INSPIRATIONAL ASSIGNMENT: To design and submit one project inspired by the King Tut Exhibition held at the California Sciences Museum @ USC *What inspired my design was an Ostrich Feather wand that was showcased in a large glass box. Apparently, the feathers collected for King Tuts wand were from the Ostriches that he had personally hunted. The feathers were displayed into an ornate, Egyptian inscribed wooden piece that was used by servants to cool off the King. *My design inspiration had a major influence to it. My dear friend, Chelsi Smith, former Miss Universe 1995, Miss USA 1995, and Miss Texas 1995, had just passed away from her battle with cancer. Her memorial service was held in Houston, Texas the same day as Metropolitan Fashion Week. I decided to design a piece in tribute to Chelsi that represented strength and beauty of a woman. I wanted the gown to celebrate women and remind them of the strengths they have within and to fight and take charge of life just as my friend Chelsi did during her time on earth. The Metropolitan Fashion Week (MetroFW) announced winners of its fashion and costume awards honoring outstanding achievements in fashion and costume design in motion pictures and television, during the 6th Annual Metropolitan Fashion Week Closing Gala and Fashion Awards, held at the iconic Los Angeles City Hall Forecourt and Rotunda on Saturday, October 6, 2018. In addition to the Metropolitan Fashion Awards, the Gala showcased a unique, exclusive one-of-a-kind runway fashion show featuring Fashion Designers MELLARDI, Giovanni Testi, Erick Bendaña and introducing the Metropolitan Fashion Capsule Collection by Douglas Tapia, hats by Arturo Rios and makeup exclusively by Cinema Makeup School. A special segment of Haute Couture and Avant Garde Masterpieces was also showcased, inspired by the...... Read more on Full Issue!