This is why I attend Kent State1

Kent State University’s Fashion School was recently ranked third in the country and 13th in the world by the popular online fashion magazine Fashionista.com.


“The Top 50 Fashion Schools in the World” ranking by Fashionista.com includes design schools as well as colleges and universities that offer stellar fashion business, marketing, styling, textiles and technology programs. The list was compiled after the Fashionista.com staff spoke to students, employees at the schools, companies who hire graduates and industry professional. It also took into consideration tuition costs, demographics, famous alumni and variety in programming.
According to Fashionista.com about Kent State’s Fashion School, “With study abroad programs in Paris and Milan, a huge endowment for scholarships, and a high-profile program allowing you to complete a fashion-focused undergraduate and MBA in fashion-focused business in just five years, this school is one of the top American fashion schools and keeps getting better.”
Kent State’s Fashion School, under the direction of J.R. Campbell, offers two undergraduate degrees – a Bachelors of Arts in fashion design or fashion merchandising. Nearly topping 2,000 students for fall 2010, the school features a garment center studio in New York City which accommodates 120 students a year to study. Students also have opportunities to study abroad in Paris, Florence, London and Hong Kong. In fall 2010, the Fashion School also began offering graduate level courses in fashion theory, design management and fashion research methods as part of the professional MBA with a fashion concentration from the College of Business. Kent State’s Fashion School is one of only 13 member schools in the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).

The undergraduate program graduates approximately 200 students a year in fashion merchandising and design, with a placement rate in the industry of more than 90 percent. Some of the companies where Kent State fashion students are placed after graduation include Abercrombie & Fitch, Limited Brands, Kohl’s, JCPenney, Express, Target, Jo-Ann Stores, Inc., Lane Bryant and Macy’s.
Recently, four students from Kent State’s Fashion School received Geoffrey Beene National Scholarships. A total of eight $5,000 scholarships were awarded. In November, an invitation was extended to the university’s fashion school by the Chinese government to send 10 Kent State fashion design students to show their work during China's Fashion Week in March 2011 in Beijing. The chosen students will enjoy an all-expense paid trip and the opportunity to feature their designs before an international audience.
The Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising at Kent State was created in 1983 due to a generous gift from Rodgers and Silverman to the university. Their gift of their entire collection of garments and designs also initiated the creation of the Kent State University Museum, and through their support, the museum and the fashion school have been strong partners since their creation.
For more information on Kent State’s School of Fashion Design and Merchandising, visit www.fashionschool.kent.edu or call 330-672-3010.

Mood Board and Coat Project

Well as promised here it is--one of my Fashion Visual class mood boards and the project that went with it.  We had to pick any culture we wanted and we had to use at least one t-shirt.  We also had to have a two dimensional and three dimensional effect to the quote.

So here is alos the description that was on the back of the mood board:

I was inspired by Jewish culture, especially the old world Hasidic faith founded in Poland in the mid 18th century.  Aside from the religious aspects of the Hasidic faith I was drawn to the prayer shawl or Tallit, which is worn during morning prayers, weedays and Shabbat.

The main inspiration was the Tzitzit or the tassel at the four corners of the prayer shawl, which remind us as Jews to observe all of G-d's commandments.  When I came up with this idea I wanted to try to convey the very rich woven tapestry that is my personal Jewish faith.  That while I am in prayer, three times a day, I am set apart for a brief moment from the madness that can be our planet and our personal lives, by being engulfed in the prayer shawl I invite a tranquil and intorspective time where I can speak to G-d where he inspires and moves me in ways no one else can.  That this very private and sacred time is now being opened to you with the creation of this coat; I hope it invites you to find that time for yourself.

The coat was originally four double extra large t-shirts dyed a light cream color, with a few left white.  Included in this coat is linen canvas dyed a deeper brown color and some left undyed as well.  The material then was cut into strips about three inches wide and woven together.  The woven material is than all top stitched in blue thread to stabilize the weaving.  I used Blue Satin for the lining.

