Throughout the semester we will be featuring senior fashion design students, checking in on their progress with their senior collection and picking their brains on inspiration, challenges of the design process and post-graduation plans. This week’s featured designer is Salena Holmes whose senior collection is entitled “Transformation.”

How did you become interested in fashion design?

I have always been interested in design. It’s weird, but I don’t remember not being interested in fashion. I was always into art and drawing clothes, even when I was only about seven or eight years old.

What is the inspiration behind your senior collection?

My inspiration stems from chemical weathering. I was looking at a lot of natural formations, taking the shapes created by negative space and contrasting them with the positive space to inspire a lot of my silhouettes and cutouts. Also, the idea of transformation and alchemy came into play a lot regarding the mood and textures of my fabrics.

What fabrics did you use in constructing the garments in your collection?

My collection is fall/winter, and I am using a lot of heavy fabrics in my outerwear and separates. I have a few coated wool felts, neoprene, coated linen and light knits for some pants.

 What has been your biggest challenge so far?

I think besides the actual sewing process, it was a really difficult process narrowing down all of the designs that I had been developing and sketching to the ones that I would ultimately create. This collection is something that has been in our heads for so long, it was hard to finalize a lot of the ideas knowing that the time had finally come to make what we envisioned.

What are your aspirations for after graduation?

I’m trying to have an open mind for plans post-graduation. After living in NYC for a while last year, I would like to return to the city and work for a designer that I love.

—Annie & Megan

Photos by Jenna Watson

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Hannah Gates

Year: Freshman

Major: Fashion merchandising

Inspiration: “I would say that my personal style is inspired by French influences and also just everyday necessity.”

—Cassandra 

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Winter 2013 is upon us here at Kent State, and no matter if you’re a veteran to the bitter cold or this is your first real winter season, a coat is a must. Although winter coats can be a treat to sport around campus with bright colors, various styles and unique details, a girl can’t deny that after a while her winter coat gets a bit…boring. A quick fix for this? Try out a cape!

Capes are an often overlooked fashion piece that double as an eye-catching trend and a smart buy to keep cozy. They’re easy to throw on, flattering to all body types and not to mention much more affordable than heavy winter coats.

Throughout the years I’ve grown to have quite an affinity for capes and began collecting them first at thrift stores (for mere dollars!), then branched out to stores like Forever21, Modcloth and H&M.

Seem tricky and daunting to style? Not in the least. Capes can be remixed over and over for a variety of looks and style, such as pulling them over a simple dress, accenting with a full skirt and even balancing out proportions when paired with skinny jeans. Many capes also have armholes, so no need to worry about practical functioning around campus.

If you catch yourself sighing over wearing your winter coat again before heading off to class this semester, just remember you can’t go wrong with a cape.

—Lauren

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