Photo by Randy Brooke.

On Thursday, May 3rd the Academy of Art University hosted it’s annual Graduation Fashion Show and Awards Ceremony, an unforgettable evening of sartorial splendor. Press, industry, students, family, and friends – not to mention our awesome Guests of Honor – all packed into our new venue at The Cannery for a seriously impressive show. Academy of Art University President, Dr. Elisa Stephens, opened the show, welcoming all of the fashionable attendees and presenting Honorary Doctorates to Sarah Burton, creative director of Alexander McQueen, Philip Treacy, milliner, and Her Royal Highness Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, president and CEO of the ALFA and AL HAMA luxury retail corporations who own and operate Harvey Nichols, Donna Karan, and DKNY stores in Saudi Arabia. The flashbulbs (alright cellphones – but flashbulbs sounds so much cooler) were going wild as our guests took to the stage to receive their honorary degrees. Other front row players included Suzy Menkes, fashion editor of the International Herald Tribune, Cathy Horyn, fashion critic for The New York Times, Stephan Rabimov, editor in chief of DEPESHA magazine, Jayne Seward, fashion editor of California Apparel News, and Katie Hintz-Zambrano, senior editor at Refinery29 – suffice it to say that there were some serious industry heavyweights in the room.

And then it was time for the main attraction – the Graduation Fashion Show and Awards Ceremony. The show opened with Renata Lindroos and Mina Fadaie’s collection – a fashion and textile design collaboration inspired by distorted perceptions in 1960s horror films. The architectural pieces looked amazing on the runway, and the prints had everyone mesmerized. Hely Nguyen’s collection followed – a series of structured menswear-inspired looks that play with length and layers. Then it was onto a the collaboration featuring designs by Erica Laba, textiles by Liza Quiñones, and knitwear by Emma Mengchen Yang. The opening look was a sheer, silk organza shirtdress that achieved the perfect balance between prim and provocative. Ethan Chihuan Yang’s minimalist collection featured angular, sculpted silhouettes in dark hues that were simultaneously restrained and dramatic.

Follow the jump to read more! Read more…

Illustration by Elizabeth Suter.

Elizabeth Suter, famed fashion illustrator and mentor to many, sadly died in April. Her obituary was just published in The Telegraph, in which friends and colleagues remember her fondly. School of Fashion Executive Director Gladys Perint Palmer recalls her time as a student of Suter’s:

Suter drew like an angel and now she can draw the angels in Heaven and maybe persuade Lucifer to strike a pose from Hell. She taught countless aspiring fashion illustrators, including me, how to draw. Her studio at St. Martin’s School of Art, as it was known then, in London, was the best place to learn.

She will be missed. To read the obituary, click here.

To learn more about Elizabeth Suter, peruse the lastest issue of 180 Magazine – pg. 147.

Suzy Menkes, Cathy Horyn, and Paul Wilner.

On Thursday May 3rd, The Academy of Art University had the pleasure of hosting a lecture by two of the fashion world’s top journalists: Suzy Menkes, Fashion Editor of The International Herald Tribune and Cathy Horyn, Fashion Critic for The New York Times. Both women have well-established careers and are at the top of their field. School of Fashion Executive Director Gladys Perint Palmer introduced the pair, and Journalism Coordinator Paul Wilner moderated a panel discussion by the legendary journalists, who offered plenty of advice to a room full of fashion students.

Both women were very approachable, answered questions in an unpretentious manner, and provided insightful information about their successful careers. Menkes was instantly recognizable sporting her signature hairdo: one pin curl set at the top of her short brown hair. She brought a British charm, wearing minimal makeup and a few subtle pieces of jewelry. She donned a purple blazer and top, navy trousers, purple suede shoes that tied into a bow in front, and even matching purple socks.

Horyn had a laid-back look consisting of a black three-quarter-sleeved top, blue paisley printed pants and brown leather loafers. Her short brown hair was kept simple and she had minimal accessories; a small silver watch, and square gold and green ring.

Menkes spoke about her early aspirations to become a writer and how she handcrafted her first newspaper at the age of five. She always had an interest in fashion and studied dressmaking in Paris as a teenager. She worked on her school newspaper at Cambridge University and later landed a position at The Times, a daily British national newspaper.

