Alumna presents at Mercedes Benz fashion week

Fashion Design alumna Genoveva Christoff (CCAD 2009) has proven herself as someone to watch—and recently she has spent a lot of time watching her designs go down a runway in front of fashion's elites.

Christoff was selected as one of four designers to present in the Diet Pepsi Style Studio Show during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York City.

Each designer had to create three different looks for the fashion show. Simon Doonan, the fashion commentator for the show, chose fierce animal prints, avant-garde work wear, and metallic finishes inspired by the Diet Pepsi can for the designers to interpret.

Christoff created her three looks in less than two weeks. The first look was a leather and chiffon dress inspired by zebra prints. The second was a lavender-colored dress with an asymmetrical collar, and her final ensemble was a dress and vest in metallic leather and silk.

“There are so many things that were memorable during my stay in New York,” said Christoff. “First, meeting with Simon Doonan, then all the preparation for the actual show, especially the moment I saw so many famous people in the audience, like Mary-Kate Olsen, Debra Messing, Angela Simmons, Jay Manuel, Jay Alexander, Jonathan Adler, Kelly Rutherford, and others.”

“I was also able to meet Christian Cota and attend his fashion show; I was impressed to see his collection and to see the designs up close. I hope one day I will have a chance to show my full collection and have access to such beautiful fabrics and techniques,” she said.

Christoff was recently selected to be one of five finalists in the Adrianna Papell for E! Live from the Red Carpet design contest. The winning design will be worn to a Hollywood red carpet event by a celebrity, and its designer will receive a $2,500 cash prize and a trip to Hollywood. The winning dress will also be included in the Adrianna Papell Spring 2012 Collection for E! Live from the Red Carpet, which will be available at Lord & Taylor.

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