Dress Code

THE PARTY The Chicago History Museum offered up their iconic Uihlein Plaza for the runway event, Dress Code, debuting the competitive talents from Columbia, The Illinois Institute of Art, and SAIC, ultimately announcing the winner of FashioNext, an ongoing, groundbreaking fashion design competition. THE HIGHLIGHTS Guests were witness to the runway creations of some of the next rising stars, who were challenged to participate on this year’s FashioNext: The Charles James Project. The extraordinary executions resulting from the challenge to create a garment inspired by the design, pattern work or construction detail from a Charles James design, were nothing short of remarkable and impressed even the most versed-fashion enthusiast. In addition to the show, topping off the night, the winner of The Charles James Project was announced: Cynthia J. Roman of Columbia. THE BOTTOM LINE This now annual competition serves as an opportunity for Chicago’s fashion-centric schools to challenge their best-of-the-best and push them to reach new heights. Photos by Fig Media.