Follow the jump to read more! Read more…

Simon Ungless, Sarah Burton, Dr. Elisa Stephens, Philip Treacy, and Gladys Perint Palmer.

If you missed your chance to see Sarah Burton and Phillip Treacy at the School of Fashion Symposium, here’s a wrap-up of the event!!

The guests of honor: Sarah Burton, creative director for Alexander McQueen and Phillip Treacy, milliner, took the stage on Wednesday May 2nd at 9:30am in the Morgan Auditorium. Gladys Perint Palmer, Executive Director of the School of Fashion, led the Q&A discussion along with Simon Ungless, Director of the School of Fashion, and Dr. Elisa Stephens, President of Academy of Art University.

Simon Ungless and Sarah Burton have known each other since 1996, when Simon was her tutor at the Central St. Martins School of Art, in London. Simon is a big fan of Burton’s work – he originally recommended her for an internship to McQueen while she was a young student at the school – and loves her philosophy of the craft. For her part, Burton feels that she continues to be in Simon’s debt, artistically and professionally. “He really provoked me, made me think in a different way,” she recalled.

Her soft-spoken manner was accompanied by quick and thorough responses. She sported a casual look in pale blue jeans, a colorful printed jacket and ankle-strap bright red pointy heels. For a woman with such high-profile status she was completely genuine and down to earth.

The conversation then turned to Treacy who wore a blue track jacket with matching blue sweater, black fitted pants and black boots. He spoke about how hats have come in and out of vogue, commenting that when President Kennedy refused to wear a hat to his inauguration, he “singlehandedly killed the hat industry,” telling a (perhaps apocryphal) story that before the Inauguration, JFK and his brothers were spotted kicking a top hat around in the White House.

Treacy, born in Ireland, continued in his humorous light touch. At one point when Gladys expressed concern about how to wear a hat with her eyeglasses, he responded that she could “always switch to contact lenses.’’ And when President Stephens asked him about the distinction between the fascinators worn at the recent royal wedding, and more conventional hats, he responded: “I’ve never liked that word ‘Fascinators.’ It always sounds like a particularly dodgy sex toy.’’ The audience cracked up.

Follow the jump to read more! Read more…

The windows at 79 New Montgomery are in full fashion mode! Each window features former Guests of Honor including Oscar de la Renta, Rosita and Tai Missoni, Azzedine Alaïa, and more – all illustrated by School of Fashion Executive Director Gladys Perint Palmer. And included in several of the displays are runway images from students’ collections who earned internships with our prestigious guests.

We’ll find out who will join the ranks of these very lucky students tonight at the Graduation Fashion Show and Awards Ceremony – fingers crossed for all of our amazing students!

Follow the jump to see more! See more…

Illustration by Gladys Perint Palmer. 

Tomorrow morning, Gladys Perint Palmer, Executive Director of the School of Fashion, will host a discussion with Dr. Elisa Stephens, President of Academy of Art University, Simon Ungless, Director of the School of Fashion; Guest of Honor Sarah Burton, Creative Director of Alexander McQueen; and Guest of Honor Philip Treacy, milliner.

At our last (brief) symposium with Jean Paul Gaultier, students were delighted with stories from the designers’ years at the forefront of fashion – and we can only hope for more of the same with our awe-inspiring guests!

WHAT: School of Fashion Symposium with Guests of Honor

WHEN: Wednesday, May 2nd at 9:30 AM

WHERE: Morgan Auditorium – 491 Post Street

Follow the jump for a few amazing videos featuring our Guests of Honor – just to hold you over until tomorrow! See more…

A special edition of Picture this by GPP featuring the drawing used for the 2012 Graduation Fashion Show and Awards Ceremony.

This is an illustration of Junya Watanabe’s S/S 2001 hat and dress, drawn for the March 25, 2001 issue of U.K. Sunday Times Style.

Watanabe, under the patronage of Rei Kawakubo (Comme des Garçons) had a space in the back of her Paris showroom on the place Vendôme.

