On May 8, Marist College’s fashion department hosted its 23rd annual Silver Needle Fashion Show, “Fashionation,” at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie. The program — produced entirely by the college’s fashion students and faculty — was presented twice: An afternoon show invited industry professionals to judge senior student collections, the results of which were announced during the evening exposition. Fashion Department Director Radley Cramer also presented several awards and scholarships during the later event.
Ninety-four undergraduate designers fabricated over 200 garments to saunter down the runway. Influenced by cultures and trends around the world, their designs ran the gamut of style — from bold forays into color and prints, to gravity-defying (and glow-in-the-dark) tribal-inspired threads, to men’s knitwear.
The Red Foxes’ fashion fête praised local inspiration, too: A collection of sportswear, constructed by third-year students, was devoted to Poughkeepsie-born photographer, World War II photojournalist, and acclaimed model, Lee Miller. Miller’s work regularly appeared in Vogue, and she often rubbed elbows with Condé Nast, Pablo Picasso, and photographer Edward Steichen.
Miller’s son, Antony Penrose, traveled from Britain to witness the show. “I did not know what an incredible place Marist is, and how many of the aspirations that Lee Miller had are shared here,” he said. “She knew the importance of fashion as a means of expression, the way that it enhances our lives and begs us to be more than who we are. All of these things I think are grasped here, and taken way beyond where she took them. And for me, that is inspirational.”
The senior students’ Red Dress Project designs were also on view at this year’s show. Click here to read more about the project — and to size up their creations.
Want to go behind the scenes of a Marist College fashion show? Meet last year’s designers one-on-one.
Click on any image in the gallery below to view photos from the fashion show and awards ceremony.
