FIDM Magazine

Merchandise Product Development Alumna Keeping Busy in Hollywood

Merchandise Product Development alumna Talia Derksen has found her niche in the entertainment industry. "I have recently been working steady in the costume department on films," says Talia, who was head costume designer on the upcoming film Bones, which is currently in consideration for the Sundance Film Festival."I get to dig deep into every character and really get to know them. I love seeing the characters come to life."

She is currently on the set of The Holiday House, which will air on Lifetime in December and worked on the surfing film Beautiful Wave, which is expected to debut in 2010.

Opening Party: Couture Is the Star at FIDM’s Latest Fashion Exhibition

Couture gowns on display in the FIDM Museum & Galleries

James Bloomingdale and Wyatt Bloomingdale

Berry and Hayley Bloomingdale, Jane Bloomingdale-Cisneros 

James Galanos and Betsy Bloomingdale

Betsy Bloomingdale

Museum Co-Curators Christina Johnson and Kevin Jones

It was fitting that the FIDM Museum & Galleries launched their latest exhibition with a black tie event. The exhibition commemorates three decades of fashion design courtesy of socialite and style icon Betsy Bloomingdale. “High Style: Betsy Bloomingdale and the Haute Couture" features a stunning array of designer ensembles, from a feathered silk dress by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel to a lovely Christian Dior gown with hand-dyed silk organza petals.

A member of the Best Dressed List in 1964 and 1966 and inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 1970, Bloomingdale is the widow of Bloomingdale’s department store heir, Alfred S. Bloomingdale. A native of Beverly Hills, she is an internationally known socialite whose heralded collection of haute couture pieces has earned her universal respect in the fashion design industry. A friend of Ronald and Nancy Reagan, Bloomingdale was an honored guest at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library for a fashion exhibition entitled “Nancy Reagan: A First Lady’s Style.” She was also selected to honor well-known fashion designer James Galanos with the Rodeo Drive Style Award in 2007.

“High Style: Betsy Bloomingdale and the Haute Couture” celebrates the donation of over one hundred haute couture garments given to the FIDM Museum at FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising over the past thirty years. Featuring more than sixty fashionable ensembles, the exhibit showcases the creation of haute couture garments and presents a never-before-seen look into Bloomingdale’s personal life and style.  Other items on display include hand-drawn croquis, contemporary photographs, and magazine layouts illustrating garments ordered by Bloomingdale.

Costume designers featured in this remarkable exhibition include Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferre for Christian Dior, Hubert de Givenchy, Pierre Balmain, Yves St. Laurent, Andre Courreges, James Galanos, Adolfo, Oscar de la Renta, and Valentino. Accompanying the exhibition is a catalog and video documentary, which includes interviews with Mrs. Bloomingdale, Hubert Givenchy, James Galanos, Oscar de la Renta, Adolfo, and Francois Lesage, among others. For more information, visit FIDM.edu.

Fashion Knitwear Design and Textile Design Student Work Exhibition

Industry leaders and potential employers were invited to attend a portfolio review and exhibition featuring work by FIDM's Fashion Knitwear Design Students and Textile Design Students, including student blogger Adelle Burda (pictured below), who just began her second year in the program. Check out Adelle's student blog here.

Fashion Knitwear Couture
 

Textile Design

Adelle Burda

Fashion Knitwear Design by Adelle Burda

Fashion Knitwear Couture by Adelle Burda

Fantastic Mr. Fox Costume Contest Winner is FIDM Alumna Tiffany Kline

Gen Art and Fox Searchlight recently asked young filmmakers and designers to create a short film on how to make a Halloween costume based on one of the characters from Wes Anderson's upcoming film, Fantastic Mr. Fox. FIDM alumna Tiffany Kline participated in this contest and is one of four winners. One lucky team will win a bonus cash prize of $1,000.

You may watch Tiffany and filmmaker Alan S. Neal's short film here where you can vote for their film!

Teen Vogue Editor Visits FIDM

 

FIDM Students were recently treated to a book signing and Q&A session with Teen Vogue editor-in-chief Amy Astley, who gave advice on overcoming obstacles in the industry and shared some juicy details on the early beginnings of the inspiring fashion mag before signing copies of The Teen Vogue Handbook: An Insider's Guide to Careers in Fashion. 

FIDM OC Graphic Design Students Earn Praise for CANstruction Project

The Breast Cancer Network of Strength is raving about FIDM Orange County's incredible effort to help raise money not only for the Food Bank of Orange County, but also the Breast Cancer Network of Strength. Here's what they had to say: "Move over, Jimmy Choo, the talented students at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising of Orange County (FIDM) are hot on your heels." The article continues, "Wondering why you have been unable to find Bumble Bee tuna cans at your local supermarket lately? Well, now you know…over 4000 of them were used in the construction of the shoe – each can bringing with it a donation to Breast Cancer Network of Strength as part of Bumble Bee’s sponsorship commitment to our organization – a win-win-win-win for all involved." Click here to read the rest of the glowing article!

For more on the Graphic Design program, head to FIDM.edu.

FIDM Alumna Is Founder of Popular Fashion Line Porridge

Porridge. It's not just relegated to Goldilocks anymore. It's FIDM Merchandise Marketing Grad Laura Stang's spirited, soulful, feminine fashion line. We caught up with Laura (pictured above) to find out the secrets to her success. The proof is in the porridge, ahem, I mean pudding! Continue reading the interview with Laura.

For more on Fashion Merchandising, visit FIDM.edu.

Interview: Just Accepted FIDM Fashion Design Student Stef Tor

New FIDM Fashion Design Student Stef Tor has been a pro wakeskater and tried out for Project Runway 7. She'll begin her studies at FIDM Los Angeles in April of next year.

"I started thinking about my future beyond wakeskating and started getting back into fashion and designing my own clothing," explains Stef. Continue reading the interview to find out more.

Two FIDM Grads Featured at Downtown L.A. Fashion Week

As part of Downtown L.A. Fashion Week's Emerging Designers Showcase, two FIDM graduates -- Phong Hong and Fernanda Carneiro -- showcased their spring 2010 collections. The L.A. Times noted that Phong's Femme Noir collection was "primarily blush with delicate black accents such as bows and thin ribbon belts." Meanwhile Fernanda was "clearly feeling upbeat and optimistic, with sunny, floral fabrics and kicky day dresses." 

Read full coverage at Blog Downtown.

Fashion Design Grad Featured on the Big Screen in "Whip It"

Drew Barrymore's directorial debut Whip It, about a group of female roller derby players, features FIDM Fashion Design alumna Rachel Piplica, who recently launched Iron Doll clothing, specializing in custom uniforms for roller girls.

In the film, Rachel (who is a member of the L.A. Derby Dolls) skates alongside stars Ellen Page, Kristen Wiig, Eve, and Barrymore. By day, the Pennsylvania native is a production manager for Lucky 13 Apparel.