Morgenstern gives students an insider's look at fashion world
Julia Roberts, Isabella Rossolini, Christy Turlington and Paulina Porizkova have all worn
his designs. And his work has been featured in such notable fashion publications as Vogue,
Harper's Bazaar, Elle, W, WWD, The New York Times, The London Observer and Madame Figaro.
But these days designer Christopher Morgenstern is putting his creative talents to use by
teaching Woodbury University fashion students. The New York native brings an unusual
combination of both academic and professional experience to the classroom.
"Imparting knowledge is very rewarding," Morgenstern explains. "And I hope I can inspire
students by sharing my own real-world experience along with my understanding of fashion as a
form of both applied and fine art."
As a designer of women's apparel under his own label, Morgenstern's roster of clients
included such prestigious retailers as Barneys New York, Henri Bendel, Lord & Taylor, I. Magnin,
Bloomingdale's and Macy's in the United States. Harvey Nichols in London, Boutique Victoire in
Paris and Creed's in Toronto also sold his line. In addition to constant coverage in the fashion
press, his creations were seen in the national ad campaigns of companies such as Revlon and
Lancome. His line, Christopher Morgenstern New York, featured cocktail suits, separates and
dresses for the young designer customer.
In 1987 Morgenstern along with Marc Jacobs and Isabel Toledo were selected as "rising stars"
of American fashion by Vogue magazine, and in 1988 more than 200 members of the international
fashion press nominated him, along with Randolph Duke, for the Mouton-Cadet Young Designer Award.
Woodbury students are now able to see Morgenstern's work when combing through back issues in
the school's extensive fashion magazine collection. He hopes his students in costume history and
introduction to fashion design are able tap into those resources to find their own vision.
"Historicism was always an important component of my point of view as a designer.
Interpreting, re-inventing. I think every good designer needs a solid grasp of costume history
in order to design effectively in the post-modern era in which we live," he explains.
In addition to teaching, Morgenstern plays an important role in coordinating Woodbury's annual
fashion and vintage fashion shows. He is also instrumental in building the fashion design
department's visual resources and in organizing the Fashion Design department's domestic and
international study tours.
Like Morgenstern, most of Woodbury's other fashion design professors are practicing
professionals who bring invaluable real-world experience to the classroom.
Woodbury offers one of the few Bachelor of Science degree programs for fashion design
in the country. The fashion design program, which has been in existence for nearly 40 years,
offers a strong balance between design and technical courses, allowing students to create and
execute their ideas from concept to final product. Students can choose from a variety of minors,
including costuming for film and television, fashion marketing, business and graphic design, and
also have opportunities to learn the intricacies of shoe-making, leather-working and handbags. In
addition, Woodbury assists students in securing industry internships in fashion design and
costume design.
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