Senior Fashion Student Profiles: Michelle Savino and Lauren Kurre

By Makena Gera

Michelle Savino and Lauren Kurre are two of the four directors of Marist’s Fashion Show Production class. Having been interested in fashion throughout their lives, these seniors have nothing but positive things to say about the Marist fashion department, and the countless opportunities and experiences they’ve received because of it.

After participating the past few years, they are extremely excited and proud to be leading the production team this year. Since finishing their class, they had time to sit down and answer questions about everything from their favorite classes at Marist, their personal style, and their dream jobs.

Savino (left) and Kurre (right). 

Savino (left) and Kurre (right). 

Michelle Savino: Fashion Merchandising: Concentration in Promotion and a minor in Public Relations

What made you want to get into fashion?

I’ve always had an interest in visuals as a whole, and then I realized that I loved clothes and had a really big interest in fashion week, bloggers, and influencers. Overall, I think I’ve always had a more creative eye, and as I’ve grown into myself I’ve come to express that through fashion. 

To who, or what, do you look at to find inspiration?

I usually look to bloggers the most, and fashion weeks as they go on around the world. Lauren and I are really big on fashion week because we draw a lot of inspiration for [the Silver Needle Runway show] from there. But I just love the creativity of it; the overall aesthetic and moods that vary depending on where they are in the world.

What do you hope to do in the future?

I hope to be a producer of sorts, relating to fashion. I interned at Rent The Runway and I’ve loved doing [the Production class] for the past three semesters, so I could definitely see myself having an actual career in production.

What’s your personal style?

Savino: Super casual - kind of trendy, but I really tend to stick to the basics.

Lauren Kurre: You’re preppy, but more of darker preppy. You’re style’s girly - but minimalist too. 

Savino: Kind of all over the place, but I  feel like it really depends on my mood. 

What has been your favorite fashion class at Marist?

Of course, Fashion Show Production. I really do love the course, especially my sophomore year when something about it really just resonated with me. I felt like that year itself was a big year for me in terms of figuring things out; I was comfortable at college, I had my friend group, and at that point I knew where I wanted to go. The class really opened my eyes to a career in production and I’ve tapped into it since then. I’ve appreciated it as a class and the people I’ve met in it as well. 

What advice do you have for younger students, or prospective students, looking to get into the fashion program?

I would say to put yourself out there. Send that email to someone you found online...ask them if they want to grab coffee and talk to them and get an idea of what they do for their career. Don’t hesitate to reach out. People are there to help; I know when I was younger I would reach out to the older girls and they were so helpful, and I’m happy to do that now for those younger girls as well. Also, apply to internships. Internships are huge; they help you figure out what you like and don’t like. Even the ones that are harder, maybe because you don’t like them, teach you something too in the long run. 

If you could work for anyone (fashion house, brand, or designer), who would it be and why?

I’ve had a recent obsession with Refinery29 and I feel like they’d be a really cool company to work for. They’re really into supporting women and have a really cool aesthetic; I would love to work on the fashion side of their company. But I also love working at Rent the Runway, and I would never trade that in for anything. I know that I love it and would love to work there after college.

If you could sit down for coffee/lunch with anyone in the fashion industry, who would it be and why?

I think I would love to sit down and talk to Eva Chen. She works at Instagram and I think she’d be a super interesting person to talk to [in the industry]. I would want to know who she knows and how she got to where she is today. 


Lauren Kurre: Fashion Merchandising: Concentration in Promotion and a minor in Public Relations

What made you want to get into fashion?

I’ve always had a passion for clothes, and since I was younger I put so much effort into putting together my outfits. I always used to sketch, and I would get sketchbooks and different kinds of pencils as gifts from family, so I originally thought I was going to go down that route. But when I was looking into colleges and found the fashion merchandising major and how many different directions there are in it, I liked that better. You could go down the business side, or the communications side, and there’s just so much to do. 

To who, or what, do you look at to find inspiration?

Definitely bloggers, influencers, and fashion week shows, but even my classmates too. Everyone in the fashion program is so creative; you can be inspired just walking up and down the halls of the fashion department.

What is your dream job?

I would love to work in the public relations department of any luxury fashion label. I interned at Louis Vuitton this summer as part of the PR team so I would love to continue to do that in the luxury fashion sector. 

What’s your personal style?

Someone once described my style as “uptown-downtown.” Sometimes I can be super girly and feminine and other times I can be really edgy, so that’s how I’d describe it. 

What has been the best part of your career here at Marist?

Definitely Fashion Show Production; I’ve been in it since my freshman year, which not a lot of people do. I’m basically the grandma in the class, and to see how the fashion show has grown from freshman year to last year was incredible. The class is so interactive, considering that it’s us students who lead the class and we produce and entire show by ourselves, and it’s given me incredible experiences. It’s just like, or maybe even better than, an internship. 

What advice do you have for younger students, or prospective students, looking to pursue fashion?

Definitely come out of your shell and be more outspoken. I feel like my freshman year I was so quiet, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but since then I’ve definitely developed and become more outspoken, which you kind of have to be in the industry. Internships are everything. I’ve had four internships and they’re been so important. Try to do as many internships as you can, definitely keep in touch with any contacts that you gain.

If you could work for anyone (fashion house, brand, or designer), who would it be and why?

I don’t have one specific one, but any luxury fashion label, Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton or Hermes. They just have so much going on from a PR standpoint, especially global companies that aren’t necessarily based on New York and have a presence in other countries. It was a really interesting experience interning at Louis Vuitton, they’re based in Paris, and they have such a strong global presence. So I’d definitely love to work for any luxury, global company.

If you could sit down for coffee/lunch with anyone in the fashion industry, who would it be and why?

I think right now Kim Jones, the menswear designer from Louis Vuitton. It was just announced last week that he’s leaving, and he’s just so talented. It hasn’t been said where he’s going yet, there’s only been rumors, so I’d love to know where he’s going to go next. Also he’s a really eccentric person, so I think the conversation itself would be crazy and fun.

Makena GeraLifestyles