Fashion in the News

Friend of the College Passes - Mount Mary College is saddened by the passing of long-time friend and benefactor Charles Kleibacker, a former New York fashion designer who served as an adjunct designer and consultant to Mount Mary's senior couture/fashion design students from 1968 to 2007. Kleibacker worked closely with Sister Aloyse Hessburg, former Chair of the Fashion Department, including providing the vision for the College's Friends of Fashion group. In 2005 he made a significant contribution to Mount Mary College's Historic Costume Collection, including hundreds of garments and accessories dating from the 1860s to the present from New York, Paris and London. In 1971 he received the "Gold Needle Award" from Mount Mary in recognition of his contribution to fashion education. The College has a scholarship for Fashion Design majors in his name. Kleibacker, 88, died January 3, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio.

Moxie Fashion Show - In October the Friends of Fashion group teamed up with the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts in Brookfield for a fashion show entitled "Moxie." The October 21, 2009, Cue section of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel included a recap of the event and highlights Mount Mary alumna Karen Davidson and Donna Ricco.

RunUp to the Runway - The Mount Mary College senior fashion students had their 15-minutes of runway fame on Friday, October 16 at the Milwaukee Art Museum's After Dark: RunUp to the Runway party. Mount Mary student designers shared the stage with area boutiques. See a slide show of images on Flickr of photos taken by Milwaukee photographer James Conway. (Adapted from the October 12, 2009, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.)

Historic Costumes from College’s Collection Displayed in New York - The Mount Mary College Historic Costume Collection loaned 20 garments to the Museum of the City of New York for an exhibition on the New York couturière Valentina. Valentina: American Couture and The Cult of Celebrity was on display from February 12 through May 15, 2009. 

The exhibition featured garments from such prestigious institutions as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art and Fashion Institute of Technology. Most of Mount Mary College’s garments by Valentina were given from the designer’s personal wardrobe by her great-niece, Nina Frantzen. Two of the garments were from the Lyn Fontanne collection owned by the College; these were garments that were part of her personal wardrobe.

A Fashion Cue from Politics - A dress by New York fashion designer and Mount Mary alumna Donna Ricco made its way to national television twice during the week of June 16, 2008. The black and white sleeveless dress was worn by Michelle Obama on ABC’s “The View” on June 18 and caused quite a stir among the show’s viewers. Donna Ricco was then interviewed on the “Today Show” Friday, June 20, by co-host Meredith Vieira.

Donna Ricco is a 1981 graduate of Mount Mary College with a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design. She served on the College’s Board of Trustees from 1999 to 2006 and has played a vital role in the enhancement of the Fashion Department including giving financial support to a student design resource center. Donna Ricco, Inc. was launched in New York by Donna and her husband, Tom Puls, in 1983. Her dresses are known for being affordable, easy-to-wear and designed for women of all sizes.