Although this ink-stained wretch can hardly claim to be a standard-bearer of sartorial splendor, we were mightily impressed by the combination of high fashion and wry social commentary that marked last year's show of apparel created by students at the Rhode Island School of Design. The latest event, titled Collection 2002, will grace the stage of VMAArts &Cultural Center this Saturday, May 25 at 7 p.m.

"This event is not only a great opportunity to showcase the result of the student's education, but also to give the general public a glimpse into the apparel design process in its various stages and incarnations," says Mary Kawenski, head of RISD's Department of Apparel Design.

I usually just turn the page when I see another outrageously overpriced advertised garment in the New York Times Magazine. But the high-caliber creations in this student show turn conventional notions of fashion on their head, causing laughs, admiring glances, and raising provocative questions. One outfit from last year that still comes to mind was called Tar-Nation, a striking dress done up with tar and feathers, suggesting the opprobrium that can come with the social consequences of clothing and other choices.

This year's show promises to be equally compelling, with RISD touting the way in which the diversity of backgrounds and approaches can be seen in the range of materials and styles presented by students. Senior Deirdre Pontbriand of Cumberland, for example, created a coat project that was inspired by the widow's walk, the rooftop lookout found on some 19th-century New England homes. Mixing Victorian femininity and industrial fishing gear, she used hardware from boats, ships, and fishing lures, along with wool and cotton in black, navy, and white with red accents -- a highly idiosyncratic amalgam that' par for the show.

Tickets for the event run from $16 to $50. The public is also welcome to attend, for a more modest $10, a 2 p.m. dress rehearsal on May 25.

Ian Donnis can be reached at idonnis[a]phx.com.

Issue Date: May 24 - 30 2002