In her bedroom in New York City, a young blonde woman stands before her term finals piece, an elegant pink garment for her draping class. Now a sophomore at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Paly alumna Amanda McVey has managed to turn her dream at seven years old into a reality. 

Since her feature in C Magazine almost two years ago, McVey’s love for fashion design has continued. 

“I think [my love for fashion design has] just grown,” McVey said. “It’s expanded and it’s all encompassing.”  

As a fashion student in college, McVey is given many opportunities to design and create her own pieces. To begin, McVey is given a theme, typically a designer or a season. McVey then performs trend research, where she finds what brands and themes are in season.

“It [trend research] kind of feels like being a spy,” McVey said. “I can see what’s going to be trending a year from now, whether [it’s] this kind of color, this kind of shirt [or] skirt. We can get as specific as that.” 

McVey then draws out variations of a design before choosing the best from each category of clothes that she is designing. After thinking through fabric swatches, McVey moves to the final rendering of the outfit. If McVey is creating a physical design, a muslin form using cheaper material to test patterns, is created from the drawing before she sews together the final fabric. 

For each of her assignments, McVey tends to design around her self-defined aesthetic. 

“I would say [my aesthetic] is refined, elegant, sophisticated and also modern,” McVey said. “Really just appreciating subtleties, like subtle luxury.” 

Since her favorite pink cocktail dress from the 2019 Parsons School of Design summer program, McVey has created more designs that she holds close to her heart. For a project where she was required to pair a theme and another artist, McVey paired the theme of soft, fluid fabrics inspired by Madeleine Vioneete, a designer from the 1920s and 30s, with painter Georgia O’Keefe. 

“I really love it, it’s a very elegant piece,” McVey said.

“I would love to see myself work my way up in a brand and potentially become a creative director,” McVey said. 

Specifically, McVey wants to join the team at Ralph Lauren. 

“My design aesthetic personally aligns with the brand,” McVey said. “If I’m designing something that doesn’t feel like me, it’s harder to be passionate about it and relate to it.” 

Though McVey has been enjoying her time at FIT, there are hardships when it comes to fashion design. “[FIT’s] program is so rigorous; it becomes your whole life,” McVey said. “You pour yourself into it [and] it does take a lot from you and it can be draining.” 

McVey has had to accept that there are certain aspects of her life that she must prioritize more than others, such as her modeling career.

“I think I’ve come to terms with the fact that I only have so much time to pursue the things I want to do,” McVey said. “At this time, fashion design is my focus.”  

Looking to her future in the fashion industry, McVey wants to be part of a fashion brand. 

McVey continues to pour her heart into design and school, taking on a positive mindset in face of difficulties.

“I think what makes me come back to [design] is that I just love creating,” McVey said. “[I] can be struggling along in the process, but when it’s done, it’s like, ‘wow, I made that and look what I put out into the world.’ Even if it didn’t come out entirely how I liked it… I always learn something, and I think that’s what matters the most.”

Though McVey is aware her future is uncertain, she has no doubts that fashion design is what she wants to do now. 

“[Fashion] touches everyone, whether they want to be involved in the industry or not,” McVey said. “We all have to wear clothes, and clothes all say something about us… they can be expressive and an art form. I love being able to be creative and to express myself and for other people to express themselves in such an interesting way.”

Photos courtesy of Amanda McVey

Art by Sarah Sheaffer