University Park, Pa. -- Penn State is scoring big in the international fashion world. The University, which already has a solid reputation as one of the top research universities in the nation, has become a growing presence in the fashion world as well.
In September, the Penn State Blue Band gained national attention as its members paraded down the catwalk to open designer Marc Jacobs' 2006 spring/summer fashion show. The band then was featured in the December issue of Vogue magazine, along with actress Keira Knightley, in a spread shot by photographer Annie Liebovitz.
Now, Penn State has gone international, with a 46-page spread in the January issue of W, a style magazine with a big following in Europe. The magazine is available on newsstands now. View the photos at http://www.style.com/w/feat_story/121905 online.
Representatives of the magazine, part of the Conde Nast group of publications (Fairchild Publishing, NY), spent three days headquartered in the Blue Band Building on the University Park campus in November for a photo shoot at various campus locations by internationally-known photographer David Sims. Penn State alumnus Dennis Freedman, creative director with W Magazine, played a key role in bringing the magazine to the University Park campus.
Freedman, a big Nittany Lions fan, was in the audience for the Marc Jacobs runway show, and when he saw the Blue Band open the show, he was inspired. According to the editors of W magazine, Freedman called British photographer David Sims, suggesting they scrap their original plans for a traditional fashion shoot, and instead travel to State College. Sims, who is known for many of his fashion covers as well as the early Calvin Klein ads, liked the idea, and set out to capture the all-American diversity of the campus.
"They had a crew of approximately 20 people here, everything from seamstresses to makeup artists and hair stylists from Paris," said Cindy Hall, director of marketing and advertising at Penn State, who with her staff worked around-the-clock to facilitate the magazine's visit. "David and Dennis both work with supermodels daily so this was a unique experience for them. Also as you would guess, they are used to shooting in Paris, LA, New York, etc. They were absolutely bowled over with the Penn State campus." For photos from their visit, visit http://live.psu.edu/still_life/2005_11_11_magazine/index.html online.
Photography went from early mornings to 2 a.m. They brought about 30 rails of designer clothing for the shoot, from Chanel suits to Marc Jacobs evening wear, as well as hundreds of pairs of shoes and hats. Studio shots were taken at the Blue Band Building, but many other photos were shot on location across the campus, and even at Beaver Stadium during the Penn State football game vs. Wisconsin on Nov. 5.
The resulting photo package is a diverse collection of images that celebrates the student body's diverse talents, beauty and style. An action shot of Blue Band feature twirler P.J. Maierhofer, the body art that adorns quarterback Michael Robinson's chest and arms, Joe and Sue Paterno with daughter Mary Kay Hort, Penn State President Graham B. Spanier, the Penn State cheerleaders, scenes from campus, and the football team taking the field at Beaver Stadium are interspersed among shots of students in more traditional high-fashion poses.
"Considered with the major photo spread in the December issue of Vogue Magazine, Coach Paterno on the cover of Sports Illustrated, the Blue Band appearance on the Marc Jacobs runway show in September, the use of Penn State's name as a Jeopardy answer this month and even a Penn State mention on last Sunday's episode of 'The Simpsons,' the University seems to be a hot national brand right now," said Bill Mahon, assistant vice president of University Relations. "We receive hundreds of media mentions every month for faculty and student research, but these appearances are taking us into new media territory."