USC Fashion Week Fashion Show

On Thursday, April 14^th, the USC Fashion Board put on their third annual fashion show, utilizing local retailers from the downtown area.

Just the Thing

Van Jean

Van Jean

Brittons

Aside from the great fashions that were graciously loaned from the local retailers, the fashion show featured a local up-and-coming designer, Laura McCall. McCall, a sophomore attending USC as a Fashion Merchandising major, learned how to sew her junior year in high school from her grandmother. She started sewing with her grandmother’s old draperies and has been designing with those fabrics ever since.

McCall in self-designed shorts

"I'm very inspired by interior design," began McCall. "I'm mostly attracted to upholstery and drapery fabrics. Places like the Biltimore Estate, Versailles and various other European castles and chateaus etc. have the most beautiful fabrics in their extravagantly designed interior rooms on everything from chairs, to beds, to walls. I find these fabrics intriguing and challenging."

Dress designed by McCall

Her designs give off a sophisticated, hobo-inspired chicness, which she hopes consumers can relate to and even draw a sense of pride and confidence from when wearing her pieces. "I know it sounds silly not to be confident and prideful in your sense of style and selection of clothing, but so many people aren't," said McCall. "Having a classic silhouette but with a knockout bold, different, yet tastefully standout fabric print speaks volumes about confidence and pride."

Top designed by McCall

"I want to eventually have my own line," McCall said in regards to her future plans. "I realize that takes a lot of work so I'm focusing on starting small and working my way up. Ultimately I'm all about the garment construction and what fabric goes with what silhouette, with what bag, shoe, etc. I enjoy making clothing so much and want to make a career out of that to the best of my abilities!"

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USC's Fashion Board Presents: Fashion Week!

The time has finally come for the annual Fashion Week at USC presented by the USC Fashion Board. Held from April 11-14, the week is packed with events everyday leading up to the finale fashion show on Thursday night. Below is the schedule of events:

MONDAY, April 11

Kickoff event on Russell House Patio - 11-2

* Fashion show Ticket Sales ($7 advance/ $10 at the door)

* Fashion Week Merch sales: koozies/ FW Tees/ Fashion Week wayfarers/ Eco Bags

* Raffle for prizes and free tickets to the Fashion Show

WEDNESDAY, April 13

Bagel Breakfast Sale/Bake sale - Greene St and the BA

* Will be selling bagels/cream cheese and baked goods on Greene St. from 10:00am-2pm and at the BA 8:30am-2pm.

* All proceeds will go to the Fashion Board at USC Scholarship Fund.

Fashion Symposium Featuring Jess James, Style Girl and creator of Style Swap.

7 PM at the Public Health Auditorium

* Q&A afterwards

THURSDAY, April 14

FASHION SHOW - 701 Whaley

*Doors open at 6pm, show starts at 7pm

*Tickets $10 at the door, $7 in advance

*Booths with merchandise from boutiques not featured in the show

*Booth featuring Fashion Week Merchandise (Koozies/Tees/Fashion Week wayfarers/ Eco Bags)

FRIDAY, April 15

USC FASHION WEEK SEND-OFF WITH VINEYARD VINES - Greene St., Russell House 11:00am-2pm

*Get free promotional items from Vineyard Vines

*Hang out, play games and win cool prizes

*Celebrate a fabulous week of hard work & fashion!

This is definitely a week you do not want to miss here at USC and in the greater Columbia area. Can’t wait to see you out there!

USC's Project Condom: Season 4

On March 1, 2011, at 8 pm in the Russell House Ballroom, the University of South Carolina's Carolina Productions, Changing Carolina Peer Educators, the Student Health Services and Campus Wellness came together to put on the 4th Annual Project Condom Fashion Show. In addition to the creative runway presentations, the show's purpose is to promote sexual health and awareness, STD prevention, sexual protection, promotion of consensual sex and rape awareness.

There were 15 teams who designed outfits for models to strut down the runway made completely out of condoms donated by One Condoms. The teams can be made up of any student organization or just friends wanting to create a look to help promote a great cause. The outfits ranged from “The Jersey Shore” to an Audrey Hepburn inspired look.

This year, the winners consisted of Michelle Fantone, Heath Lanier and Christy Lester with their look entitled “Waking Up in Vegas”.

Their inspiration for the look was, “unlike in Vegas, what happens last night doesn't always stay in last night. Unless protection is used, our decisions from the night before can lead to consequences that can follow us for the rest of our lives in the form of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, or unwanted pregnancy.”

By using a showgirl dress made out of condoms, the team showed that sex and sexiness can be good and fun, if used with the right intuition and protection.

Here is a video recap of all the looks and a few extras from the show:

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TOMS Club at USC goes toe-to-toe with "One for One"

Katie Winn didn't want to start just any club at the University of South Carolina. “I wanted to start a club that would be doing some good for mankind,” Winn said. This would explain why she decided to found, and now act as president of, the TOMS Club at USC. The club goes hand in hand with the TOMS “One for One” mission statement and they want to take action locally.

When asked what she hopes will happen with this eco-chic club being on campus, she plainly stated: “I want it to benefit other students. Students at USC are capable of making a difference even if it is just promoting the “One for One” campaign. I want to spread the TOMS movement message and be a part of something bigger.”

The club has planned a few fundraisers to help benefit the Relay For Life race on April 8^th. On March 24^th they are having a “One for One” cupcake sale. For $1 you receive a cupcake that you can either decorate or pick out a pre-designed one. That same evening they are partnering with Mellow Mushroom for a percent night. The idea is to stop by for a slice to support a great cause. You can also pay to create a team with them and walk for the cure.

The national TOMS campaign “Day Without Shoes” is a day where people are encouraged to go about their normal days except, and here’s the obvious catch, without shoes. It is to get a glimpse of someone’s life that has to spend everyday without footwear. To help promote this, the TOMS club is doing a week of events including a Barefoot Challenge and a Barefoot Scavenger Hunt. Prizes will be donated from local businesses.

On April 5^th, the actual “Day Without Shoes”, club members will be in front of the Russell House on Greene Street with a banner. You will be able to put your bare foot on this banner in colored paint to show that you spent the day without shoes.

The TOMS Club at USC holds biweekly meetings every other Monday at the Russell House in room 305 at 7:30 pm. Meetings last no longer than an hour if you want to stop by and either inquire about joining or to learn how you can lend a helping hand to the TOMS movement and this philanthropic club.

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