Trisha Frick (left) girlfriend of Hugh Hefner in Academy of Couture Art made Snow White couture Halloween costume. Enchanting! Thanks Academy of Couture Art designers Anna SOTNICHENKO, Laura KIRANI, Nikolle RAMIREZ MEJIA, Kym STYLZ, Valery MIRANDA, Emma CHEN, and Nicole GRANT
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: ACA Designs for Hugh Hefner’s Girlfriends
Hugh Hefner’s Midsummer Night’s Dream Party 2012 was a dream come true for ACA student designers.
Two weeks before the annual Playboy Mansion Midsummer Night’s Dream Party 2012 ACA student designers were commissioned to make Moroccan inspired costumes for Hugh Hefner’s girlfriends, Trisha Frick & Chelsea Ryan.
“We are enamored by both ladies. They had the most amazing personalities - so gentle and positive. It made for an experience beyond our expectations.”
“It was really special to see our method of making clothes on such gorgeous bodies. The design really came to elegance when you saw the fit and how it accentuated their body. I was amazed and really proud!”
Shared thoughts on the experience resounded as the ACA team came together to make the couture look. Karla Osorio and Rahel Sharew assisted with mentors Katherine Enyart and Sonia Ete on taking their measurements and drafting the design pattern. In addition they worked with a team on couture embellishment including Anna Bazhaeva, Rahel Sharew, Karla Osorio, Kattie Panchuk, Slava Tsoy, Raquel van Daalen Wetters, Angela Wu, and Margaret Roberts.
Trisha and Chelsea looked stunning with Mr. Hefner! Check out the looks here.
Academy of Couture Art Le Reve Gala celebrates next generation of haute couture
Beverly Hills — The Academy of Couture Art, recognized as being one of the leading accredited schools upholding the time honored tradition of haute couture technique and craftsmanship in made-to-order fashion design, hosted it’s annual gala at the Sofitel in Beverly Hills.
Hosted by Rachel Bailit of the Conan O’Brien Show the 2012 event, Le Reve, celebrated achievements in design from full Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design degree graduates through to the teen couture program.
Many special guests supported the special evening with the next generation of haute couture designers including the beautiful star of Tim Burton’s “Planet of the Ape’s” Miss Estella Warren; the stunning leading lady of Simon Wells’ “Time Machine” and multi-award winning recording artist Samantha Mumba; Leading fashion designer Louis Verdad; Miss Lois Aldrin; Miss Terri Gans in official capacity representing the French Consulate General in Los Angeles; Miss Southern California Fehbe Meza; Elizabeth Matthews from the LACMA Costume Council; Paul Mitchell’s John Paul deJoria II; and 45x-Gold Medalist, 3x-world Tae Kwon-Do Champion, 5x European Champion, 5th Degree Tae Kwon Do Black Belt, former Ford model and co-star of Warner Brother’s “Tekken”, Anton Kasabov.
The Academy of Couture is a genesis of true haute couture. In developing their role in the global fashion community, the Academy of Couture Art created for 2012 an Honorary Board of Directors for the College inducting two members at the Le Reve Gala: Her Royal Highness Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark and Her Excellency Michelle Czernin von Chudenitz und zu Morzin. Honorary Membership shows support for the ACA community and the mission of couture. Some members offer to make special guest appearances at our events or even hold intimate guest lectures in the college. Others choose to represent their support simply through the listing of college Honorary Members.
Founded by Sonia Été and Thierry Été, the Academy of Couture Art in Los Angeles provides an exclusive education in haute couture technique and design formerly unavailable outside of the leading European fashion houses. Students learn the delicate process of creating one of a kind pieces. From pattern making to handcrafted lace and beading, the program is an homage to the beauty, sophistication, innovation, intelligence, elegance and harmony of the creation.
Graduates for their Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design including Maxfield Freiermuth, Sarah Kim, Mariana Romero Tejeda, and Angela Wu presented their thesis collections. Justin Howard, fashion columnist for the New York Times commented that his “ones [designers] to watch” list will be growing with names from the Academy!
