Student Work Blossoms at the Macy’s Flower Show

Between now and April 7, on the main floor of Macy’s in Herald Square, you won’t just be greeted by an explosion of flora from the retailer’s annual Flower Show, you’ll also be able to see the work of FIT students. It marks the first time the college has collaborated with Macy’s on the project, which involved the work of undergraduates in Fashion Design and Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing in this year’s otherworldly exhibition, titled Journey to Paradisios.

Interstellar Explorer: A gradient pink dress designed by Charmaine Miranda, a one-year Fashion Design AAS student
Fragrance: Sì by Giorgio Armani, selected by Ruby O’Reilly, an eighth-semester Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing student

Zero Gravity: A silver-and-gray weightless dress was created by Isabelle Lorenzo, a fourth-semester Fashion Design student. Lorenzo said she was inspired by the challenge of doing the “unexpected with unconventional materials.”
Fragrance: Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana, selected by Noelle Harvey, an eighth-semester Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing student

Fashion Design students in the School of Art and Design, along with Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing (CFM) students in the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology competed to be among the seven who would have their unconventional garments displayed in a fashion “pod” at Macy’s. Using unconventional designs constructed from a paper-like iron-on interfacing called Pellon, each student took inspiration from one of the seven themes: Anti-Matter, Big Bang, Comet Couture, Interstellar Explorer, Lunar Landing, Shining Stars, and Zero Gravity.

Shining Stars: A purple gradient dress designed by Jacqueline Minor, a fourth-semester Fashion Design student
Fragrance: Tiffany & Co., selected by Tara McGuinness, a sixth-semester Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing student.

Anti-Matter: A red-and-black dress designed by Paulina Rydel, a fourth-semester Fashion Design student
Fragrance: Black Opium by Yves Saint Laurent, selected by Alana Weisenberg, a sixth-semester Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing student

Gerard Dellova, adjunct assistant professor, Fashion Design, served as the faculty mentor for the students. Dellova, along with other Fashion Design faculty members, and Valerie Steele, director and chief curator of The Museum at FIT, chose the winning seven from among 70 designs.

Comet Couture: A white-and-peach dress with 6,000 hand-cut petals, designed by Mary Perrone, a fourth-semester Fashion Design student.
Fragrance: Chloé Nomade by Chloé, selected by Aniyah Smith, a sixth-semester Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing student

Lunar Landing: An all-white textural dress, designed by Giovanni Bartolini, an exchange student from Politecnico di Milano, completing his fourth semester at FIT
Fragrance: Angel by Thierry Mugler, selected by Madison Donaldson, an eighth-semester Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing student

The seven pods also served as inspiration for the Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing students who chose one of the seven pods to pair with one of 25 fragrances that Macy’s retails. The students evaluated the fragrances based on the pod’s sensory feel, color, design concept, and thematic visuals. Virginia Bonofiglio, associate chair and professor, Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing, mentored the seven CFM students.

Big Bang: A bright yellow petal dress designed by fourth-semester Fashion Design student Francesco Rende
Fragrance: Daisy by Marc Jacobs, selected by Margaret O’Connell, a sixth-semester Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing student

Be sure to check out the show before April 7th!