Parsons The New School For Design LEGWEAR PROJECT 2008

My Personal Involvement Before I delve too far into this, I must introduce my heartfelt attachment to this project. I’ve worn compression garments on my K-T affected leg since I was 6 years old, and wearing them is not an option for me. I have incredible difficulty walking without them, often only a few steps, and growing up in suburban Connecticut going to private middle school and boarding prep school created the additional social difficulty. Kids can be so mean to each other, and to this day I remember every comment that pierced my heart. Although most of the comments we receive about our K-T are from plain curiosity or ignorance, that doesn’t make it easier to take; we must remain good and honest people. Perhaps some day no one will have to ask what’s wrong anymore because K-T will be well known enough. Given all of this, I was shocked a bit doubtful, and utterly speechless when an instructor of mine told me about this project. Never in a million years did I ever think this would happen. An idea so far away from my reality, it never even occurred to me to dream about it. Yet here it was, a major school undertaking in my jam packed graduate year, waiting for me to seize it and make a difference. I hope that seeing this presentation will make as much of a change in your life as it has in mine. Before I delve too far into this, I must introduce my heartfelt attachment to this project. I’ve worn compression garments on my K-T affected leg since I was 6 years old, and wearing them is not an option for me. I have incredible difficulty walking without them, often only a few steps, and growing up in suburban Connecticut going to private middle school and boarding prep school created the additional social difficulty. Kids can be so mean to each other, and to this day I remember every comment that pierced my heart. Although most of the comments we receive about our K-T are from plain curiosity or ignorance, that doesn’t make it easier to take; we must remain good and honest people. Perhaps some day no one will have to ask what’s wrong anymore because K-T will be well known enough. Given all of this, I was shocked a bit doubtful, and utterly speechless when an instructor of mine told me about this project. Never in a million years did I ever think this would happen. An idea so far away from my reality, it never even occurred to me to dream about it. Yet here it was, a major school undertaking in my jam packed graduate year, waiting for me to seize it and make a difference. I hope that seeing this presentation will make as much of a change in your life as it has in mine.

The Beginning… Two years ago Stacie Nipps, a dedicated Parsons faculty member, died tragically from a blood clot not even knowing she was at risk of having them. The recent work Melanie Bloom (wife of reporter David Bloom who died from DVT in 2003 while covering the war in Iraq) has done for the Coalition to Prevent DVT seemed like the perfect combination to start a project at Parsons that would create awareness of DVT- deep vein thrombosis.

The Basis As K-T patients, most of us know that wearing compression stockings can go a long way to promote healthier veins and prevent blood clots, especially in our legs. However, so many people forego these important garments because of the way they look and in turn, make us look. The creative minds at Parsons saw this as a very exciting challenge: How can we make these compression garments more stylish so that people will take better care of themselves and not choose beauty over health? As K-T patients, most of us know that wearing compression stockings can go a long way to promote healthier veins and prevent blood clots, especially in our legs. However, so many people forego these important garments because of the way they look and in turn, make us look. The creative minds at Parsons saw this as a very exciting challenge: How can we make these compression garments more stylish so that people will take better care of themselves and not choose beauty over health?

The “Project Runway” School Gets Started The memo went out- Design a leg covering that could be worn over a compression socking that is fashionable, functional, and unique. I thought, who better to get ideas from than the K-T community? We know what we’d wear from first hand experience- we know what fabrics would be comfortable and breathable, how we’d like them to fasten on, what length we’d like, what styles would fit our personalities, and what would make us feel fantastic and confident about wearing compression garments. The memo went out- Design a leg covering that could be worn over a compression socking that is fashionable, functional, and unique. I thought, who better to get ideas from than the K-T community? We know what we’d wear from first hand experience- we know what fabrics would be comfortable and breathable, how we’d like them to fasten on, what length we’d like, what styles would fit our personalities, and what would make us feel fantastic and confident about wearing compression garments.

My Letter to You I hope most of you received the letter and diagram I sent out with the help of Mellenee Finger. To everyone who sent me a form back- thank you so much! The other project leaders and I took all the suggestions into consideration and shared them with everyone involved. It was especially helpful to hear ideas about leg coverings for men.

The Show! Women can get away with wearing just about anything (I mean, look at the Sex and the City women!) but menswear is even more of a challenge. We wanted the diversity of the leg coverings to be wearable for everyone: the Minnesota mom, the hip New Yorker, the business dad, and active kid. The designs were worn down the runway at Parsons year-end Line Debut fashion show- a major event in the New York City fashion world. Dozens of reporters attend, as well as designers (Michael Kors came last year), headhunters, and socialites. Here is the fashion show! Women can get away with wearing just about anything (I mean, look at the Sex and the City women!) but menswear is even more of a challenge. We wanted the diversity of the leg coverings to be wearable for everyone: the Minnesota mom, the hip New Yorker, the business dad, and active kid. The designs were worn down the runway at Parsons year-end Line Debut fashion show- a major event in the New York City fashion world. Dozens of reporters attend, as well as designers (Michael Kors came last year), headhunters, and socialites. Here is the fashion show!

Me, starting off the show wearing a gown I made as one of my final projects. My legwear was dancer- inspired, and made of lycra with rose petals and rosettes, intertwined with hemp and satin ribbon.