By Joy Kraft
The Cincinnati Enquirer

University of Cincinnati president Nancy Zimpher is doing her part to toot the horn of the design skills of the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning.

She turned to the school's fashion design department for a new academic gown, which she'll debut today at her inauguration ceremonies at the Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center.

She'll also wear the gown at next month's graduation, then take it on the road for future academic ceremonies.

The berry-red gown, a gift to the university from Zimpher, is a chance to showcase the talents of the university throughout the country, she says.

Research into academic robes, going to back to the 12th and 13th centuries, established guidelines on fabric and color. Traditionally, the robes are black, but choosing red was a no-brainer, especially for the president with a weakness for UC red and patterned hose.

Zimpher spotted a blurb about distinctive academic gowns when reading about commencements at the beginning of the year, and pitched the idea for a special robe to Judith Koroscik, dean of the design college. Koroscik and fashion instructors Margie Voelker-Ferrier and Ann Firestone began brainstorming in March.

"President Zimpher had very specific ideas," says Firestone, who wielded the needle. "She wanted something stately and substantial, not wimpy and ultra-feminine."

Fabrics and trims were sampled, with a four-ply silk crepe winning out because of its handsome draping quality. The design is Firestone's combination of existing robes and tradition.

The red robe is trimmed with wide black velvet bands on the sleeves and down the front. And the academic hood is red with a black-and-red striped satin lining. Voelker-Ferrier suggested gold piping on the black bands. A dozen yards of fabric and about 30 yards of trim were gathered from Banasch's at Rookwood Pavilion in Norwood and from California and Lace Heaven in Alabama, discovered on the Internet.

Firestone put about 50 hours into the construction, much of it by hand, with the help of students.

And what will the president wear under her gown? Probably more red ... and her signature patterned hose, of course.

E-mail jkraft@enquirer.com