Fashion designer to visit MHS

Melissa Jung, Features Editor • March 14, 2012

Tomorrow, Thursday, Mar. 15, during first hour, Project Runway finalist and fashion designer Laura Kathleen Planck will visit MHS.

Jill Kehlenbrink, fashions teacher, came into contact with Planck through the Partners in Education program in 2010.

“Laura Kathleen is a local St. Louisan that has been working on developing her own line of clothing,” Kehlenbrink said. “A lot of her pieces are built off of classics.”

Kehlenbrink said Planck started developing her clothing line in high school, and built somewhat of a reputation in St. Louis as a fashion designer.

“She sews impeccably,” Kehlenbrink said.

Kehlenbrink said Planck spoke to her Fashion Design & Merchandising Class two years ago, which often includes students who are seriously considering careers in fashion.

When Planck spoke to Kehlenbrink’s classes, she had tried out for Project Runway four times with no success and was in the midst of preparing her collection for another try.

This time, Planck made it onto Season 9 of Project Runway and went through to be one of the top five contestants.

Kehlenbrink said when Planck previously spoke, she talked about her collection but also gave good suggestions to the students and advice for getting experience in the field, which is to do whatever they can to get experience even if they’re not getting paid.

Kehlenbrink said she thinks students will get “good, basic advice” out of the experience. One of the biggest things in the business, Kehlenbrink said, is to be able to take criticism. Kehlenbrink said Planck is a great example of someone who takes criticism well and keeps trying.

“Don’t be upset, and put it into a positive frame,” Kehlenbrink said. “Learn to listen to what they’re saying. You have to have perseverance.”

Katie Singer, junior, is one of Kehlenbrink’s students attending the presentation.

“I think it’s a really great opportunity to listen to someone whose profession is what I want to be,” Singer said.

Singer said she plans to major in fashion design.

“I hope to get inspired, and I hope to learn more about fashion,” Singer said.

All current and former fashions students are welcome to listen to Planck, but they need a permission form signed by their first hour teacher.

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About the Contributor

Melissa Jung, Features Editor and Webmaster

Melissa is a senior and this is her third year on staff. At MHS, she is also involved in Marquette Theatre Company as the historian, and she is a member of the St. Louis Cappies and the International Thespian Society. She is also a part of Key Club, National Honor Society, and French Honor Society. Outside of MHS, she is especially involved in her youth group and is still a Girl Scout. She has an awesome job working with kids and her hobbies include reading, writing, taking pictures, listening to music, and going to concerts -- she fangirls all the time. Melissa loves so much food, especially barbecue. She doesn't watch much TV, but when she does, it's marathons - either of Intervention, Boy Meets World, or Say Yes to the Dress. She has grown to love so much about newspaper, but the best thing is probably the friendships she has made through it. Melissa is still deciding what her future plans will be, but she wants to help people. She's cool she swears.