Teen Stylin’: Student fashion inspired by VMFA’s collection

MEMENTOS

Teen Stylin’ is a twelve-week program developed by VMFA Education staff and offered annually at the museum.  It includes workshops where students learn from professional fashion designers and industry specialists how to create innovative garments inspired by VMFA’s collection.

The 2024 Teen Stylin’: Mementos program marries creative fashion design with the principles of visual art. Student designers will be assigned a work from VMFA’s permanent collection and, using creative construction and alternative material techniques, create wearable works of art. The theme Mementos will explore the memories that objects carry. This includes the objects that we personally inherit and hold onto as well as the objects in the museum’s collection. Teen Stylin’ participants will be asked to incorporate actual or conceptual mementos into their final garments.

Students in grades 612 can apply to one of the following:

  1. Stylin’ Campus Series: This on-site program is open to all Virginia students in grades 6 through 12. Weekly workshops occur on Tuesday or Thursday evenings, from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Enrollment is limited. 
  2. Stylin’ Independent Study: This program is available to students in grades 6 through 12 throughout the state who live more than 30 miles from the museum OR have previously participated in the Teen Stylin program There is no enrollment cap. 

All Teen Stylin’ students may sign up for a series of free Stylin’ in the Studios” courses held on Saturdays. In these sessions, students will work with artists and fashion designers to build on their works and enrich class instruction.

Students’ designs will be showcased during a highly popular runway exhibition A panel of art, design, and fashion professionals will select winners in the following categories: “Best Overall,” “Best Use of Alternative Materials,” “Most Creative Construction,” “Best Interpretation of a Work of Art,” “Best Interpretation of the Theme,” and “Most Wearable”. Gift packages will be awarded to top winners, jurors’ choice recipients and model award winners.

Following the runway exhibition, fashion renderings by all Teen Stylin’ participants and the winning garments will be displayed in VMFA’s Art Education Center.

Learn How to Apply Here

Photos by Sandra Sellars© Virginia Museum of Fine Art | 2023 workshop for Teen Stylin program held in Pauley Center Studios A and B., April 13.

IMPORTANT PROGRAM DATES FOR ALL SCHEDULES:

Application Deadline: Fri, Jan 12, 2024
Acceptances sent out: Fri, Jan 26, 2024

Campus Series Orientation: Thu, Feb 1, 2024, 6:30–8:30 pm
Independent Study Series Orientation: Sun, Feb 4, 2024, 2–4pm

A detailed syllabus and program calendar will be distributed during orientation.


SCHEDULE OPTIONS

Please note that no workshops will be held over spring break, Apr 1–5.

Schedule I: Tuesdays 5:30–8:30 pm
Limited enrollment

Feb 6, 13, 20, and 27
Mar 5, 12, 19, and 26
Apr 9, 16, and 23

Schedule II: Thursdays 5:30–8:30 pm
Limited enrollment

Feb 8, 15, 22, and 29
Mar 7, 14, 21, and 28
Apr 11, 18, and 25

Tue, Apr 30: Open workshops for all students

Schedule III: Independent Study
Unlimited enrollment

Independent Study is an option for students in grades 6 through12 throughout the state who live more than 30 miles from the museum OR have previously participated in the Teen Stylin program In-person attendance is only required at the orientation, dress rehearsal, and runway show. Students may sign up for “Stylin’ in the Studio” on Saturdays for additional mentorship and support.

Stylin’ in the Studios:
Select Saturdays, 10 am–2 pm
Feb 17
Mar 2, 16 and 30
Apr 13 and 27
Open to all program participants; limited enrollment.

Dress Rehearsal for Runway Event:
Thu, May 2, 2024, 5:30–8:30 pm
Required for all participants.

Runway Event:
Sun, May 5, 2024, 2–9 pm
Required for all participants.