints. Some of her favorite designers are Peter Som, Diane von Furstenberg, Thakoon and Moschino. She proves that a stylish woman is someone who knows what works best for her figure and someone who dresses appropriate for the occasion.

For instance, when Michelle and Barack toured Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia she was wearing a Prova headscarf and a lime-green pantsuit by Harlem designer Stephen Burrows. She wore a headscarf that way to replicate how Muslim women dress. It was such a great way of her to be respectful to a new place and still keep her own style.

Michelle and Barack at Istiqlal Mosque, Indonesia

Meeting with Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the First Lady Ani Yudhoyono

Notice on the picture above how Michelle was wearing a tunic and trousers. Tunic is a big thing in Muslim dressing. Michelle (or her stylist, if that matters) chose a print tunic that works well with her complexion and style. This is what I meant when I said Michelle Obama dresses appropriately for each occasion but still stays true to her personal style. Follow the jump to seem some of my  favorite looks from the most fashionable First Lady in the world right now.

Going to church with the family in Thakoon dress

Visiting the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial in India in Dries Van Noten skirt.

Meeting at the Prime Minister of India’s residence in Dries Van Noten jacket.

Even when dressing casually, Michelle Obama still keeps her fondness of colors and prints style.

It is always said that “behind a successful man there is a woman.” Now, Barack is no doubt a good-looking man, but Michelle is taking over the focal point of the images. Perhaps behind every successfully dressed woman there is a man (or a good stylist?)

Written by: Harry Go

Click here for more of “The World According to Harry”

In 60 A.D., Boudicca, the warrior queen of the Iceni, painted herself and her army with Wode and charged into battle against the Roman invaders.

Wode is a plant that produces a bluish purple dye. The ancient Britons painted their faces with the dye to scare the enemy. They would wear nothing else.

This coming Wednesday there is a call out for everyone to wear purple to honor the seven young men who recently committed suicide due to being overwhelmed by homophobic abuse.

I will be wearing purple (which represents spirit on the LGBTQ flag.) If it was good enough for Boudicca, then its good enough for me.

By the way, I will not be naked with a purple face and you don’t need to be either. Lucky for us our friendly fashion designers have come up with a few appropriate looks to inspire us.

Christian Dior

Jil Sander

Follow the jump for more purple to pump you up.
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Elisa Palomino, a guest to the May fashion show (and Simon Ungless’s classmate when he was at St. Martins), has just shown her namesake collection in Rome and here are some photos.

Palomino (who also selected six of our students to intern at Diane von Fürstenberg) first made a splash in the fashion industry as the designer behind Moschino’s Cheap & Chic Collections where she developed the whimsical style of their second line. After five years, Elisa Palomino was recruited by John Galliano to work for his own label as well as Dior.

I spy Beppe Modenese in the front row. (He started Milan Fashion Week and was once a guest of the School of Fashion with Oscar de la Renta)

At John Galliano, she was appointed Head of the Studio and during the next eight years helped the fashion house flourish creatively. At Dior, Elisa worked with the “petis mains” at the haute couture ateliers where she helped create real works of art.

Following Galliano, Elisa worked as studio director at Cavalli before moving to New York to become Vice President of Design at Diane von Fürstenberg. Fall 2010 marks the first season of her own label, Elisa Palomino, as well as her debut runway show during New York Fashion Week.

Follow the jump for more pictures and video from when Elisa visited us in May.
Read more…

We all know you have been waiting for it — so here it is; the OFFICIAL guest list for our 2010 Fashion Show! And despite some circulating rumors, John Paul Gaultier is not one of the guests. Don’t get us wrong, we do love him, but who started that rumor?

Nonetheless, here is the list. Drum roll please…

An Academy of Art University Honorary Doctorate will be presented to Suzy Menkes, OBE, Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, and fashion editor of International Herald Tribune.

Academy of Art University President’s Awards for Excellence will be presented to:
· Julie Chaiken, Bay Area designer and founder of Chaiken Clothing
· Keanan Duffty, designer and author of ‘Rebel Rebel: Anti-Style’ by Rizzoli, 2009
· Patrik Ervell, winner of the 2007 Ecco Domani Award for best men’s wear designer
· Ian Hannula and Joe Haller, Bay Area designers and founders of Nice Collective
· Carol Lim and Humberto Leon, innovative retailers and founders of Opening Ceremony
· Elisa Palomino, women’s wear designer and VP of Design at Diane von Fürstenberg
· Walter Van Beirendonck, men’s wear designer and one of ‘The Antwerp Six’
· Dirk Van Saene, artist, designer and one of ‘The Antwerp Six’

Honored guests will announce internships at the end of the show. Other internships and awards to be announced include Abercrombie & Fitch, BCBG, SURTEX® designext Student Competition, and the Sister City Scholarship Exchange to study abroad in Paris at Studio Berçot and L’Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne.

That’s quite a guest list, isn’t it? Stay tuned for symposiums and Q&As that you can attend.

In the meantime, check out this snazzy little slideshow of our guests:

Cat Janky gets some recognition from Omaha. Photo credit: Robert Davis/Omaha.com

It’s been a little over a year and alumna Cat Janky is still impressing people – including her hometown paper, Omaha World Herald. In a recent article, she talks about attending the Academy of Art University, her role at Macy’s and how it was like to work at Diane von Furstenberg

Here’s a snippet of the article:

Janky, who now lives in Brooklyn, moved to New York last summer to intern with Diane von Furstenberg, a New York fashion designer who’s known for her wrap dress.

At von Furstenberg’s design house, Janky drew illustrations on fabric with some of the best designers in the country.

“I was one of the only Americans in the company, working alongside European interns and designers by far, some of the most creative and inspirational people I’ve ever worked with,” she said. “I learned a lot about creativity, and it influenced me immensely as a designer.”

To read the entire article, visit Omaha.com.