ESCAPE Lookbook Teaser!

Dying to see what we have in store for the ESCAPE Lookbook?! 

Here's a short preview of the amazing photography 

by Diego Campos! 

Thank you also for the fantastic STYLING by Sammy Luterbach, HAIR by Shannon Mortl, MAKE-UP by Kirsten Klevar and to all the MODELS: Brittany Lange, Chelsi Zollner, Meredith Kervin and Isabel Cupino :)

NEW YORK

PARIS

 TOKYO

 LONDON

Behind the Scenes: ESCAPE Lookbook Photoshoot

ESCAPE Lookbook Photographer: Diego Campos

This past weekend, the Fashion Show Lookbook Committee had the pleasure of working with the amazing Diego Campos. Diego is a Chicago based fashion photographer and did us the honor of shooting our exciting Lookbook project. He has an astounding photography portfolio ranging from editorials to street style, and even runway from his trip to New York Fashion Week last fall. What makes this all most amazing is that he’s only 18! Read our interview with him below and find out more about what goes behind his beautiful photography.

How long have you been doing photography?

I’ve been doing photography for two and a half years and fashion photography for two years.

Where did your interest for fashion photography start?

My interest for fashion photography was more so discovered by an experimental approach. I was always interested in fashion but never really studied it or was passionate about it as much as now. When I had my first fashion shoot in a studio, I was overwhelmed with the amount of work it took to produce a successful shoot, but I suddenly gained a new, firm passion for it.

What has been your most fun/interesting project?

The UW Fashion Show Lookbook actually! I definitely tried newer things this time around as far as creating setups for each shot. Every shot was so different from each other and it challenged my innovation to a whole new level in a good way. It made me grow as a photographer by experimenting with ideas I’ve always been afraid of doing. I realized overcoming fear in that aspect allowed growth to take place! It was also the most physically exhausting project I’ve done but it was great anyway because I had fun working with such creative, professional, and fashionable people!

What’s the most difficult part about being a photographer, especially in the fashion scene?

The toughest part of being a photographer, and even for a fashion designer, is finding your personal style! Personal style has to be present and consistent in all works created. A style will set you apart from everyone else and it’s a unique factor that will distinguish you as yourself and only yourself. Clients will book you for your style. Many fashion photographers in the industry know how to take a beautiful photo, but having that unique style in your work will set you apart. I think I’ve found my style but it’s something that takes a while to discover; it’s a very intimate and personal process. I personally have found it through meditation, through music when images literally pop in my head and my visions transform from one to another, and by literally asking myself who I am. Self-identity is definitely key in establishing your style!

You’re only 18 yet you have such an impressive background. You had the opportunity to go to New York Fashion Week last fall! Tell us about that.

Yes! Well, I shot runway for Emerson Spring 2012 and backstage for hair and makeup last fall. I had entered an international fashion photography contest, held by Kelly Cutrone, in which I placed third. Several months later I met Kelly Cutrone, a fashion publicist and owner of People’s Revolution, at a book-signing event at Macy’s. We spoke about fashion photography and my passion for it and she realized how passionate I was that she gave me the opportunity to go to NY Fashion Week. I was absolutely ecstatic!

What are your future plan both career and education wise? Where do you want to see yourself in the future?

I have so many plans and goals as a fashion photographer. The ultimate goal is to shoot for high-end fashion magazines such as Dazed and Confused, i-D, Vogue, Elle, and Flare to name a few. I also want to be signed with MANAGEMENT+ARTISTS, a photography agency that represents some of the top fashion photographers. Before all of that though, I hope to attend Parsons this fall.

What’s your dream job?

My dream job is to be a fashion photographer until I die! I will never be sick of it. It’s simply my life and to remove it from my life is comparable to dying.

We want to thank Diego SO MUCH for all his hard work and dedication. We can’t wait to show everyone this project! 

Below are just some examples of Diego's previous work :D

 

*Interview by Lucy Angel

ESCAPE Lookbook Hair Inspiration!

Just wanted to share some of the hair inspiration for the 
ESCAPE Lookbook Photoshoot that happened over the weekend!

TOKYO, Winter

LONDON, Spring

NEW YORK, Summer

PARIS, Fall

Special Fasionable Guest!!!

If you haven’t heard of CollegeFashionista yet, we are sorry to say that you are missing out! CollegeFashionista is a street style blog where appointed Style Gurus at colleges all around the world contribute and talk about trends on their campuses. If you attend school in California, you can still see what everyone is wearing at NYU, Yale, or even UW-Madison. There are seven Style Gurus interning at UW-Madison this semester. They report on style, beauty and men’s trends seen on the stylish streets of Madison.

We are excited to announce that CollegeFashionista will play a fun role in the event at our 7pm show on May 4^th. Style Gurus will be snapping photos and conducting interviews from the red carpet, so dress to impress! Amy Levin, Founder and Creative Director of the site and fashion industry notable, will be attending our show as an honored guest. This is enormously exciting, so be sure to say hello, snag a picture or do some networking with her. At our awards ceremony following the runway show, CollegeFashionista will be giving away two awards, one for Best Dressed Audience Member and one for Best Designer. 

