SAVANNAH, Georgia (CNN) -- What does it really take to dress someone as fashion-forward and in the spotlight as Michelle Obama? 

Designer Yigal Azrouël talks with students at the Savannah College of Art and Design. 

"Bravery," says Isabel Toledo, designer of the first lady's attention-grabbing lemongrass yellow wool and lace ensemble that she wore for the inauguration of her husband President Obama. 

But along with bravery about their fashion sense, new graduates at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) will need courage in the face of the current recession. 

"Fashion is being hit particularly hard in the new job market. Fashion as a whole is feeling a greater level of lost revenues and in turn has lost opportunities for sustaining volume and even more so for growth," said Marshal Cohen, chief analyst and expert fashion analyst for the NPD market research group. 

"The ironic thing is that new ideas and creations are just what the industry needs but is too cautious to react to it," he added. 

Full of new ideas, student designers say they are aware of the challenges as they head out into the work force, but they're optimistic they can make it in these tough times. 

"After I graduate, I'm going to New York, I have an internship lined up with a trend forecasting company, Promostyl," said Shelby Simon whose designs made it into SCAD's annual fashion show. See the runway fashions » 

"Everyone needs an assistant so hopefully I'll be able to find something pretty easily," said Caitlin Clarke. She would like to land an internship in New York and has interviewed with New York & Co. and applied for positions at Oscar de la Renta, Calvin Klein and Zac Posen. 
Where was her work displayed?
Shelby Simon whose designs made it into SCAD's annual fashion show. 