sfd alumni

ALUMNI WEBSITES:	Check out what SFD alumni are doing now!

Brooke Beaney – Judith Clothing	http://www.judithclothing.com
Joe Carl – Couture Corsets	http://www.couturecorsets.com
Daniela Corte	http://www.danielacorte.com
Kara Cushing - Triveah	http://www.triveahwomensclothing.com
Alfred Fiandaca	http://www.alfredfiandaca.com
Denise Hajjar	http://www.denisehajjar.com
Karen Hipwell – Karen Warren	http://www.karenwarrenclothing.com
Kristina Kozak	http://www.kristinakozak.com
Michael McDonald – Michael of Boston	http://www.michaelofboston.com
Jess Meyer – Myre Designs	http://www.myredesigns.com
Debbie Ohanian – Meet Me In Miami	http://www.meetmeinmiami.com
Amy Ozay – 4march	http://www.4march.com
Alissa Smith - Smith	http://www.alissasmith.com
Shirley Straface	http://www.shirleystraface.com
Henry Wong - OKW	http://www.okwfashion.com

DAWN MELLO - Class of 1951

Dawn Mello was raised and educated in Lynn, Massachusetts. Her retail career includes B. Altman & Co, New York, where she was Director of Fashion Merchandising and The May Department Stores, Inc., where, during a period of eleven years, she held a series of positions, ultimately being promoted to Vice President and General Merchandise Manager.

Her career at Bergdorf Goodman began in 1975 when she joined the store as Vice President and Fashion Director. In 1980, she was promoted to Executive Vice President, responsible for the fashion, image and merchandising direction of the store. She was named President in 1983 of this famous New York fashion icon. In 1989, Ms. Mello joined the Gucci Group as Executive Vice President and Creative Director Worldwide. She was based in Milan and was responsible for repositioning the Gucci image as a luxury brand. Dawn made “Gucci” a household word and one of the best known luxury brands on earth.

In 1994 Dawn Mello rejoined Bergdorf Goodman as President, with the merchandising organization reporting to her as well as fashion and all the creative aspects of marketing.

In 1999 she stared her own consulting company, Dawn Mello and Associates LLC, specializing in the luxury market. Based in New York, the firm maintains an international client list, from both retail and manufacturing industries.

Dawn Mello has been recognized and honored for outstanding achievement in her field by the Council of Fashion Designers of America and the New York Fashion Group as an outstanding woman in the retail industry. She is a recipient of the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund’s award honoring individuals and corporate leaders dedicated to full equality for women.

In 2001 she was the first recipient of the Eleanor Lambert award named for the legendary fashion authority and given to Dawn Mello by the Council of Fashion Designers for her contribution to the culture of American fashion.

Dawn Mello’s speech for the

School of Fashion Design’s Commencement Exercises

at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston

on Sunday, May 7, 2006

“Good afternoon everyone.

It is such an honor to receive this award. You see, today I also celebrate MY graduation from the School of Fashion Design-at least in the celebratory sense.

Three weeks before graduation, in 1951, a group of my classmates and I left Boston to drive to the class picnic in Maine, when out car was hit by an oncoming vehicle. I graduated in Boston City Hospital with my head in traction duet to a broken neck. Well-it all worked out…but I certainly missed the occasion and have thought about it through the years-never thought I would be attending the graduation ceremony 55 years later!

Modern was quite a different school in my day. Of course this was before the age of the computer…not to mention the cell phone. We all wore hats and little white gloves when we followed our instructor 2 by 2 up the street to the museum.

O course, jeans were only worn by workmen and, in fact, pants in any form were not acceptable. Sportswear was a new idea, and most of us dressed just like our mothers. I remember wearing my hair in a French twist and at age 19 looked 40!

I have been so fortunate in my career – managing somehow to be in the right place at the right time. Just reviewing the school’s current curriculum and understanding the courses are structured to encourage analytical thinking, with everything technology has to offer – I see how far the school has come and you will truly be prepared for the fashion industry as it exists today.

You graduates will have plenty of hard work ahead of you and as the years go by, you will look back on your education here as a foundation from which you have grown.

I wish you every success and great happiness for the future.

Thank you.”

CLASS of 1951 VISIT

There are times when all you have to do is experience someone else’s memories to define your own. Recently five students from the Class of 1951 visited the School of Fashion Design. The women arrived full of energy and exceptional warmth. Although the visitors did not study at the Newbury Street location (all studied at SFD’s original site on Boylston Street) they quickly became comfortable chatting and enjoying the facility, while perusing school pictures, catalogs and articles from the 1950’s and their time at the school.

Rita (Smith) Singer, Janice Bellew-Daviau, Marlene (Dawson) Poole, Eleanor C. (Oliva) Bernat and Nancy M. Hanaford met with one of the classes in session. These distinguished guests were asked questions as they shared amusing stories from the past which quickly bridged the gap between our present day students and the visiting alumni.

The short questionnaire, which our visitors filled out, included a question regarding their fondest memories at SFD. Most memorable to our visitors were the 1951 New York City class trip, Tea Dances, the 1951 staff members (Mr. Feely, Mrs. Sinesi, Mr. Burr, Ms. Dalton) and the personalized attention they received from them. Several hours passed quickly with stories and laughter. What remained was a group of women representing many generations sharing a common bond.

Photo & Story: Viola Gonzalez