THE O’MORE COLLEGE FASHION SHOW RETROSPECTIVE SERIES
For nearly two decades, the O’More College Fashion Show has been one of the premier events on Middle Tennessee’s fashion calendar.
Throughout the years the show has been staged at various venues around town and on May 10 it will make its first appearance at the Franklin Theatre in downtown Franklin.
In the weeks leading up to that performance, O’More will look back at the events surrounding some of the more memorable shows and the student designers that made them so notable.
This Week: Back-to-Back Award Winner, Kat Seaton
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (April 12, 2018) As with any creative artist, successful fashion designers distinguish themselves in terms of their personal aesthetic. Kat Seaton captured hers in a big way by winning the O’More College Fashion Show’s Junior Award in 2012, followed by the Senior Award a year later.
Her junior collection, “Miss Robinson,” was an interpretation of how Anne Bancroft’s character in The Graduate might dress as a young woman. Her senior collection, “Hilda Kate,” was named after her grandmother and consisted of vintage and upholstery fabrics that one might find in their own grandmother’s house.
“The best way to describe my aesthetic is that it’s very ‘me,’” says Seaton. “That might seem obvious, but a lot of designers only know how to design for other people. I like to design separates because I want whoever is wearing my clothing to have the freedom to style the pieces how they would wear it. The consistent factors you would see in my designs are comfort, easy with a little bit of quirk, prints and femininity.”
The Kansas City, Kan. native says that her experience preparing for the O’More Fashion Show was excellent training for what she encountered in the real world.
“The fashion shows taught me how to prioritize and how to constantly multi-task,” says Seaton. “In the fashion industry there is a constant deadline to meet, and usually it’s a mad dash to the finish line. But over the years, I’ve really surprised myself at how much pressure and responsibility I can take on at one time. You never realize how much you can take on emotionally, physically and mentally until you’re thrown in the ring.”
Seaton has worked in New York City since graduating from O’More in 2013. She started as a designer at MILLY and recently joined the team at Mulberry And Grand as e-commerce manager. She credits O’More for preparing her to make the transition from the design side to marketing.
“O’More really gave us exposure to all areas of fashion,” she says. “A lot of creative schools tend to focus on one particular area like all design, but not enough business or vice versa. When I was interviewing after college I felt confident applying for different positions within the industry.”
THE O’MORE COLLEGE FASHION SHOW
The O’More College Fashion Show will take place on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at The Franklin Theatre, 419 Main Street in downtown Franklin. Reserved seats are available in three fashion-forward categories: Haute Couture ($200.00), Avant-Garde ($150.00) and Pret-a-Porter ($100.00). Proceeds will benefit new technology for the O’More Fashion Program. Patrons and sponsors will be treated to lite bites and sips, and will take home a special gift to commemorate the historic evening.
Additional information is available online at OMoreCollege.edu, FranklinTheatre.com or by calling (615) 794-4254, ext. 220.
O’MORE COLLEGE OF DESIGN
O’More College of Design, a four-year institution located in Franklin, Tenn., offers degrees in fashion design, fashion merchandising, graphic design and interior design. Founded by Eloise Pitts O’More in 1970, when modern American design was just emerging, O’More is rooted in the fundamentals of the field, yet ever-evolving. Members of the O’More faculty, board and alumni are embedded in the greater design industry, both locally and nationally, giving students a real-world education and extensive resources when seeking future employment. To learn more, visit OMoreCollege.edu.
-OC-
IMAGE CREDITS
Photography: Steve Harman
Fashion Designer: Kat Seaton
Models: Reflection Agency
CUTLINES
The “Miss Robinson Collection” by Kat Seaton, 2012 O’More College Fashion Show.
The “Hilda Kate Collection” by Kat Seaton, 2013 O’More College Fashion Show.
Kat Seaton
