The Ulster BOCES Fashion Design & Merchandising students at the Career & Technical Center hosted their premier event: the Spring Gallery Show. This year the theme was “Fashion Through the Decades.”

Juniors were tasked with focusing on the decades of the 1930s through the 1940s. Many of the garments they designed and created appropriately emphasized clothing for women in the workforce. Seniors in the class were charged with replicating fashion trends from the era of social reform—1950s through 1970s.

The comprehensive, cross-curricular assignment featured professional photo shoots at popular venues like the Reher Center and Coach House Players in Kingston, and featured student-models from the various Ulster BOCES career area programs. Also contributing to the design-to-event production were TOP (transitional occupation program) students, who built and painted backdrops. Graphic & Visual Arts students created a photography exhibit that reflected the architecture of the times. Cosmetology students provided hair and makeup for the models, and Music Production students provided tunes from each era that accompanied slide shows of the photo shoots.

The culmination of this exciting project is the Look Book. During the exhibit, students and staff were treated to some of the photos that will grace the pages of the Look Book. The event concluded with a reception for the students’ families, friends, and the community.

Fashion Design & Merchandising student Courtney Winne says she found that the first step of the multifaceted endeavor was the hardest part—researching and choosing a decade to base her fashion collection on. “I always liked the greaser side of the 1950s, but I ended up going with a mix of rockabilly and 1950s pinup style,” said the Onteora senior, who will be attending SUNY Ulster for Fashion Design in the fall.

Winne, whose designs include a gingham wrap top and sailor shorts and a polka dot pencil skirt with a red belt and kitten heels, says she isn’t sure what career path she is going to pursue. Thanks to the Ulster BOCES Fashion Design program and her role as the program’s resident photographer, she is open to exploring more in that field. “My [Ulster BOCES] English teacher Mr. Baxter has taught me a lot about it, so I am not sure where I want to go,” she said, adding she has enjoyed the months-long assignment. “I am so sad this is coming to an end. I am going to miss BOCES.”