Academy of Art at NYFW: Emily Melville and Ivanka Georgieva

The Academy of Art University represented San Francisco once again at New York Fashion week - and they did our city proud. Since 2003, graduate students have showcased their collections, wowing the spectators at the Bryant Park tents. This season, Emily Melville, Ivanka Georgieva, Scott McFarland, I-Shan Liou, Myoung Hee Kim, Qianya Martin, Heather Howard and Cat Janky sent collections down the runway in front of an audience that included J Alexander (America’s Next Top Model), Leanne Marshall (Project Runway season 5 winner), Jack Mackenroth (Project Runway season 4), actress Nia Long, model Irina Pantaeva, Patrick Cabasset of L’Officiel, Koos van den Akker and b michael.

That's quite an audience.

Photo credit: Randy Brooke

Dynamic duo numero uno: This season was full of collaborations for the Academy students. Fashion design student Emily Melville and textile design student Ivanka Georgieva created a collection inspired by the landscape paintings of artist Leslie Shows.

Like putty in your hands: The palette was like putty, but instead of mushy and lifeless they were lively and refreshing. Georgieva treated us to eye swirling textiles that combined screen-print,  dye, iron and pigment discharge to recreate Shows's landscapes - and they were a vision indeed.

Posh and protected: Melville's draped wool fabric was intriguing and had a subtlety experimental. Pod-like coats progressed to pared down dresses with feminine silhouettes and creative cuts.

I really liked the...print wool and silk spaghetti dress. Why else would I feature a picture of it above. It was simply magical.

I was craving more...coats. I love that whole cocoon look.

Overall critique: Watching the collection was like drinking a glass of creamy couture: satisfying and delicious.

You can watch a video of the entire Academy of Art collection at www.academyart.edu.

To read more of my New York Fashion Week coverage, click here.