He was a quiet, gentle person always supremely polite.

Unlike the Sunday Times Style team that was noisy, aggressive and manipulative. The late Isabella Blow was our leader. Colin McDowell wrote about fashion. I drew.

We had a car that became a chariot of contention. Isabella wanted to see the newest, weirdest designers. Colin wanted to be seated in the front row at the most important shows. Frequently he fell in love with the driver, who took his side.

We had strict instructions (from the London office) that the limo was strictly for the team, no-one else. Naturally, Isabella invited French countesses and generally changed her outfit in the car in order to arrive at any show dressed in the designer’s creation.

Frequently, Colin would announce in a loud voice, “Oh, Gladys knows Paris so well, she can take the Metro…”

One day, Isabella whispered, “I want you to draw me in a Junya Watanabe, but don’t tell Colin.” We met at the showroom. I did a drawing. While Isabella was chatting up Junya, I tried on a black gazar jacket.

Follow the jump to read more! Read more…

Illustration by Gladys Perint Palmer.

We are just one week away from the Graduation Fashion Show and Awards Ceremony – and we’ve got some other amazing events lined up to kick off the festivities! Be sure to mark your calendars for the following events – you definitely don’t want to miss them.

Monday, April 30^th
9:00 – 11:00 AM
Trend Union Fall / Winter 2013-2014
St. Brigid Church – 2151 Van Ness Avenue
Trend Union presents their forecast of fashion and style trends for Fall/Winter 2013-2014. The presentation will detail silhouettes, colors, patterns, and lifestyles for the season. Academy of Art University ID is required for admittance.

Wednesday, May 2^nd
9:30 – 11:00 AM
School of Fashion Symposium with Guests of Honor
Morgan Auditorium – 491 Post Street
Gladys Perint Palmer, Executive Director, hosts a discussion and Q&A with Dr. Elisa Stephens, President of the Academy of Art University; Simon Ungless, Director of the School of Fashion; Guest of Honor Sarah Burton, Creative Director of Alexander McQueen; and Guest of Honor Philip Treacy, milliner.

Thursday, May 3^rd
3:00 – 4:00 PM
University Friends and Family Fashion Show
The Cannery – 2801 Leavenworth Street
The University Friends and Family Fashion Show, hosted by the School of Fashion, is open to all students and faculty from the Academy of Art University. Transportation is available through University shuttles.

Elizabeth Suter was one of the great illustrators, and she shared her gift with countless aspiring fashion illustrators, including the School of Fashion Executive Director Gladys Perint Palmer.

To learn more about Elizabeth Suter, peruse the lastest issue of 180 Magazine – pg. 147.

Photo Courtesy of Life Magazine.

Wednesday, April 4th
5:00 – 8:00 PM
Fashionably 1 Wednesdays Industry Mixer
Temple SF – 540 Howard Street
Fashionably 1st Wednesdays is a monthly industry mixer where fashion and technology lovers can meet up, network, and enjoy a few cocktails. This month, they are also kicking off the San Francisco Fashion Film Festival! RSVP here.

April 7th – 8th
San Francisco Fashion Film Festival
Roxie Theater
The first annual San Francisco Fashion Film Festival will present a curated selection of independent, documentary, and dramatic films that provide a new perspective on what it means to be stylish in the cinema. You can check out the full schedule and buy tickets here!

April 8th – 14th
Spring Recess

Friday, April 13th
6:00 – 8:00 PM
Discarded to Divine Public Preview
De Young Museum
This week’s Friday Nights at the De Young includes a complimentary preview of the 2012 Discarded to Divine creations, and will also feature a live performance by Bay Area band The Fashion Slaves. The 2012 collection includes designs by School of Fashion students and alumni. The event is free and open to the public.

Friday, April 20th
6:00 – 8:00 PM
New Generations Student Showcase
De Young Museum
The New Generations Student Showcase is a juried selection of multidisciplinary work created by students from the San Francisco Bay Area. This year’s theme was Matter! – a one word manifesto encompassing everything that truly matters in our lives. Students will be exhibiting works of art as well as presenting live performances. The event is free and open to the public.

Follow the jump to read more! Read more…