Inspiration Test

There's going to be a portion of your application where you basically can make up an outfit about something your inspired by, a bird, a painting, a building (just examples) etc. I changed mine about three times. This is one of the main reasons you want to apply early. You'll have time to find better things and get completely dissatisfied with the things you already have (like I did). For this portion I did two sketches, one for the front and one for the back. I will eventually put up my sketches, but I want to get my acceptance or sigh, third (and final) rejection before I dare. I don't think I need any extra jinx, do you?

If you are a particularly good artist, this is the part of your app where you should go a bit more avant garde. Obviously you don't have to, but why not? It is a competition after all.

F.I.T. BFA Show 2009

Sketching

A lot of people recommend Nine Heads. I've never read it, but if you're like me and don't want to spend the money, get it from the library first, you might find something you like better. I will be adding to the recommended reading category on the blog. If you are at least an intermediate artist. Meaning you know you can get better but can generally copy something. Budget wise (broke) you can check voguepatterns.com which has a lot of great sketches with multiple poses, color rendering for different fabrics. It will help you a lot even if it's different from your art style, it will help with proportion. You do, after all want the sketches to be as tight as they can possibly be. 

from Vogue Patterns

They also have live models, so check it out if you need to.

Materials

- for the sketches I turned in, I used a combo of the PrismaColor Markers and PrismaColor Pencils, I also had some Crayola color pencils to fill in for the PrismaColors I didn't have. Prisma's are beautiful, but the price will set you back a penny. I paid a little under $50 for mine, shipping included (pack or 24) and this was from a private seller on Amazon.com. They are $52 at Staples.

The 12 pack runs in the $25 dollor range, if your really strapped but want them.

Again FIT lets you use computer generated artwork, so do what works best for you.

Photographing Your Garment Test

They specifically want front and back views of whatever you sew. Particularly since I didn't go to the in-person interview, of the four outfits I did I decided to photogragh them this way:

•  Front View
•  Back View
• Close Up Detail

 Since I did this for two outfits that made six photos (the max you can send is ten) so the other two outfits I just sent the front and back views

This was one of the things showed to me at Portfolio Day with the sample. The close up shot is important so they can view the details of your construction. 

What F.I.T. is looking for

Not to make you nervous if this is your first time applying, but, when you apply to this school, You are competing with people from all over the world for a chance to get into this school. At any point after you apply and you think for a second to send in something second rate (like I did), keep this fact in mind to push yourself harder. Don't even bother to shell out the forty dollar application fee if you aren't going to give it one 100%.

The best advice I can offer is this, if it's humanly possible, go to Portfolio Day if it is scheduled anywhere near you in the coming year. You can have your portolio reviewed by someone at F.I.T. This is particularly helpful if you're like me and don't live anywhere near NY and your college doesn't offer any classes on Fashion Design. Regardless of whether the feedback is good or bad the main purpose for going is that they will show you a sample portfolio of an accepted student that will give you the gist of what they want.

Your F.I.T. application will consist of at minimum 12 sketches(there are some specific requirements for some of them, but you can still have some random sketches that show off your skill and style), what you sew for the Garment Test Portion and Essay Questions in addition to an essay you have to write about yourself before your application is completely processed. Also, after you get your instructions, you will be granted a certain amout of time to have the work done and turned in.  So be advised : Start Your Application BEFORE you apply.

It's essentially this

• Clear Sketches* - with full body front and back views

             Notice I said 'clear' your level of artistic skill helps, but your not expected to be a professional artist

             (they do accept computer generated work as well)

For me, the idea of this portion of the application filled me with dread. After going to Portfolio Day in October (Hartford CT) and seeing the sample I knew this was the portion of my application that was my downfall in 09.

I'd previously dabbled in sewing but hadn't touched a machine in years (and honestly didn't want to).

Here's what I did this year.

• 
  
   Garment Test - From my previous dabbling, I already had a dress form. (I paid $150 for it, but ordered it out of a catalog, I probably could have gotton it for $99 or less if it was used, so shop around.) I also used a lot of fabric that I had in my closet. Which was kind of a lot. But most of it was like old lady fabric so I did go to the only place in my city that actually sells fabric, read: Le WalMart. This is also the place where I purchased my patterns.
  
  
  

I can't stress enough, if you aren't an experienced seamstress Do Not try to make an outfit without using a pattern. You really don't need to be intimidated by a pattern. This is why I recommend if your a novice to start with a Simplicity pattern, the pieces are cut simply and the directions have pictures and are easy to follow.

Simplicity also has some Project Runway patterns that have some pretty cute styles (I bought two) but the patterns are much more complicated than the basics, so if your unfamiliar with sewing try something simpler first, because you will get frustrated. 

Introduction

I decided to start this blog because I really don't think there's enough information out there for people that want to get into F.I.T.'s fashion design program. As my blog description states I have had my application rejected twice from F.I.T., both times I applied for fashion design. And both times I recieved that crappy thin form letter I was completely and totally devesated. The last letter I recieved was last year, the first was in 2004. This year I reapplied for Fall 2010. I really think both of my rejections could have been avoided if I had some sound advice on how to put my portfolio together. I hope this information sets you on the path to getting accepted. - Good Luck MB