Winner's Circle
1/5ANNA LESASSIER, $25,000 Target Scholar
Knit-picking: I took up crocheting a couple of weeks ago so I'm constantly making things for friends.
Master Procrastinator: I really had no idea what I was going to put on my mood board, a poster illustrating the overall design concept for a fashion collection. I kept thinking about it, and suddenly, it was two days before the application was due and I was leaving the next morning! I didn't have a chance to think too much so I was able to display my inspirations in all their randomness and organize them in a way that was very true to me.
Work Ethic: My plan is to be happy today and tomorrow. I can't even imagine how cheesy this sounds, but I figure that if I'm happy doing whatever it is I'm doing, people around me will be happy as well.
A Different Beat: I want to create things that are new—things I've never seen before. I've been trying a lot of new things and really experimenting because I'm still getting to know myself as a person and as a designer.
2/5RACHEL GOK CHUNG
Triple Threat: My ideal internship would be designing and working for a fashion house that I have been influenced and motivated by such as YSL, Sonia Rykiel, or Lanvin.
Femme Fatale: I pursue designs that rebel against limited and extreme femininity and look toward designers who have contributed to making women independent, strong, and self-reliant. Like Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel, I want my fashion house to be recognized as the symbol of a woman's beauty and strength.
Wall Flower: Flowers inspire my designs because the colors, shapes, and feelings of different petals astonish me. Plus, my native name has 'flower' in it!
Loud and Proud: It may sound like a cliché, but the way people dress is a large part of expressing and defining who they are. I want to dress ladies who choose to discover themselves.
3/5ZACHARY WERTZ
The Big Apple: I'm focusing on college and what I need to do to get ready for the big change of moving from my tiny town of Lykens to New York City. I'm glad that I'll finally be able to find a store or restaurant open after 9:00!
Office Attire: I job-shadowed at the Ralph Lauren building in April, and I absolutely loved it! The atmosphere mid with the staff's dedication to creating pieces of art was amazing.
Fashion Focus: I have been breathing fashion for the past eight years and my life is truly printed in the glossy pages of every great fashion magazine. I love the structure of Zac Posen, the sexiness of Versace, the glamour of Dior, the romance of Chanel, and most of all, the embodiment of great American style by Ralph Lauren. They are the masters and I can only hope to have an ounce of their good fortune, creativity, and drive to design for the world.
City Lights: My mood board was dedicated to the city woman and her activities. It takes time to understand a new surrounding and my board was a way of helping me understand the hectic and fast pace of city life.
4/5LYDIA HRYSHCHYSHYN
Drama Mamma: During the school year I usually design costumes for my high school plays and musicals, but since it’s summer I’ve had time to focus on my own wardrobe. I’m working on a collection of the "perfect summer dresses."
Light Hearted: I appreciate a healthy dose of whimsy in fashion. Bold colors, strong silhouettes, and unusual inspirations are all aesthetics that inspire me. I see them at Balenciaga and Rodarte right now.
Makeover: What I appreciate about fashion is how it allows an individual to reinvent or reimagine herself; the chance to see herself in a new and unexpected way. Personally, I have used this aspect to begin fresh each time my family moved, and as a designer I would love to bring this opportunity to clients.
For more info on the CFDA/ scholarship, visit cfda.com.
5/5ELENA OGLESBY
Working Girl: I am currently working at a local fabric store, and just finished interning at a local bridal boutique, where I assisted in designing and creating bridal gowns. I want to focus on learning as much as I can about the fashion industry. My plans for the future are to design womenswear and have my own company.
Global Village: When it comes to designing, I get my inspiration from things that interest me in my everyday life. My mood board was very much inspired by foreign cultures and ethnic differences. For my sketches, I wanted to highlight the differences and similarities between people across the world, and tried to present a modern and sophisticated take.
Design Doctrine: To me, fashion often comes from a serious place, but it should always be fun, too. I think my designs are a product of that philosophy.
