A night of pure artistry, community, philanthropy and sustainability, Formally AdDressing’s (FAD) spring fashion show, Art is Everywhere, took place on April 11 in the Student Center Kiva. 

Rooted in sustainability, the show’s theme encouraged designers to craft their garments using unconventional materials to “think outside the closet.”

Kiden Housel, media co-coordinator, was the mastermind behind the theme, which was inspired by a creator on Instagram who made a bra out of soda tabs.

“I wanted to do something super different. I’ve never seen anyone here do a fashion show that has to do with unconventional materials,” Housel said. 

Pistachio shells, bedsheets, grocery bags, soda tabs, doilies, books, CDs and vinyl records were just some of the materials chosen for the garments. Still, each look had one idea in common: they found the artistry in everyday materials, proving art is, in fact, everywhere. 

To kick off the show, Vice President Megan Leissner and President Brianna Hieber made an introduction to the audience; they graciously thanked their team and outlined FAD’s core values. 

Organized to encourage students to dress up, FAD is the intersection of fashion and community. Thanks to their Formally AdDressing Closet, a shared collection of formalwear that students can borrow as they please, a lack of proper attire is never an excuse to miss an occasion. 

FAD is more than a fashion club, but is an organization that prioritizes philanthropy. Fundraisers are a cornerstone of the organization—candy grams and blanket-making for a local animal shelter are some of the activities Natalie Phillips, Philanthropy Coordinator, facilitated this year. 

Phillips shared her love for the organization since it allows her to “give back to local communities and help people that don’t get as much help as others,” and this is a common thread among FAD members. 

Each semester FAD chooses a unique charity to represent, but this semester they are fundraising for the Les Turner ALS Foundation. 

Leissner showed a powerful video and spoke about the foundation’s impact on ALS research, as her grandparents are the founders. 

“This semester working for my grandparent’s foundation has been so special,” Leissner said. “Just knowing that I am doing them proud and it’s something they look forward to is so special.” 

Following the sentimental introduction, the models began strutting the stage. The first to walk was Eden Sarnoff wearing a design by Ella Adams. Complete with a skirt and top fashioned from soda tabs and encrusted with rhinestones, the outfit was expertly crafted and laced with red ribbon, which accentuated the silhouette and added the perfect pop of color.

Following this masterpiece was Abby Broering’s creation—a tube top constructed from broken CDs and a pair of black, ruffled pants. Modeled by Randolph McFaren, who did more than just walk the stage, but wowed the audience with a side aerial. 

Each garment continued to impress, but one look that really stood out was Alice Keathley’s soda can ensemble. From Sprite to Fanta cans, the garment was a crowd-pleaser with its striking colors and avant-garde construction. The model, Aster Primozic, wore soda cans in her hair— very much reminiscent of Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” look. 

“It shows that fashion can be anything you want,” Keathley said. 

Another showstopper was Hieber’s collection, which was constructed entirely out of book pages, book covers and muslin. 

“I took it pretty literally and I tried to use all the pieces of the books because I feel like we don’t use physical books anymore,” Hieber said. “Pretty much everything is digital, so they are just sitting in thrift stores.” 

Modeled by Eleanor Bartley, Cole May and Hieber herself, the three looks formed a cohesive collection. Bartley’s dress featured a train, which was ripped off by May and thrown into the audience for dramatic effect. 

The overwhelming support from the audience is a testament to the rich community this club has created. A space to dress up without apprehension, FAD encourages the exploration of personal style and creative expression.  

“We have fostered such an inclusive environment where we have people who are in fashion and not in fashion. We had a lot of designers in our show tonight who are not design majors and it is really cool to see them get out of their shell and see people working together to learn new skills from each other,” Leissner said. 

After a brief intermission, the second part of the show commenced, but the focus was shifted to accessories. From a cassette tape-turned purse to shoes upcycled with collaged book pages, there was no shortage of creativity. 

After the judges’ corroboration and votes from the audience for best design, the winners were announced with an anticipatory drumroll. 

Congratulations to the winners: 

• Top Model: Randolph McFaren
• Best Construction: Cienna Tenn, Modeled by Ayla Barbeau
• Best Accessory: Amy Zink for the Cassette Tape Bag
• Most Unconventional: Brianna Hieber, Modeled by Eleanor Bartley 
• Most Sustainable: Amy Zink, Modeled by Ashelyn Sweet
• Voter’s Choice: Ella Adam, Modeled by Eden Sarnoff 

To close the show, the models flooded the audience in one final walk alongside the designers, and everyone was invited to attend the after party. Together, the garments displayed the ultimate expression of artistry and talent, and bridged the gap between art and fashion. 

The winners’ garments will be featured in Branded In Kent’s window display for the next two weeks, so be sure to check them out. 

Check out our behind-the-scenes video filmed and produced by Rachel Liggett!