High hopes at Art Institute's annual fashion show

KODE PPC ANDA

When local employers scope out potential hires and interns at The Fenix tonight, they'll do so from the sides of a runway where models will strut their stuff with a throbbing beat as their hip-swaying and sashaying soundtrack.

It doesn't sound like a traditional job fair, but the Art Institute's annual fashion show has evolved with an eye toward more practical applications as an event for career advancement. Representatives from Tommy Bahama, Nordstrom and Mario's all are expected to be sitting in the front rows, checking out future talent in the designers, as well as the marketing students who put the show together.

"It's kind of like a first interview," said local designer Lizzie Parker, who has used students from the school as interns. She's also one of the judges who will rank the students' creations.

"This almost works like a human resources department, at least to get that initial yes or no. Fashion is very black and white. You can tell in someone's senior project or project of this level what their construction ability is, what their point of view and proportion and facial sense is."

At "The Streets to Fashion" event, 25 design students at The Art Institute of Seattle will show off their creations, with 10 of them highlighted in the show's three categories: street, ready-to-wear and couture.

Instructor Joan Kelly -- whom students lovingly call the real-life Devil Wears Prada -- has already predicted that at least two of those students will be headed to bigger and better places.

Omar Lecona, 19, goes to thrift stores and recycles material for his dresses. This is his fifth runway show. He graduates in the fall.

"I really want to do corporate work, intern at Nordstrom," said Lecona, born in Mexico City and raised in Queen Anne. "But I would like to move to New York."

Another classmate who is scheduled to enter the work world at the same time, Jennifer "Peanut" McMahan, 21, of Everett, is OK with staying local.

"I would pretty much take anything. I haven't found my niche," she said. "I would love doing it all. It's hard to pick a direction to go."

Her style is already being defined as "punk edge" inspired by Gwen Stefani, John Galliano and Jean Paul Gaultier.

Marketing students such as Gretchen Freeman, 25, helped put the show together. Of the 20 students who took a class on presenting the show, only two were designers, including Lecona. For show director Kelly, it was important that the marketing and design arms of the school work in tandem to produce the event.

"This is the one thing we can do to give these kids this opportunity to bolster their self-confidence," Kelly said.

She also gave them some job-hunting advice. "In the beginning, they should always work for somebody else. You don't have to go out on your own right away."

Although students are always encouraged to be creative, they're also grounded enough to focus on practical applications of their work. Kelly thinks one niche students have tapped into already is the Northwest's penchant for active/athletic wear. At the Art Institute, she said it's still possible to concentrate on the functional aspect of fashion.

Potential employers also use the event to start tracking future talent.

"Not all of them are graduating yet. A lot of times people will see them and think they're good and keep an eye on them," said the Art Institute's career adviser, Darcie Thompson. "It's a strong opportunity for employers to come out and see what are these new, hip, young, fresh people thinking."

KODE PPC ANDA