By Diana Cavagnaro

Seizing the sunset

The 36th annual Golden Scissors Fashion Show and Awards was presented by San Diego Mesa College at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina on May 12.

Mesa College fashion program directors Susan Lazear and Meegan Feori welcomed the large crowd and the evening began with a fun silent auction and a VIP reception with hors d’oeuvres while being serenaded with music by Mark Padua.

The first segment on the runway began with the theme for the evening, “Seize the Sunset.”

Models came down the runway wearing garments in sunset shades and hues, including colors of tangerine, purple and crimson. First place was awarded to Rachel Merrill.

One segment showed off the ingenuity of the students using the latest technology with LED lights and fiber optics. Stephanie Castro took first place for this category and Kaanchan S. Farkiya, Ms. Asian North America, also wore this creative dress.

A crowd pleaser was the “little girl dresses” section. These darling little girls came down the walkway two by two. Kathleen Totako took first place and Brook Druen was given first place for her textile design. Nada Zein took first place for weekend wear reflecting the beautiful colors of a sunset.

Additional categories were “upcycle” and “costume-influenced.” Deans and administrators at Mesa College delighted the crowd by modeling the millinery section on the runway.

This audience-pleaser concluded with President Pamela Luster and Vice President Tim McGrath showing off their chapeaus.

The finale of the evening showed off “evening wear” and “special occasion.”

During the fashion show, the collections of the students were interspersed in-between the regular scenes.

Juliet Sailo won for the most creative collection. Sailo used the Chin tribe as her inspiration. The peacock represents power and glory and the porcupine represented the strength of the tribe.

This was a very creative collection with cotton hand-loomed textiles. Lina Mills took first place for her Desert Wanderer collection and won Best of Show for her detailed workmanship.

This collection was inspired by the desert landscape including the textures and colors of sand dunes.

The entire evening was the collaboration of many departments at Mesa College beginning with the Promotion students who worked all semester putting on this one event.

Other departments included audiovisual, Mesa printing and mail service for printing and publishing, and the Dance Department who performed on the runway.

Hair and make-up was done by San Diego City College and show production by Gretchen Bergman.

Additional first prize winners were: day/career wear, Christiann Moore; millinery, Richard Ennis; millinery CE, Guadalupe Saucedo; upcycle, Rachel Merrill; costume influence, Juliet Salio; unFabric, Juliana Rintoul; evening wear, Rachel Merrill; and the Rising Star Award went to Azia Moreno.

The fashion program at San Diego Mesa College is a two-year program. This community college offers an associate of science degree or certificates of achievement in fashion design, fashion merchandising and computer technology in design or merchandising.

For more information about this awesome program, call Susan Lazear at 619-388-2205.

Upcoming events:

June 8 | FAB Workshop — This workshop is part of Fashion Week San Diego and features finding and leasing retail space, presented by Carrie Bobb at FIDM San Diego. 350 10th Ave. #300 from 6 p.m.–7 p.m. The cost is free.

June 24 | Off to the Races — come to a hat party at Bubbles Boutique and make your own fascinator for opening day. Located at 226 Fifth Ave. from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Cost is $90. RSVP at [email protected] or call 619-236-9003.

July 20 | Fourth annual Her Universe Fashion Show — At San Diego Comic-Con, fashion designers compete for a chance to design a collection for Hot Topic. Hosted by Ashley Eckstein and features a panel of celebrity judges. Need Comic-Con badge to attend. Located at Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel. 1 Market Place, in the Marina District.

—Diana Cavagnaro is an internationally renowned couture milliner based in the Historic Gaslamp Quarter. Learn more about our hat designer, teacher and blogger at DianaCavagnaro.com