Exhibitions

FASHION REDUX! 2013

Celebrating Roaring 20s Fashions!

April 09, 2013 – April 21, 2013

CONGRATULATIONS SARAH DAVIDSON!
FOR HER BLACK VELVET DRESS WITH LACE INSETS & TRIM, AS FASHION REDUX! 2013

Nordstrom joins the Costume Council of San Diego History Center (SDHC), Fashion Group International, and The Fashion Program at San Diego Mesa College as hosts of Fashion Redux! 2013, the History Center’s annual fashion competition featuring the interpretive designs of Mesa College fashion students.

Connecting this year’s project with our popular Bottled and Kegged exhibition, fashion professors Andrea Marx, Susan Lazear, and Diana Cavaganaro chose the ‘Roaring 20s’ as the inspiration era.

With Prohibition and the closing of legal saloons and cabarets, the 20s brought about a ‘new breed’ of young western women who bobbed their hair, wore fringed, knee length dresses, and typically used their fashion to make a statement against the old world establishment.

The four inspirations pieces chosen (two of which will be on display in this exhibition) showcase the variety of styles, fabrics, and accessories worn during this robust period. The Roaring 20s brought about a transatlantic cultural exchange that would leave an indelible mark on fashion for generations to come, which is captured in the creative designs of this year’s Fashion Redux! 2013 finalists!

The Fashion Redux! Project:

The Costume Council of San Diego History Center (SDHC) partnered with the Fashion Program at San Diego Mesa College for its inaugural Fashion Redux! competition in January 2012. Fashion professors Andrea Marx, Susan Lazear, and Diana Cavagnaro launched this exciting initiative to spotlight the History Center’s significant clothing and textile collection. Fashion students from Mesa College look at three inspiration pieces from the History Center’s Costume Collection that they will interpret as modern outfits or accessories. After students visit the three inspiration pieces, they draw their preparatory sketches, and begin the construction phase of the project. Projects must be completed by early April, when the fashion professors will be joined by locally known designers, including former Fashion Careers College instructor and Bad Madge & Co. vintage clothing retail operator, Tanya McAnear, to judge the dozen or more ensembles on a list of criteria for the project. Each designer will be scored, with the three highest scores being chosen as finalists. The finalists will then install their creations at the San Diego History Center, where they will be on display in the museum for a limited time. Towards the end of the show’s run, the competition comes to a festive end with a FINALE Party where guests will meet the finalist designers, discuss their inspiration and vision for their newly created ensembles; learn about the project and the history of the inspiration pieces in an illustrated presentation by Mesa College Professor Susan Lazear; and share in spirited libations and light hors d’ ouvres. The judges are on hand at the FINALE as well where they will announce the ‘winner’ of the current year’s FASHION REDUX! competition.

The Fashion Redux! Project and exhibition is generously underwritten by Nordstrom and The Costume Council of San Diego History Center.

Additional support comes from San Diego Mesa College, Fashion Group International, Inc. and local designer, Tanya McAnear, owner of Bad Madge & Co.

The Costume & Textile Collection at San Diego History Center is one of the premier clothing and textile collections in the United States. Encompassing over 7,000 items, the collection illustrates the history of dress from the late 18th century to the present. Items in the collection include clothing for men, women and children, fashion accessories and samples of textiles. Notable items within the collection are the Machado family quilt, gowns worn at the opening of the Hotel del Coronado, a rare extant 1840s Bloomer ensemble, believed to be one of only 3 known intact Bloomer outfits held in museum collections world-wide, as well as wedding dresses from many eras and items belonging to Mrs. Pete Wilson.

The Costume Council of San Diego History Center was founded in 1989 to help conserve, promote and exhibit the clothing and textile collection at SDHC. Membership dues and fundraising activities help support the research and preservation of this important collection. The Costume Council is modeled after similar organizations at the Chicago History Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and Houston Museum of Fine Arts.

The Fashion Program at San Diego Mesa College is designed for the student who is interested in a fashion related career. Each student gains an understanding of opportunities and a working knowledge of the various phases of the constantly changing fashion industry. The program provides the opportunity to specialize in one of three areas: Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Design or Fashion Consulting. Fashion Merchandising prepares for beginning positions in sales, management, buying, visual presentation, promotion, and wholesaling for both men and women. Fashion Design develops skills in the creation of imaginative finished garments. Technology skills that will be learned include sketching, sewing, draping, pattern making and presentation. These skills will prepare men and women for entry level positions in manufacturing, designing, and the home sewing industry. Fashion consulting prepares students to work as a personal shopper or wardrobe consultant.

Additional Local Judges:

Fashion Group International is a global, non-profit, professional organization with 5,000 members in the fashion industry, including apparel, accessories, beauty and more. The FGI mission is to be the pre-eminent authority on the business of fashion and design and to help its members become more effective in their careers. To do this, FGI provides insights on major trends in person, online and in print; access to business professionals and a gateway to the influence fashion plays in the marketplace.

FGI Judges include:

Julie Fought, Regional Director
Sush Mita, Treasurer
Jeanette Crutchfield, Regional Director Elect & Communication Chair
Kit Kurikose, Program’s Chair & Event Planner
Elle Chaseton, Secretary Elect

Tanya McAnear is a local fashion show producer (Bad Madge Productions) who has produced for such notable designers as Zandra Rhodes, Nicole Miller, Zac Posen, Charlotte Russe, and others. In addition she is a fashion instructor at Fashion Careers College where she was awarded “Instructor of the Year” in 2002, 2003, and 2005. Tanya McAnear is also owner of Bad Madge & Company, a retail store in Golden Hill that carries San Diego local fashion designers, vintage, antiques, home goods and accessories.

Jeanne Reith is an adjunct professor at San Diego Mesa College and San Diego University for Integrative Studies (SDUIS) as well as the Resident Costume Designer for Lamb’s Players Theater in Coronado.

SDHC wishes to thank the following for their invaluable assistance in producing the Fashion Redux! project and this year’s exhibition:
Susan Lazear, Andrea Marx, Diana Cavagnaro, Jeanne Reith, Tanya McAnear, Yvonne Larsen, Jeff Lewis, Julie Fought and the participating students from The Fashion Program at San Diego Mesa College.

History Center Staff & Exhibition Assistants:
Gabe Selak, Public Programs Manager
Keith Busby, Exhibits Manager
Tammie Bennett, Registrar
Chalotte Cagan, Executive Director

FASHION REDUX! 2013 is co-sponsored by: