Name: Cassandra Neuhs

Where do you live? Long Beach, New York

What is your area of study?
Fashion Design, MFA program

What is your current occupation?
Designer (custom bespoke -bridal, evening, girls, etc.), Adjunct Professor, Nassau Community College

Which historical [fashion] figure do you most identify with?
There are just so many that I admire and whose work is just so incredible -I have the history of fashion books from the Kyoto Costume Institute and I don’t even think I could narrow it down to a time period…

What is your greatest [style] regret?
Not having confidence or feeling comfortable in something.

What is your current state of mind?
On OVERDRIVE! I’m full time at Academy of Art University, Designing for clients, Teaching and making 7 dresses (including my own bridal gown) for my wedding in June!

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On Saturday, March 3rd, the Academy of Art University put on an Open Studio – a chance for people in the area to come visit the School and see what we’re all about! At the School of Fashion, instructors set up various activities for visitors to partake in – from making textiles to knitting samples. Flore Morton set up a workshop where people were able to style their own photo shoots, and we’ve got some of the photos! They assembled looks from pieces designed by Rob Curry’s M.F.A. Construction 3 class, and were even able to choose hair and makeup looks.

Peep some of our faves below!

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Farida Khan was born in Pakistan and now lives in Doha, Qatar. She received a Higher National Diploma in Fashion Design from Edexcel BTEC and completed her M.F.A. in Fashion Design through the Academy of Art University’s Online Fashion Program. She honed her design skills working as an assistant designer at Ali Khan and as a technical designer at the Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar. For her collection, Farida was inspired by the idea of unconventional beauty. She constructed bold silhouettes using wool, cotton, coated denim, polyurethane, and punched leather.

Amy Bond was born in Pocatello, Idaho, and grew up in Texas, Illinois, & Pennsylvania. She graduated from Stephens College with a B.F.A. in Fashion Design and worked as an assistant designer at St. Pucchi in Los Angeles, before starting her own clothing line in 1999. She completed her M.F.A. in Fashion Design through the Academy of Art University’s Online Fashion Program. Amy was inspired by complex shapes and construction – but strove to make the complexities appear clean and minimal. She used fabrics that would bring light and movement to the collection, including silk georgette, silk charmeuse, and Schoeller-Aeroshell.

Juanyu Jade Liu was born and raised in Shanghai, China. She earned her B.A. in Fashion Design from Soochow University and worked as a design intern with Suzhou Temost Textile and Garment Co. as well as Guotia Internaitional Group. She is pursuing an M.F.A. in Fashion Design at the Academy of Art University and has honed her skills working as a pattern maker for gr.dano. Her collection was inspired by the French collage artist Damien Blottiere, known for his unique layering technique that creates shadows and empty space. She layered several fabrics, including wool, jersey and fur, to achieve the same effect.

Deanna Pei-Ju Lo hails from Taipei, Taiwan and graduated with a B.F.A. in Commercial and Graphic Design from Ming Chuan University. She worked as a graphic designer before coming to the Academy of Art University to pursue an M.F.A. in Fashion Design. Her women’s wear collection has a borrowed-from-the-boys feel, a look she describes as “a modern Teddy Boy.” Soft, luxurious fabrics such as lambskin and cotton velvet add a subtle femininity to the collection.

Kate Y.K. Lee hails from Seoul, South Korea. She attended Se Jong University, where she earned a B.A. in Fashion Design, before coming to the Academy of Art University where she received an M.F.A. in Fashion Design. Kate’s designs were featured in the Italian Trade Commission Collection, a collaborative collection presented at the Academy of Art University’s Spring 2012 Fashion Show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Her Fall 2012 collection was inspired by the sculptural elements of architecture and features rounded silhouettes, offset by defined lines and sharp, angled seams. She constructed the garments using leather, wool knits, lightweight wool, and silk charmeuse.

Wu Di was born and raised in Shen Yang in the Liao Ning province of China and earned a B.A. in Fashion Design from Shenyang Normal University. After interning at Ya Ya Clothing Ltd and starting her own design studio in China, she came to the Academy of Art University to pursue an M.F.A. in Fashion Design. She was inspired by the work of printmaker Aaron Coleman and his use of geometric shapes. Her collection features angular silhouettes and geometric patterns, which she created using cashmere knits and double-faced wool.

In today’s Alumni Update, we catch up with Cara Chiappetta, who graduated from the School of Fashion in 2011 with an M.F.A. in Fashion Design. She now has a job that she absolutely loves and learns from everyday! Read on to find out more!

You debuted your senior collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week S/S 2011 – what was the experience like?

