VCU magazine (1993-01)

              JANUARY IFEBRUARY 1993 VOLUME 21, NUMBER 3
A PUBLICATION FOR ALUMNI OF THE ACADEMIC AND MEDICAL COLLEGE OF VIRGINIA CAMPUSES OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
JANUARY 20-24: THE COMMONS' GRAND OPENING
Fashion Design Alumna
Conducts Seminar
If you set your sights for 6-foot, Veruschka-sized
mooels to glide and pirouette down the runways
for Precious lovell's '81 Br:4jashionclothing
line, you'll have to lower them a few feet. But
eventually they'll crawl or toddle out to display
the latest in fashion design-for children.
Her Candied Yams line is really for children;
no mini versions of adult c1mhes here. They're
designed with the wearer in mind-fun colors,
bold patterns, natural fabrics. With no zippers or
buttons (except in the crotch; ~ It's all done with
drawstrings," says LDvell) to fumble with, her
clever designs suit parent'}' needs as well: brothers
and sisters can share the unisex design, and
they're fully reversible.
Just as thorough in her seminar as she is in her
work, in late fall Lovell returned to campus to
share her experiences with veu design students.
She anned fashion design hopefuls at veu with
packets of infomlation---lists of trade shows,
forecasting services, design l:x:>oks, and various job
descriptions and tales she's accumulated during
her treks up and down Seventh Avenue.
preSident, but he'~ my
Jam: sJl1onV'layer. "
She went to New York straight from VCU and
within three months found a job as assistant
designer for a junior sp:ntswear finn. Wimin the
year she was offered a position as an assistant
designer in Izoo Laco...,te's children's division.
Lovell hedged, thinking it a field she wasn't too
keen on.
"But a head hunter convinced me it'd be a
good move wim a good company, so I accepted."
opening up the new section with a proud
announcement to "Let the tours beginr
(CI •• III-CUnll£SI. 'ICE 4)
She soon found it vel)' much to her liking.
After several ye-J.fS as a full designer, feeling
the time had come to shift gears, she quit her job,
took her savings and moved to Paris.
"} didn't know a soul there. But Paris was
inspirational for me. I attended designer showings,
museums, shopped the stores, sketched-and got
a real bug for travelo n Her journeys to Africa and
omer parts of Europe had meir effea on her
design development, as well.
It only took her six monms back on Seventh
Avenue, her d1YS again filled primarily with more
papenvork than design, when her frustration led
her to break away to become a full-time free-lance
deSigner. That has given her a wealth of
experience with me biggest names in children's
wear such as Health-tex, Macy's, Oshkosh,
Absorba, and Nanette. And she's even had her
moments of being on the silver screen, costuming
me Iinle girl in Spike Lee's film, 'Jungle Fever.n
Advising students mat organization is one part
of me success equation in me professional world
of fashion design, Lovell also says anomer vital
part is having mat art degree from a good design
school.
Photo by Media Production Services, Veu.
Social Work Alumna Fills
ProvosllVP POSition
In January Dr. Grace Harris '60 MSIV replaced
Dr. Charles Ruch as provost and vice president for
academic affairs. Previously she was vice provost
for continuing studies and public service.
The Board of Visitors approved the
appointment, which was issued to fill the vacancy
made as Ruch assumes me presidency of Boise
State University in Idaho.
Harris' appointment will expire on June 30,
1995. A national search for the position will take
place after the reorganization of the Office of the
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Sue Ann Messmer, who has served as assistant
dean and direaor of gmduate studies in the
School of the Arts, will serve as interim vice
provost for continuing studies and public service.
The board also approved me appointment of
Dr. William Dewey, vice provost for research and
graduate studies, as vice president for research
and graduate studies. This change separates me
research and graduate studies area from the Office
of Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs.
A search will begin to fill his fonner post.