Barry Photography Student Turns Debris from
Hurricane Wilma into Unique Fashion Statement

With an eye for detail and a clever imagination, Barry University senior, Candice Kenmuir, took debris left behind from Hurricane Wilma and turned it into four pieces of unbelievable art, wearable art at that.

Armed with her camera, a few tools, and four volunteers to model her creations, Kenmuir – a photography major – spent several days collecting the debris that most South Floridians looked at as a painful reminder of the storm.  One month later, Kenmuir had four pieces of art in which she photographed for Barry’s Senior Art and Photography Exhibition at the Monsignor William Barry Library.  Oversized portraits of the four outfits are on display at the exhibit, which runs through Jan. 14. 

“My images were created, in part, from debris left behind following hurricane Wilma’s tirade. They are intended to remind viewers not only of her destruction, but of the resilience of the people who were affected by the storm,” Kenmuir said. “Citizens of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, who go through hurricane seasons annually with their fingers crossed, inspired me to illustrate this idea of social tenacity and steadfastness.”

Leaves from an ancient tree that once stood outside Barry’s photo lab were used to create “Amanda in Foliaged Evening Gown,” while part of a wooden fence blown down by the storm was used to create  the ballerina-like “Gemma in Splintered Fourth.”  Her two other pieces, “Felicia in Roof Tile Couture” and “Jackie in 60-Watt Wear,” were created from damaged roof shingles and light bulbs, with the latter being a tribute to Florida Power and Light for the widespread power outage from the hurricane. 

Kenmuir’s exhibition project was part of the requirement for her Senior Seminar class, which she took last semester. Several additional pieces of art and photography by other Barry students are also on display at the exhibit.
 
PHOTO IDS
1-3. NO CAPTIONS
 

25 Years of Fabulous Fashion: 1980-2005
 
by Marilyn Cale
Fashion Columnist

Let us reminisce and revisit fashion trends during the last 25 years.
 
The Economy Boom: 1980
 
The western economy boomed. The dominant market was getting older and financially secure. Demographics changed. People were living longer and seemed to act younger at the same time. Old industries died, while new technologies developed and boomed. Designer labels and branding gained impetus. Brand names became status symbols for sports gear and sportswear, perfumes, electrical equipment, cars and fashion designer goods such as clothing, bags, luggage, scarves and spectacles. The appearance of affluence was reinforced by access to designer label goods.
 
Do you recall the big shoulders of the 1980s --quite mannish suits and appliqué shoulder-padded knitwear for women were softened with ties, bowties and floppy scarves, often worn with long boots.
 
Shoes were both low and high. The Princess of Wales set a trend for lower footwear and it became ok to wear whatever height you liked. In summer wedge shoes and gold or metallic shoes blended with every outfit around 1987.  Colored shoes of every hue were available through to the early 90s.
 
Everyone had big hair. Hair was frequently brushed forward and stranded to create another popular style such as the far right bob picture.
 
Influence of Television Soap Series “Dynasty” and “Dallas”
 
“Dynasty,” the 1980's television fantasy soap series, promoted fashions which enlarged the shoulder. One of the main characters was played by the naturally broad shouldered film star Linda Evans. Nolan Miller, the costume designer decided to go with her big shoulders and give slight emphasis to them. Every other actor had to be shoulder padded. In the 1980s 'Dynasty' was watched by a global audience of over 250 million viewers. Many who watched did so for a look at the 80's fashions which were always over the top and frankly camp. Throughout the 80s styles did filter to the mass market in watered down versions. 1980's fashion favored applied decoration on suits and T-shirts and beadwork on clothing.
 
The Clothes Horse Ambassadress of Fashion
 
Throughout her brief life, Diana supported many British designers especially Arabella Pollen, Bruce Oldfield, Amanda Wakeley and Catherine Walker. Initially she was encouraged by staff of Vogue to pursue a particular look.  As the 1980s progressed she gained confidence in her own fashion style and became more and more elegant, wearing what suited her, particularly by designers of her own choice: Versace, Christian Lacroix, Ungaro and Chanel. The Princess of Wales set a trend for lower footwear bit it was ok to wear whatever height you liked.
 
