Celebrating its 80th anniversary, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) puts on a fashion show every year to showcase the work of its current students.
On Friday, May 2 the school will hold its annual presentation at Millennium Park, and there's a good reason to expect a great show. Three, actually:
- This isn't your average student fashion show. Industry insiders like J.Crew's Jenna Lyons, designer Jason Wu and clothier Ikram Goldman have attended in the past, and SAIC alumni include Halston, Cynthia Rowley and Creatures of the Wind.
- Approximately 250 student-designed works will walk the runway. The show begins with the sophomores, followed by the juniors and seniors. Watching the progression is pretty amazing, and the avant-garde looks combine fashion with painting, sculpture, sound and technology.
- Following the student presentations, artist and SAIC faculty member Nick Cave has put together a three-part performance he'll debut at THE WALK 2014, the annual benefit gala supporting the school and its students through scholarships. Cave is best known for his otherwordly, wearble works of art called Soundsuits, shown everywhere from the Louvre to the pages of Vogue. Details of Cave's performance are being kept under wraps, but judging by the way Cave has combined dance, sound, color and fashion in past presentations. It will certainly be memorable.
Tickets to THE WALK 2014 on Friday evening begin at $500. For a more wallet-friendly alternative, you can catch one of three daytime student runway presentations at 9 a.m., 12 p.m. or 3 p.m., starting at $40. Purchase tickets at 312-499-4190 or saicfashion.org.