The weaving is also representative of the custom of Jews who are in mourning of ripping their clothes which started centuries ago and is most remembered in the story of Job. Job 1:20 "At this, Job got up and tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground and said 'The Lord hath giveth and the Lord hath taken away."

The layout for the board I wanted to convey the htought that the prayer shawl is for some an everyday part of our lives and for some identifies not only who we are but also what we believe and that reality sets us apart.  That we can find the peaceful, the etheral and the tranquil in our lives and all we have to do is look inward.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Its hard to try to describe the situation I am in right now.  I want to join  Delta Lambda Phi, the "gay" fraternity but I am have also been approached by two other fraternities to join them. The gay frat is more of a social thing where I could realistically build some good friendships with a small group of guys. The Honors Frat are based on my over all Grades and other factors in order to belong plus them inviting you.  One is a national one with scholarships and big time speakers the other is an on campus group not nearly as big as the other.  The smaller honors frat meets tomorrow while the national one meets next week.

To make matters worse, I have paid the $100 fee to the national one already because I felt so honored just being asked. Part of the problem is most frat meetings are Sunday's so I more than likely couldn't do all three and it is on days  am not even at Kent for classes.  I guess I have decided to gather the information on both Honor's groups before Imake a decision, but right now Iam leaning to the one I have already paid.  That and the other factor is how thin do I spread myself

The Fashion Student Organization I can belong and choose the fashion shows I want to be in, but the meetings for this semester I CAN NOT attend because I am in class till 6:30 and FSO meets at 5:30.  So I will just do the shows.

In a way its nice being wanted by so many people but in an other way its overwhelming. I think I may also sit down with a student advisor and see what they think.  Jim is worried about my spreading myself to thin, overwhelming myself and of course with winter coming on about my possible health issues.  In one way its rather nice being cared about so much, in another its not so hot, its very hard to try to explain it.  I know he cares, but there are times I wish their was more input what he would do if he was in my shoes.  Maybe I expect to much?  ould anybody give that kind of advice?  Will keep you posted how things progress.

Well until next time I am so glad we had this time together!

Well school officially starts for me tomorrow at noon with my first class, which is College Writing 2 and which lasts an hour. We meet Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Stark Campus and then I am at the Kent Campus Tuesdays and Thursdays for Sewing 1 and Fashion Visualization.

I am realy looking forward to the semester since I was sick for the summer one and had to drop out. I am really looking forward to the writing class if I have to be honest. Maybe I will find more of my voice. I will I know feel like I am back on track making my dream of a college education happen.

Today was rather quite as I have felt just a tad under the weather, I don't think it is anything serious I just feel more tired out than usual, hopefully I can get a good nights sleep. Well I didn't get all the doll work done like I wanted to which has me somewhat depressed but I know I will in time. I do have a dress started that is nice and will be part of a possible trunk show I amthinking of doing around my birthday if I can pull it off. Maybe 4-5 designs on top of the two from previous outfits that I did for charity. Will keep you posted.

Not much else here, looking forward to the Awards show tonight, I think the Emmy's if I remember right and I will probably do a post about my favorite outfits from it.

Until then I am so glad we had this time together.

Madame Zelda is in......

Is there a chance I said to much in the last two posts I have done?  Someone pointed out it seemed very private and my response was, "Maybe someone can learn from mistakes?  Maybe people will see me as more "approachable" if you will--more like someone they can honestly talk with.  Someone they can trust with their secrets.

Someone also pointed out I dwell to much on the past.  Honestly kids, until last year it is all I had and I was comfortable living in it.  It was a safe, secure, for the most part happy place and like I said I thought it was all I had.  Some where I knew the outcome of the past, things I felt I could control because I was the one that remembered them.  It was also a very lonely place because 95% of the people in my life now were not in my life then.