Less Became More
 
After the conspicuous consuming years of the 1980s, less became more in the 1990s. Not everyone adopted minimalism, but many did as they sought to blend and fit with an increasingly aggressive urban society. The silhouette became neater as shoulder pads finally died and jewelry became non existent or chic in its fineness and barely there quality.
 
The Long Line Jacket
 
Several major silhouettes identify the decade. The decade began with short fitted jackets, a shoulder padded leftover from the eighties that sometimes sported peplums, fluted princess panels or hip basques with fabric swathed bertha style shoulders.
 
Trousers for Everyone
 
Trouser silhouettes included the oversized baggy hip-hop look of Adidas wind pants and baggy jeans. Young people adopted loose cargo pants and fitness sportswear as a general uniform.
 
The other major silhouette was the same fingertip length jacket worn with trousers. The trouser suit became a mainstay of every woman's wardrobe. Trousers were straight legged and wider or flared.
 
Earlier in the decade in 1992-3 before the trouser suit became a wardrobe staple, black narrow jeans were worn and often teamed with airman's aviator distressed jackets. Blue jeans were also worn with a navy blazer and classic white or blue shirt.
 
Designer Jeans
 
By the 1980s, ripped, frayed and torn jeans were a normal sight.  Colored jeans from white through to pastels were also popular as were stonewashed blue jeans.  In the 80s, designer jeans with names like Gloria Vanderbilt, Calvin Klein and Armani among so many fashion designers became the designer label jeans to be seen in. Stone washed jeans became a must. 
 
Lycra in Jeans
 
The 1990’s saw some changes such as denim with an added percentage of Lycra to enhance fit and comfort. Jeans most definitely here to stay as 50% of the under 60 like to wear them, preferring them to combat trousers which are considered passé. Jeans with Lycra are so much more comfortable.
 
The use of Lycra was added to all sorts of clothes and sexy styles based on bandage designs initially worked by Azzedine Alaïa were especially popular with women with good figures. Lycra takes well to hot day-glo colors and by 1991 continental women would strut their stuff wearing these styles across seaside resorts of Spain and Italy.
 
In the mid ‘90s a fashion for Chinese cheongsam dresses and rich dress or interior brocade fabrics came at about the same time as interest in the British handover of Hong Kong. After 156 years the colony was given back to the Chinese on July 1, 1997.
 
Accessories, Mobile Phones and Pashminas
 
The Filofax died as many people now had Laptops or electronic organizers to keep records. At some time or other the only fashion accessories a smart woman could not be seen without in the 1990s was a mobile phone, a Pashmina, diamond solitaire ear studs or a small duffel backpack.
 
As with the patterned square fine wool shawl of the late ‘80s, the way the Pashmina was worn was important. The Fulham knot was the best way to cut down the bulk of the 2 yards long, 30 inches wide item which doubled as a stole.
 
Cleavage came back and a Wonderbra became as essential as it had been in the early 70s. Underwear became outerwear and was often visible under jackets. 
 
Towards the Millennium - Dressing Down
 
It's only after a trend has been around for several years that we can acknowledge it is more than a passing fad and deserves recognition in the archives of history. We each see what we ourselves wore as what was worn and typical of the era.
 
Footwear Future
 
Since 2001 the shoe shops have suddenly seen the influence of designers like Jimmy Choo appear in everyday footwear ranges. Unique, striking and adorned shoes with an interesting array of heels of all sorts are all the rage. Newer cone heels and Louis hourglass heels are catching attention of women again. Niche footwear outlets such as Nine West are gaining a market share.
 
The Future
 
Mail order and home shopping is growing. Customers no longer have to wait up to 28 days to receive an order. Orders from TV shopping channels frequently arrive within 2 to 4 days.
 
QVC a major TV shopping channel in UK, USA and parts of Europe already has over 5 million customers in UK alone. Ordering is simple and instant with a touch-tone telephone.
 
History of fashion courtesy of www.Fashion-era.com.