As part of their global program, the Academy of Couture Art was invited in May 2012 to participate in the Monaco Charity Film Festival. In honor of the Principality of Monaco and under the personal direction of ACA Founder Sonia Ete, students Katherine Enyart, Maxfield Freiermuth, Ciara Green, Sarah Kim, Rachel Nourmand, Margaret Roberts, Mariana Romero Tejeda, Raquel Van Daalen Wetters and Angela Wu created the Grace Kelly Collection. An Award for Costume Design in Film presented at Monaco Charity Film Festival was presented to the feature film, “My Kingdom” (China/HK 2011) produced by Andre Morgan and Zoe Chen.
Finally, the Teen Couture Design Club presented full looks by Rachel Cohen, Mari Goldberg, with special piece designs by Kilina Peltereau-Villeneuve and Michaela Purwin. Miss Rachel Cohen was crowned Miss Teen Couture in acknowledgement of her outstanding design, pattern making and technique in construction of her self-worn dress.
Proceeds for the evening went to the Children of War Foundation.
Images by Lord Byron Photography
Academy of Couture Art gets a double take from Monaco, France!
From Monaco to Los Angeles, the Academy of Couture Art designers are causing a double take within the industry. Able to hold their own on the couture circuit, this June 23 at the Sofitel Hotel in Los Angeles (near Beverly Hills) the secret to haute couture and the Academy of Couture Art will be revealed.
In Monaco, ACA designers presented a collection paired with red carpet couturier, Gilbert Chagoury Couture, at the Monaco Charity Film Festival held outdoors at the beautiful Villa & Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. The designs went beyond expectations.
Couture is not only a very specific and unique way of designing and making clothes, but it’s also a way of viewing the world. What makes the Academy of Couture Art so distinct is how it weaves couture through all aspects of the fashion industry. If you stick only to tailoring in couture, you’ve most likely missed the point.
So, what does it mean? Check it out! Le Rêve 2012 fashion show and gala by ACA tells the story of couture in perfect construction, design balance, mood of the collection, and special techniques to create magic in clothing from our graduating designers. You’ll even find looks that push forward what you would expect at a department store or large retail boutiques. After all, it’s about changing what we see everyday!
Be sure to see it before the press. For more on tickets visit www.CoutureShows.com
And what about taking risks? How does a designer be courageous working with color and fabrics you think don’t match but you love? How do you move forward when people say it won’t work?
2012 Oscar Red Carpet and Celebrity Couturier Gilbert CHAGOURY shares vision and inspiration with Academy of Couture Art 2012 fashion show designers.
Winter Wonderland: A Couture Wedding by bride and designer Michelle OH
When it’s Christmas in Los Angeles, you have to make it white. Thankfully we sit in the home of U.S. fashion manufacturing and are surrounded by all things couture at Academy of Couture Art. For us, a Los Angeles winter is wrapped in embroidered white sequins and beads with feathers flurrying like snow all made-to-measure for a very special bride.
Newlywed Academy of Couture Art fashion and pattern designer Michelle OH, made her wedding. With a team of emerging designers coordinating, by hand, all the décor, Michelle took the time to craft a gown she will cherish forever.
Since very young, Michelle had planned to be married under a Chanel inspiration. This year her dream came true. Her gown was designed in cutting edge Chanel-inspired style blending the traditional coat of queens worn when ascending the throne and a fashion forward look fitting her petite size that broke the boundaries for wedding attire. A mesh embroidered jacket lift high on the neck as the tailcoat draped into a snow sparkling train. From the front the gown sat delicately on a short petty coat adding a air of daring chic. Michelle’s wedding moment was captured in winter wonderland beauty displaying all the magic that crafts a couture design.