This person also pointed out I should dwell more on the future, what I honestly want and especially out of my life.  Yesterday Paula Deen was on Oprah and the topic seemed to be "Jobs before they were famous" and Paula was a bank clerk, when she was not in her home in terror because of her agoraphobia.  She said " All you need is a dream and the ambition to make it happen.  What is the shame is people who have the dream and never do anything about it ever".  I could have sat and cried because it felt like I have sat on a dream for nearly twenty years.

So with that said Madame Zelda "psychic par excellence" is in ( me in a fantasy roll for this post to tell the future) Welcome dahlink to my parlor Madam Zelda expected voi. I vee that voi are troubled by vhat vee future holds for voi dahlink. Hold moi hands and let us gaze into vee crystal ball.

• Madame Zelda sees: A bright and illustrious career for you in Fashion design in the very near future.  You will be, dahlink, one of the very best there is.  Demand for you will be overwhelming at times but you will love every second of it.  I can not tell if it will be Broadway, movies or Haute Couture that you will be doing but I see a large work space with a fair sized staff who will love you beyond words.
• Madame Zelda sees: You living in New York City the best are for part of your year and the other part of the year will be split between Paris and Rome possibly for shows, exhibits or even clients. Possibly hosted by friends and clients so you have some down time from your very busy schedule.
• Madame Zelda sees: You living a long and full life despite the fact that you have been so ill for so long.  The planets will align for you dahlink and health wise it could not be any better.

I know all rather silly post but they wanted to see what I dream of, that's it plain and simple put more simply...

• To graduate from Kent State University with Honors with a degree in Fashion and possibly a minor in writing.
• To have the funds to do my semester in either NYC, Paris, Florence, Hong Kong, or Turkey that KSU offers their fashion students.
• To have my internship with some major design firm where I can learn and grow the most.
• I would if I have to be honest love living in New York City, which is for the most part nearly written in stone as how else does one do fashion seriously and not live in New York?
• I would love to work in either Haute Couture, Movies, or Broadway Theatre.  I would also love to somehow incorporate my fashion into doing something again on an AIDS platform, sort of like Jack Mackenroth.
• I would love to have a celebrity clients and call them my "friends/mentors".  Their are a few I would kill to have in that list including Liza, George Clooney, Sophia Loren, Kristin Chenowith, Nathan Lane and of course my all time fave Tim Gunn.

There are simple things I would like to do as well..

get my sewing machine serviced
Buy a serger
Buy a professional dress from
Have a trunk show
Be in another fashion show
Visit New York City again
Not waste or feel like I am wasting so much time

Well I hope this fills the "thinking about the future" that this friend was looking for.  It all seems so simple really. Well until next time I am so glad we had this time together.

News of the day

Well today was my visit to the urologist about my current kidney stone and the whole visit was no more than 6 minutes long.  he thing is I am surehe charged Medicaid/Medicare $150, oh well.  He believes I will pass it on my own.  Drink lots of waterand if the pain gets to unbearable call me sounds like the advice I got at the hospital.  Anyway the painkillers keep me pretty groggy and I am somewhat of a space cadet but belive it or not I am geting some work done.
The work that has been is for the most part doll work that I am behind in and I want deperately done before school starts if I can.  I am also waiting to hear from a gay fraternity at KSU about Rush Week.  It would be nice to make some new friends, and I am really looking forward to school starting.  It is going to be nice to be back on campus.

In other news I also got invited to be part The National Society of Leadership and Success, because of my good standing when it comes to my grades.  I was very flattered, I don't know that much about it but I am going to do my best to get the most out of it.  It's the type of person I am.

I have to admit though I am somewhat blue because the Chesterton, Indiana Wizard of Oz Festival is coming up and I am not able to attend I agreed almost a year ago to give up te festival so I could save the money to study abroad at KSU.  I know in the long run it will pay off but I am really going to miss the festival and all of the firends I catch up with at the festival.  Oh well, maybe I will hit the lotto and can do both.

