Lasell Prepares to Strut for Runway 2018

Models wearing designs by Mava Otero (2017), from her senior collection Nourish. Photo by Paris Adams.

Each year on the last weekend in April, the Athletic Center is transformed into a state of the art venue for Lasell’s prestigious Runway production.

Runway is the annual collaborative result of a semester long project taken on by students within The School of Fashion. The show is entirely planned and produced by fashion communication and fashion merchandising students, and fashion design and production majors are able to showcase their completed pieces and collections.

The show would not be what it is today without Professor Anne Vallely, who began overseeing the production in 2001.

“My first year, it was in DeWitt. We had this rickety old runway and the dressing room was behind the stage; you could imagine there’s no room back there,” said Professor Vallely.

“The garments were dropped off at Yamawaki… left there by the designers. Then some models showed up (I guess someone told them to model) and I said “What are you wearing?” and they said, “Oh, aren't you gonna tell us?” So that was kind of my introduction.”

Since taking over the show, Professor Vallely has turned Runway into a Lasell staple, known throughout the Lasell community and beyond. “We sell out every year and we are now a part of the Newton Arts Month,” said Vallely.

Under Professor Vallely’s professional guidance, members of the Fashion Show Production class work throughout the spring semester to plan both shows. These students oversee every detail, from designing the set to selling tickets.

Senior Hope Dennis has the honor this year of working as Vallely’s Production Assistant, overseeing the entire planning process and serving as a voice for students. Initially she was hesitant to accept the role, but Dennis now knows the benefits and experience are worth the effort, saying,

“When I was in the class last year, there were so many things I felt could have been done better. So being in the position where you have the ability to change certain things and make it run more smoothly, I liked the idea of that. The thing I’m most excited for is the experience I’ll gain from it, and what that’s gonna do for my future after I graduate,” said Dennis.

Runway is the ultimate connected learning experience, involving all aspects of the School of Fashion into two meticulously planned fashion shows: undergraduate and senior collections.

“I think the biggest turnaround has been the ability for all three majors to work together. And when we talk about our connected learning philosophy, I mean this is really the biggest connected learning project on this campus. Everyone works together, and everyone respects each other,” said Professor Vallely.

The undergraduate show is the first to be held, featuring the designs of freshman, sophomore, and junior Fashion Design and Production majors. On the second night, senior collections are debuted. These are the culmination of years of planning and hard work; many seniors begin sourcing ideas at the beginning of their Lasell career.

These students work all year to perfect their designs before Runway, choosing models from the online lookbook put together by the model and lookbook managers.

Kristina Dragičević is this years model manager, after gaining experience from modeling in the show since freshman year.

“Whoever was the model manager at the time, I kind of looked up to them and I was like, ‘Wow that would be a great thing if I could do that someday.’ I’m looking forward to seeing how the models grow, how they perfect their walks, and seeing their self confidence go up. It’s a really great feeling and I want them to know what it’s like,” said Dragičević.

Categories for this years show include past crowd favorites such as the non-textile, swimwear, and couture scenes, but also ones new to this year, such as knitwear and two separate menswear scenes.

“This is the first time that we’ve changed the fashion design curriculum to be current, so now we have new areas of design and that’s gonna make the show exciting and new for all of us,” Vallely said.

Runway 2018 will be held on Friday, April 27, and Saturday, April 28. The event is open to the public, and has been included on the Newton Arts calendar. Tickets are available to purchase on Lasell’s website.