A fashionista snow bride is queen of her day. She sits in a world of luxury and glows in a rain of elegance. For the occasion, Academy of Couture Art designers took lead. Table stands and décor in Swarovski crystals were royal with doves of elegance signifying hope, promise, and God’s love. For Michelle’s occasion the dove shares meaning with feminine, creative energy as Academy of Couture Art students, Anna BAZHAEVA, Michelle PARSADAYAN, Rahel SHAREW, and Raquel VAN DAALEN WETTERS honor her talent.
In Spring of 2012 we will see the snow bride transformation as Michelle presents her couture gown in collection for the Academy of Couture Art runway. You’re invited to be ahead of trend as a member of the couture movement; friend the Academy of Couture Art Facebook community.
Career Highlight: Fine Art of Fashion
Michelle SHIN, Academy of Couture Art student (Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design and Bachelor of Science in Pattern Design) is recognized for her talent in the fashion illustration skills that distinguish an haute couture education.
Michelle was commissioned to do an illustration for a book on Marilyn Monroe, Marilyn in Fashion: The enduring influence of Marilyn Monroe, with never before seen images of the darling doll who had a major impact on entertainment and fashion.
She was originally asked to create a fashion design illustration in the spirit of the fashion sketch for that time. The sketch includes a particular gown worn by Marilyn during a uniquely celebratory occasion in the young actress/singer/model’s life.
Having a deep education in period fashion as well as modèle vivant, Michelle took the sketch to a personalized couture level that captured not only the garment but also Marilyn with her distinct personality and proportions.
As a couturière, Michelle would not let her client be compromised by the sketch fashion figure; after all, Marilyn was a major fashion figure. As a result, Michelle was awarded a bonus on her artwork.
The book entitled Marilyn in Fashion: The enduring influence of Marilyn Monroe by Christopher Nickens & George Zeno is to be published in Summer 2012 by Running Press a division of Perseus Book Group of Philadelphia.
Be sure to check out this momentous book for fashion!
Fashion Education goes Haute Couture: History of Academy of Couture Art
To address a growing global need for specialization in fashion education, Sonia Été founded Academy of Couture Art in 2005.
Prior to its establishment, Academy of Couture Art, under the name ESAM (École Supérieure des Arts de la Moda), served 10 years in the U.S. as a preparatory course for ESMOD International Fashion University Group and Studio Berçot in Paris.
The mission of ESAM was to prepare undergraduate American designers to be considered for direct admission to the third year level of these two schools of Haute Couture in Paris. During this one-year intensive preparatory program, candidates rigorously studied the techniques taught in Paris during the first two years of the affiliate school degree programs, along with the French language and the metric system.
The appeal for American candidates was to benefit from the European fashion education that trained specifically to industry professions and, thus, to the highest of technical creativity, fit, and elegance.
In the fashion industry, worldwide, a fashion designer is a styliste specialized in the art of illustration and collection development. Likewise, a pattern designer is a modelist specialized in the art of tailoring, made-to-measure pattern making, custom dressmaking, and draping.
Recognizing the need for specialization in the U.S, ESAM became Academy of Couture Art, an American fashion school teaching the very distinctive careers of Fashion Design and Pattern Design separately with French techniques revised and modernized for American and International production. As in the industry, Fashion Design and Pattern Design students collaborate to prepare fashion shows.
Now emerging talent in fashion can access the highest level of expertise along with a practical, professional mindset without the costly time and investment of learning by trial and error on the job or of traveling around the world to access these techniques. As a result, emerging fashion professionals bring more efficient, upper level techniques as well as marketable creativity to sustain successful careers and promote business growth.
Academy of Couture Art prepares Associate degree graduates to be immediately operational as Assistant to Head Designers and to require very little on the job training.
At the Bachelor level, Academy of Couture Art fosters vision-driven, personalized creative design for strong design identities, life-long trend and cycle forecasting from a designer point of view, patternmaking beyond the foundations, and professional business focus so that graduates are confident to perform as Head Designers or to create their own line.
With cutting-edge techniques and personalized creative instruction, Academy of Couture Art is at the forefront of fashion education to revolutionize the fashion industry and to inspire creativity and design excellence in the community.