HUGE NEWS

I got an e-mail today which made my day, hell it made my week, my month, my year even. The e-mail told me that my design from the Habitat For Humanity Show was accepted into Fashion Week Cleveland! Fashion Week Cleveland has been called "the nation's third largest fashion week after New York and Los Angeles" by Women's Wear Daily and I was accepted! The show is June 5th and there are only five colleges that are involved.  Akron University, University of Cincinnati, Columbus College of Art and Design, Kent State University and Ursuline College and is Cleveland LARGEST fashion event in the year.  Right now I have no idea how many of us were invited to be in this but I know I am HONORED beyond words.

We meet our models this Saturday at a big gala event where all the fashionable will be and I am still whirling.  It seems like all these honors and I still have had no classes at KSU.  There is 2 1/2 years at part time at Virginia Marti but that was almost 20 years ago.  What does the future hold?  I guess we both find out at the same time.

If you are in the mood the Fashion Week Cleveland website is http://www.fashionweekcleveland.com/ in the meantime I amso glad we had this time together.

Change of topic

After the last two days of nothing but AIDS talk I want to change the topic--mix it up if you will.  I just found out Kent State has enough students for the Summer Fast Track Design program that I signed up for.  This is of course if Project Runway doesn't want me.  I am really hoping that in all honesty that they will just adore me!  That's part of this post.

If you watched this last season part of the blurbs for the show was Anthony Williams saying "He would do anything to win" well kids I know I would BIG time!  I have never wanted anything else except to make it big in the fashion design field.  I know hands down I would give my grandmother to gypsy whores just to have a fair shot at it.  My mother told me this story years ago that at the tender age of four that her and I had this huge argument about what she had me dressed in for church and well I didn't like it.  Wanted her to change it and she wouldn't.  Next thing she knew fashionista diva four year old that I was threw myself into the mudpuddle.

I got changed by G-d but boy did my ass hurt as well .  I vividly remember watching the Sonny and Cher Show just to see what Cher would wear that week,  same thing with the Carol Burnett Show.  Yet somehow we aren't born gay--GUESS again.  My mom used to tease me that I came out of the womb wearing high heel shoes!  Things have changed so dramatically since then.

I am not sure if I have ever mentioned this or not but it was my Grandma Dale who taught me to sew.  At 4 I was pumping the treadle on her treadle sewing machine, by 5 I was feeding fabric through the machine and at 6 her and my mothers great aunt taught me all the hand sewing skills.  Nearly 40 years of sewing in my life and I can not imagine what life would be like with out. Like I have said in a previous post I feel like I am finally becoming the person I wanted to be before AIDS came into my life.  It is not going to stop me anymore from pursuing what I want.  a 20 year wait is way to long!

All of the skills I have currently are all self taught and that achievement makes me the most proud, I thnk the confidence will follow.  Well until next time I am so glad we have had this time together...

Sorry for the delay

Yesterday was a really long day, one of those that did not stop till 11:30 p.m. I had school inthe early afternoon and arrived in Kent a little early for the photoshoot so I stopped ate lunch at Wendy's you have to love their dollar menu, stopped at the fashion school library and then off I wen to meet up witht he group for the photoshoot.

I spoke with this young girl named Fawn with Modista first who was working the table they had about an upcoming fashion show they are doing. The group arrived all but my model. Now who knows what happened, i still have no idea but I stepped into brave new territory and asked Fawn to be the model and boy was she ever gracious by saying yes.

Well girl worked those sultry looks and that outift to say the least and I am indebted BIG TIME to her! So if your reading Fawn--BIG HUGS, big kisses and thanks a million. I have to get the photographs I took developed tomorrow if I can as I still have a mountain of homework. I will post them here and then let all of you know whenthe photogrpahs are up on Collegefashionista.com.

Good news in my worle. KSU is GOING to be offering Fashion Studio classes this summer they just need 6 people to sign up and right now they have 4 interested counting me! SO lets hope they get 2 more. When I am in the class and fall rolls around I will go from Freshman to SOPHMORE!