We know you can’t wait to talk to her, so here’s a mini interview with Amy Levin to hold you over until the show!

What do you think about the street style in Madison, Wisconsin? How does it compare to the students in NYC, where you live?

Amy Levin: I am always impressed with the fashion that comes out of Madison. This school attracts an eclectic group of students who are definitely comfortable taking risks. You won't see the extreme bold statements that the students in NYC rock but you will see students taking inspiration from the runway and wearing a variation of major trends. 

Why do you think CollegeFashionista resonates with the students at UW-Madison?

AL: As a whole, students who attend Madison seem to have a strong interest in fashion, even those students who aren't directly related to the fashion program.  

What’s your best style secret for college students everywhere?

AL: Shop vintage! College campuses tend to have awesome local vintage boutiques where students can easily update their wardrobe on a budget.  

We’re so excited that you’re coming to our “Escape” fashion show! What are you most looking forward to at the event?

AL: Seeing all my Style Gurus! I absolutely love the Madison team! 

*Thank you very much to CF Style Guru and ESCAPE Lookbook Coordinator Sammy Luterbach for this interview :)

Escape Fashion Show DJ: Michael Mirabelli

Michael Mirabelli is the man behind the amazing music from last year’s La Moda Processa fashion show. He has been in the DJ scene for the last five years and although he is only 23 years old, has already had the opportunity of being an international DJ. Mirabelli has DJ’ed at various clubs in Spain and has his mixes played in all parts of the world. He majored in International Studies, Politics and Policy in the Global Economy and in Latin American, Carribean, and Iberian Studies here at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He just came back from studying his final semester abroad in Madrid and is getting ready to put together this year’s fashion show mix. Check out our interview with him below!

Q&A:

DJ name?

Michael Anthony/Mr. Mirabelli.

What was your experience like DJing at UW? How did you start?

 -Freshman year, my friend Tom threw a party and he asked me to DJ. I was really nervous because for starters, I was a freshman DJing a sophomore party. Before I had my car, I used to pack all my equipment in my hamper.  I’d throw my dirty clothes out and pack up my mixer, CD tables, studio monitors, cords, an extension cord and my CD’s on top. Then I’d carry that to wherever the party was at 10 o’clock at night.  That first night DJing someone offered to pay me $20 but I realized I didn’t want the money. I would do it for free just for the opportunity of people hearing my music. That became my policy for the rest of my time at UW. I’d do it for the attention and experience, not money.

Where do you get most of your music and what do you do once you have that music?

-Mainly blogs. I subscribe to YouTube channels and a lot have the tracks for you to download. Then I go ahead and make notes in the notebook about what songs go well together. You never know how the crowd will react so you have to be fluid and prepared to switch it up.

What are you currently working on?

-Well, I just returned from studying abroad in Madrid. For now I’m trying to get some contacts and build connections in Chicago to start DJing at clubs there since although I’m from Chicago, I’ve become more established in Madison. I just released a new mix, (check it out HERE), and soon I’ll be working on the mix for the fashion show.

How was DJing overseas different than DJing in the US?

-In the US, I focus more on doing production for myself. I play at house parties and do side projects like the fashion show. House parties are in a way a validation for your passion. You see people dancing, their hands go up, people say oohhhh when they hear their favorite song play. In Madrid, I started out playing a 20 minute set at a bar and it ended up turning into an hour set because people liked what I was playing. Later I had the chance to play 4 or 5 hour sets at clubs. That really made me focus on transitioning the music I played. I did more research because the crowd is a much different crowd than the US. I loved DJing in Madrid. Their style and what they like to hear is more in sync with my personal taste. They’re more interested in hearing a good dance track over hearing stuff they know.

You were our DJ last year. How did you pull together an hour-long mix? What was the process?

-Well, for me at least, I have to have some type of obligation in order to do a project like this. It was a huge opportunity and a big honor to be asked to DJ the show and so I therefore had the obligation to come up with something great. I put in a lot of time, watched videos of previous UW fashion shows. I looked over the models, garments and order of the show. Then I did tons of research. I must have looked at hundreds of songs only to pick about 30 songs for the hour long mix. What took so long was figuring out what song fits with what songs and how to transition it well since good transitions are something I really focus on. I also had to keep the idea throughout the whole project from start to finish. The biggest setback was that all the production and recording was live so if you messed up, which I did a few times mess up, you need to start over. Then you think you’re done and later you find out the tracks are too short during the dress rehearsal. Then you need to find more songs, make it longer and re-record. It definitely came down to the wire. It was finals week and I was working on this. But at the end, I honestly believe those were the best 3 tracks I’ve produced because of all that work, time and obligation that went into it.

What are you most excited about for this upcoming show?

I’m really excited to be a part of it again this year.  I’m also really anxious to see if I can surpass last year’s mixes because I really think they were some of my best work.

Make sure to check out Michael’s latest mix, Plus Ultra as well as his other mixes HERE.

*Thank you very much to CF Style Guru and ESCAPE Model Committe Coordinator Lucy Angel for this interview :)

ESCAPE FASHION DESIGNERS REVEALED!

ESCAPE Designers in no particular order: