Though famous fashion designers call places like Paris, Milan and New York home, East Lansing was the fashion capital Friday night when Michigan State Students designed like the big girls and boys and strutted their stuff during the annual Student Apparel Design Association’s fashion show.

Dresses ruled the Pasant Theater’s runway, which comes as no surprise, as dresses have been all over the runways of top designers in the past year. The most ubiquitous trend at the SADA fashion show was the bubble hem. This puffy-looking skirt was done right by some designers, giving a slightly bustled look, while other designers took it too far and it resembled a leftover overheating in the microwave, about to explode. The bubble dress showed up in all lengths, sometimes barely grazing the models’ thighs, and other times sweeping across the floor. 

Most dresses were cocktail length, and many students designed theirs in black and white. More than 20 black and white cocktail dresses were sent down the runway, and many were forgettable. 

Collaborators Katie Mutch and Daina Yelda did black and white right. Inspired by the designers’ upcoming study abroad trip to Paris, there were black and gray dresses accessorized with fingerless gloves, motorcycle boots, black patterned tights and red rose boutonnieres and corsages. Designer Yelda marched down the runway in black knee-socks-cum-legwarmers that were sexy and unexpected. The collection won the judges’ award, which is chosen based on several criteria including construction and overall impression. 

Some designers showed floor-length dresses, and the extra effort and attention to details these gowns required to work was noticeable. Kelly Duffy showed two floor-length gowns--one orange and the other electric blue--both trimmed with black lace. Kelly Bohnet took home the “Best Collection” award for her designs, which included two ball gowns. Bohnet said she likes to see things on the runway that are over the top and that showed in her designs. One model was resplendent in a plum gown featuring a slit to there in the front, an intricately ruffled top and no back. Complex and sexy, it was a fashion show highlight. And despite the longer length of that dress, Bohnet made sure her models showed some skin with a show-stopping navy blue mini dress featuring a stiff hoop skirt and black trim.

The designers showed many sailor-inspired looks. Emily Battista’s models walked to Shirley Temple’s “Good Ship Lollipop” in bright, empire-waist tops with white piping and accessorized with coordinating flip flops and giant lollipops. Ashley Stewart went for a more naughty nautical look with red, white, blue and gold dresses, tops and pants, and the sexy shirtless sailors who escorted her models (to Rhianna’s “S.O.S.,” natch) were almost as eye-catching as her collection.

While muted earth tones and black showed up in many designs, other designers chose to go bold with bright colors. Collaborators Asia Neal and Ericka Tyson worked hot pink, electric blue and lemon yellow into their collection and their designs were trimmed with colorful buttons of all sizes. They also used the bubble hem, but besides including it on a dress, it was given a new twist on a pair of cobalt blue shorts. 

Christina DeSmet was the last designer to send models down the runway, and her designs were noticeably more professional than many others. Dressed in shades of gray ranging from soft silver to dark steel and accessorized with purple socks and platform heels, all seven of her models—the most of any designer—were sleek and her designs were the most grown-up of the show. 

While most designs—and designers—were female, men made their mark at the fashion show too. Tony Gianacakos successfully dressed both men and women. His lemon and turquoise block print dress was a standout, and his male models looked ready for the beach with their bronzed skin, fauxhaws and shorts. Michelle Bates designed for arguably the best-dressed man, who wore a red and white shirt, skinny tie, black vest, black pants and red and white Nikes. He was a little bit Justin Timberlake “Futuresex/Lovesounds” and part David Bowie “Fame.” 

Creative accessories made good designs even better. Danielle Brown won the award for best accessories; all her models walked in chic black hats and her collection had a distinctly French feel. Amy Janisse was the runner-up for the award with models sporting Mardi Gras-like masks. Some designers had all their models wear the same shoes, like Rachel Kotwicki. Her girls strutted down the runway in sparkly pink platform heels. They were like stripper shoes—and that’s not a bad thing, as they were the perfect complement to her gelato-colored dresses. Joyce Seo’s models wore white leggings and white knee-high boots that would have been too drum-majoresque had they not been paired with Asian-inspired designs. And one of Emma Zwissler’s models wore purple striped knee warmers that were the only of their kind. 

The best designs included in the SADA fashion show featured well-done dresses, strong themes or thoughtful accessories. From hats to hemlines, the young designers showed a range of style and experience, with the best bringing a little bit of the world’s fashion capitals to MSU.