Last night ended with Jim and I seeing "In the Heights" at Cleveland Playhouse Square if you have not had a chance to see this show DO! It was great

Sew For Haiti Photos (on mannequin)

Well finally, I got those pictures developed of the outfit I did for the Sew Your Love For Haiti Fundraiser at KSU School of Fashion design.  Let me tell you kids, the model they had got for me was FIERCE, she worked that outift llike no tomorrow! Her hair and makeup was FAB-U-LOUS and girl had an attitude which sold the outfit even more in my mind! I was the ONLY pant in the entire show which made me stand out! I was also the only designer with accesories which also made me stand out!

After being at my first fashion show I understand what they mean by a model has to know how to walk because kids some of it just wasn't pretty!  Some of these poor girls never smiled, had no attitude and walked not well at all.  No other way to put it, unfortunately.  Maybe they were friends of the designers and never wanted to bea  model because some the attitude was "I can't believe this %$*#%& and I am wearing this as well!? Maybe it was sheer nerves, maybe it was the first time they wore high heeled shoes who knows it was just off.

I was so nervous the whole night it was unreal.  But than my model hit the runway and my heart flew out of my chest!  The music was fabulous, the room was packed as we had a SOLD OUT crowd and when the models did the final walk it was amazing!

My outift is a Batistite top, a Chinese Silk pant that is more Magenta than burgundy, the Organza purse, head scarf and belt.  The necklace is made of coral, pearl and faux findings I had laying around. Hand rolled hems and everything was a size 6.  I do get the outfit back and I may have a buyer for it as well.

Anyway tonight we are going again because they announce the winners of the competition.  Hopefully I place but if not oh well it was a great cause and a great night.  My design on the runway!  I was also asked to do another show to help raise the funds to put together the Senior Fashion Show.  I get to desing what ever I want, but I need to find out more information.  I said YES!

Until then Charlie Dale Fashionista has one thing to say......

Dress Up For Haiti

CollegeFashionista.com has teamed up with The Fashion Student Organization at Kent State University to co-host a fashion show in order to support Haiti relief. All proceeds from this event will be donated to UNICEF. Our hope is that this event will be our way of showing that college students are dedicated to this cause. The runway designs seen at this show will be based around traditional South American garments in their culture. The event dates are scheduled to be February 12th and February 13th.


In order to prepare for the show, we have made CollegeFashionista Haiti relief shirts that will be auctioned off at the event for proceeds. In addition, we will be selling the shirts on our website for all of our readers to purchase.

If your in the area, definitely come out and attend the show. Our Kent State Gurus will be voting on the best look of the evening and we will post it for everyone to view on the site! For the rest of you, the shirts will be on the site soon for purchase. All t-shirt proceeds will be donated to the UNICEF Relief Program in Haiti

Thoughts for today

Well the sewing is going rather well and I have set my deadline for tonight so I can deliver my outfit to Kent State tomorrow after painting class, if I can finish it by then!  The hand rolled hems are taking the longest and I am going to have to see if I can get an attachment for my machine to do them by machine instead!

Classes are still going rather well, and yes there is still a mountain of homework every week but I have NEVER felt so alive in my life.  Like I am really accomplishing something beyond myself.  I have never been HAPPIER! To think I am not even in design classes yet .  Just wait till that happens, you my readers maybe reading about fashion 24-7-365 !

All work and no play

Between the never ending mountains of homework and the Sew For Haiti Fundraiser at KSU I have had precious little time for anything else today. Besides it seems that I am going through a rather rough spell with fatigue because of all the pressure and fibromyalgia. Tomorrow plan on doing a post about being Gluten free and is is a year anniversary since I have.

Thoughts on today

I first want to take the time and thank the responses I got on my Fibromyalgia post, it meant so much to me that someone out their in "internet land" is reading me. I also wanted to say I have heard about people lessening or "recovering" from Fibromyalgia but have not investigated it that much. I have how ever a year ago went on a gluten free diet which has helped me tremendously. I want to post more about that on Sunday as that is my one year anniversary of going gluten free.

