A peek at ready-to-wear's future

The collections that hit the runway at Moore College of Art and Design's student fashion show Saturday may provide a peek into our ready-to-wear future.

From the sketch pads of sophomores, juniors, and seniors came several dynamic groupings featuring all things high-waisted and tiered. The detailing took an industrial turn thanks to exposed zippers - my favorite - and nuts and bolts, literally. Obi dresses and wide-legged pants are indispensable, at least according to these students.

Moore's end-of-year fashion show registered higher on the dazzle meter than in years past as 35 models walked an 88-foot runway under a 7,000-square-foot tent in Aviator Park.

Saturday evening's show (and Sunday's graduation) was the culmination of the school's 160th birthday celebration. Moore College President Happy Fernandez opted to take the events outside to spotlight the campus and the Parkway, where the school is located.

It was all glitz and glamour, from New York-based designer Mary McFadden to the check-in table - necessary at all top-notch shows - plus the presence of Philebrity and Main Line magazines, which seldom come to these shows. And as at every New York show, there was a request from photographers for front-row attendees to uncross their legs to create a uniform image.

Despite the excitement surrounding the big-tent vibe, the fashion focus remained on the students - both those who took the popular fashion-show-production class taught by well-known fashionista Sharon Phillips Waxman and the designers behind this year's very wearable collections.

Juniors started off the show with a series of shiny one-piece bathing suits in primary colors. The theme was "She-roes," and the pieces were based on favorite comic-book characters from Wonder Woman to Spider Man. The suits were bold with cutouts along the sides, spiders crawling up seams, and scarves draped around suits for a superhero feel. Lindsay Waibel won a critic award for a burgundy and pink suit, complete with cape.

Next: six collections of eco-friendly menswear. (Those in the fashion know recognized Greg Taylor, the designer behind the local label Walish Gooshe, working as a model.)

Themes revolved around the outdoorsy, from waterfalls to Tequila Sunrises to Miami. There were lots of layered looks, T-shirts, and cargo pants. A nod to the European influence in menswear, in a grouping called Dirty, Filthy English, featured skinny pants, leather jackets with big exposed zippers, and platform sandals.

Then came children's wear, and as each adorable tot teetered down the runway, the audience squealed. The toy chest-gone-safari theme was so cute.

The bulk of the night's collections were from 25 seniors whose execution of concepts was nothing short of stellar. It was clear that these students had been told to focus on cohesiveness. They all excelled.

Of course there were some standouts: Margaret Thoresen's gowns with billowing sleeves, minis, and baby-doll dresses featured cotton-sheet pieces juxtaposed with light brown leather restraints. All the looks were quaint, edgy, and striking, and won her an award for excellence in construction.

Ariane Johnson said her collection was influenced by Harry Potter, but it reminded me more of Diana Prince before she changed to Wonder Woman - complete with dark-rimmed glasses. The cloaks, ruffled dresses, and oxford shoes in mustards, navies, and burgundies made for several sharp looks.

Sarah Friel's noir grouping, inspired by Las Vegas interiors, featured sophisticated dresses cut on a bias for amazingly chic silhouettes. Cody Scott showed off her attention to detail with jumpsuits and color-block dresses with toolbox details (think bolts and screws) along the back.

And Allison Montague made me crave cooler weather with slightly less-than-chunky knits in wide-legged pants, scarves, and dresses. Montague received an award for senior class knitwear collection and the Charming Shoppes award for most salable collection.

It's worth mentioning the women's wear that took it up a notch with a coat of creativity. Vaso Constantinou's '50s-inspired luxury evening wear collection - which won an award from David's Bridal for best of show - included one gown featuring 600 peacock feathers. So elegant.

Sarah Tonemah's grouping of striped and dotted dresses and jumpsuits made for a brilliant circus-themed collection, including a bubble-mini that magically transformed into a gown with an extravagant train. Tonemah won the Mary McFadden Award for a gown that was part of the finale group of formal wear featuring a goddess theme. Bravo.