In one word: surreal. In three: a great honor. I remember working in NYC in 2000 near Bryant Park and walking past the white tents in the chilly-city early mornings promising myself that I too, would be under those tents- as a designer. I just never expected it happen so soon, and at Lincoln Center, no less. It was a promise I kept with myself and I am so grateful for the opportunity and as a designer, so grateful to have not let myself down. And so grateful to represent my brilliant Directors, professors, and fellow students at the Academy of Art University. The experience overall was very stressful, very challenging and yet, all the more enlightening.

What were the most valuable lessons you learned while creating your collection and presenting it in New York?

Flexibility, respecting and adhering to deadlines, adaptability, and that asking questions are key. Oh! And happy accidents. Happy accidents are so precious – I learned the actual process has its own fuel and to embrace the amazing unexpected things that happen along the way. My best work probably stems from those “I think I thought I did, but what just happened? …because that looks good!” As much as I seem to function as a type A personality- which I think helped me along the way- I let myself get lost in the design process. I learned my valuable lesson of letting go. It was a special time for me. I had the freedom to revisit and analyze everything I ever loved in this great big world and everything that ever inspired me. I was able to identify myself as process-based; I had to go from A-Z, to circle back and find E. If that makes sense. We were taught the tools in school, and I relied on them to tap into what defined me as a designer. That was exciting; suddenly my habits from the past began to make sense. I knew I was exactly where I supposed to be, which was probably why I exhausted all options and opportunities throughout the program. Gonbee at one time declared I was masochistic – but I still argue that it was my time to really push myself.

I had to make a last minute change ten days before the show; it was a bit daunting at the time, but taught me the most invaluable lesson of crisis management. I had to remake six pieces in the collection – for reasons I should have reasoned through prior. But hindsight is 20/20. I would not change what I went through. Honestly, that part of the process has really helped me in the most stressful situations. I refuse to allow myself to get into this “fickle-pickle.” I now have a very calm demeanor – even more so than before – and am able to think clearly in hectic situations. I made a pact with myself that I will never let myself cry, consume copious amounts of Cheetos, and call my mom like I did that one afternoon – as I attempted to source new fabric ideas in Berkeley. Never. Will. I. Again. (Until the work is complete, of course.) I lost 3 precious hours that day that I could have used to keep moving forward. As long as I gave 110% effort, I knew I wouldn’t look back with regrets. And I don’t, which is very settling.

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Name: Jenita Miller

Where do you live? Lumberton, NC, USA

Area of study: MFA Fashion Design and Merchandising

Day job / occupation: Devoted Student

What qualities do you most value in others?

Creativity, kindness, sense of humor, someone who has drive and ideas.

Name three of your favorite designers, journalists, blogs, etc:

Sense I’ve been studying fashion this semester, I’ve found love for couture designers, Yves Saint Laurent, Emilio Pucci, Chado Ralph Rucci, Vionnet, Jean Paul Gaultier, Versace, and Gucci. My favorite ready-to-wear deigners, Zuhair Murad, Alexandre Vauthier, and Pacco Rabanne so far.

I enjoy shopping at TJX stores and Forever21. I’m into trends, classics, and I love artistic-style clothing such as paint stroke printing, abstract, and geometric printing.

My favorite Youtube casters are BeautyQQ (Shanghai), AModelRecommends (Look-Alike Kate Moss Model), GiannyL (from Paraguay: She can make anything from scratch!), ItsRoseRoma, DulceCandy85, MasqueradeMakeup (Russia), Wen88888 (Worldwide Travelers), and MisfitMassacreMakeup. My favorite blogger so far is Aparment 15 and Lacquerholic.

List a guilty pleasure:

I enjoy reading Harper’s Bazaar. I’ve been a subscriber to Teen Vogue and Vogue. I’m looking to subscribe back to InStyle and try Elle Décor along with People StyleWatch. I hope to find a discount dealer and have more time to look through the magazines.

I am a long-time fan of What Not To Wear, Jerseylicious (StyleNetwork), Selling New York, House Hunters/International, Top Chef, Restaurant Impossible, Food Network, Food Channel. I enjoy watching the Housewives of New York, Atlanta, and Orange County. I enjoy watching show like Peter Perfect (no longer on air) and Tabitha’s Salon Takeover because it inspires me to one day help businesses that are in trouble and could use tweaking. It also informs me of different marketing for small businesses. I really enjoy watching reality shows.

What is your present state of mind?

Right now, I feel I’ve made the best decision by choosing the Academy of Arts University. I have been torn between fashion and interior decorating for a while. I’ve been learning about both apparel and home accessories this semester. I now feel I can combine the two without leaving one out because both are apart of the fashion world and very similar.

Decorating is use of common themes, color schemes, or about a different place in time. Many people are improving their current homes or more into creating a sanctuary at home. Many love to keep looking good with the latest fashions whether they’re going on an extravagant trip or going to the supermarket. And apparel and accessories are about having a certain look and if you have different styles, it’s like who do I want to be today.

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