In the meantime homework this semester has me damn near buried alive but somehow I am doing my best to try to stay at least current with it.

On a lighter note KSU is doing a fundraising event for Haiti called Sew for Haiti that is going to be gettign a lot of press and media coverage and I have decided even though I have like only 5 days to pull this off I am going to DO IT! The winner receives coverage on collegefashionista.com besides all the local stuff. So I will be doing my own version of Project Runway! 5 days plus school and a budget of $40 bucks thanks to Jim.

My finished garment WILL BE POSTED here for all to see and hopefully photos fromthe event as well. It will be the first time my stuff will EVER be on the runway---EEEECCCCKKKKK!!!!! Besides its a great cause. So until tomorrow............ I am so glad we had this time together!

It's Finally here--Charlie Dale, DESIGNER

Well I can't believe it but the day has finally here, and now at this time of the night it has almost passed.  This is the first real chance I have had all day to sit and post.  My appointment his morning was at 10 and I in typical fashion was early.  I hate being late one of my pet peeves.  Anyway the student advisor took me early and we talked quite a bit.  I learned today exaclt waht LER's are, which ones I can take and actually have a very good idea which ones I am going to do.  LER's are basically electives within a specific field.  We talked alot about my past experiences, what led me to why I am here now and wanting to start something radical. 

 I even brought along sketches I had done some time ago for her to see, she was impressed!  There is a very small possibility that I may qualify to test out of a few classes, which she is going to check out for me and will follow up with me at a later date.  Testing out means I could do additional LER's that I may not otherwise have been able to do!

We spoke about some of my charity work involving clothing making and some of the people I have the great pleasure of meeting.  At one point she said "You know I think you are going to be one of the main jewels in the crown of the Fashion Design Program here"!  I was stunned, speechless even.  We spoke about the former director of the school who I knew and considered a friend and she said "Elizabeth (thats the former director who died last year of cancer) would be so very pleased and proud"!

I left Kent State Main Campus this morning flying high and in tears.  I am still all these hours later, struggling if you will with what happened.  Almost like the after glow of really good drugs . I also left as a Pre-Fashion student, as right now I do not have enough credit hours to qualify as a Fashion Student.  I will at the start of the summer semester, now all I have to do is get good grades this semester.

 This week the school decides if they will be offering Summer Studio Classes or not.  Currently they do not offer them and if they decide to offer them I will be there this summer.  If not I will pick up non-studio classes that fulfill my major so there is no wasted time.  The other nice thing is all of last semester qualifies toward my degree in fashion!  YIPPPEEE!  Well gang until tomorrow...... I am glad we had this time together!

Some personal notes

Well after a three day wait I finally heard back from the Kent State UNiversity Fashion Design Program.. I called wanting information on how to apply and what I had to do to becomea part of it.

Well I needed my ACT/SAT scores which I have no idea if I even took those tests in school. I needed 12 hours of transferrable credit which as this point I do not. I have 6 and 2 1/2 years of non-accredited college credit from Virginia MArti College Of Design in Lakewood Ohio. Needless to say VMC is not a recognized accredited school according to Kent. Which is disheartening to say the least.

So I have an appointment On February 1 to meet with faculty, change my major form exploritory to Fashion and at that time will have 15 credit hours that are transferrable. All I need is better than a 2.5 GPA at that time.

It looks like at this time I will be in Fall classes that have studio time unless KSU decideds to add summer studio classes.  I can in summer take no-studio classes though and take them at the Stark Campus where I already attend.  So that is a huge relief.

The program is four years full-time which means I will be 47 when I am done or 51 if I go part time.  A period of time when most people are thinking of planning retirement.  ::::SIGH:::  well not me kids, either way life will just be beginning!  So keep me in your thoughts and prayers and in the mean time as Tim Gunn says "Make it WORK"!