The Inspiration for this dress was trying to incorporate my art style Into an elegant form of dress wear. The designs during the creative process went through many forms of dragons, feathers, and even the idea of creating something that looked like wearing a painting on a dress much like the t shirts I paint on. Dragons are a staple in my art but I've also experimented with portraits of elegant women which I've come to enjoy. And though dragons are bold and intricate . . . I thought of the modern fashion trends used today Which is in general simplistic. Simple goes great with elegance and what better way to portray that then the natural beauty and elegance of flowers? So I created movement and shaped the dress like a dress you might see katness everdeen wearing in the hunger games or a model walking down the runway.
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Jessica
O.
36
Rolls
98
Hours
Inspiration:
Butterflies have long been regarded as harbingers of good luck and positive omens in cultures around the world. Their ethereal beauty and graceful flight inspire feelings of joy and happiness, while their transformative journey from caterpillar to butterfly symbolizes renewal and the possibility of positive change. In honor of my grandmother, who passed earlier this year, this dress is an ode to her, crafted in colors that represent her grace, beauty, and spirit.
In many traditions, encountering a butterfly is believed to bring good fortune and blessings. It's seen as a sign from the universe that better things are on the horizon, that obstacles will be overcome, and that new opportunities will arise. Some cultures even view butterflies as messengers from the spirit world, carrying messages of love and guidance from departed loved ones.
Through the creation of this dress, adorned with the symbol of the butterfly, I aim to manifest this belief in luck and good omens. It becomes not just a piece of clothing, but a symbol of hope, resilience, and the promise of brighter days ahead.
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Stella
K.
16
Rolls
30
Hours
Inspiration:
This dress was inspired by flowers and how they can express emotion. Emotion for me is hard to express so I wanted to show flowers that described my personality. The yellow flowers symbolize my joy, the pink symbolizes my love for the things around me, and the purple illustrates my ambition in life.
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Sydney
B.
19
Rolls
95
Hours
Inspiration:
When I was kid I was given the nickname: Syd the Science kid. Growing up, I hated that nickname. But as time went on and my love for science and engineering continued to grow. I found a new appreciation for that nickname and I wanted to make a dress that embodied an important part of myself. This dress is full of science equations, molecules, beakers etc. It allowed me to unite my science and artsy sides of myself. I hope I can inspire others with this dress to dive deep into their own love for science.
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Katelyn
D.
20
Rolls
22
Hours
Inspiration:
The inspiration for my outfit was fall: the season of change. As we go through life dynamic aspects of our lives change. Whether the change is slow or rapid, anticipated or unexpected we only have two options in response to change: to fight and deny it or to embrace and adapt to it. The dress -- a common symbol of beauty -- symbolizes the beauty of embracing change. I constructed this dress by making duct tape sheets for the base of the skirt and the top. I then made more sheets in various fall colors and cut leaves out of those to attach to the dress and hat.
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Ashley
D.
13
Rolls
47
Hours
Inspiration:
When I first began to craft my dress for this scholarship, I thought I wanted to do something under a Queen of Hearts theme so I bought white and red tape. However, as I began to sketch my dress I realized I wanted my dress to be a closer reflection of myself. Two of my favorite things to use in fashion are bows and flowers. I think that they are both simple symbols of femininity and growth, so I love to include them in my daily wear. Thus, in crafting my dress I chose to use both bows and flowers. The bows can be seen on the neckline of the dress, and on the back by the corset. The flowers, however, can be seen all around the skirt of the dress, growing on tree branches. Additionally, the shape of the dress is heavily inspired by Quinceanera dresses; the dress is a puffy gown and includes the colors in traditional Quince dresses. I chose this style as an anchor to my Hispanic background. Overall, I’d say my tastes were the biggest pull in the creation of this dress.
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Luis
R.
30
Rolls
336
Hours
Inspiration:
Howdy! I’m Luis. Entering this contest, I knew I had to be brave and bold while staying true to myself. The colors of my outfit are inspired by my school, which I've always seen as more than just a school—it’s a family and a community that accepts and supports me. They even welcomed me into the district, though I wasn’t originally from there. The touch of gold adds flair, symbolizing royalty, which I've always believed I embody. For prom, I aimed for a royal prince look because if you’re going to prom, you should dress like royalty. Even if you don’t win king or queen, you should already look and feel like royalty . Adding wings gave my outfit an extra bit of flair, and as I made them, I realized their significance. They represent the support from family, friends, and all those who have cared for me. These wings symbolize how their love and guidance have helped me grow and will carry me to greater heights as I move forward in life. I spent hours crafting this outfit, meticulously layering and focusing on every detail. I had some help acquiring materials and putting the outfit together, which also bolstered my confidence. I love this outfit not just for the long hours I invested in it, but for what it represents: community, friendship, self-worth, and an ensemble that will turn heads at prom.
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Lukas
V.
11
Rolls
34
Hours
Inspiration:
Originally, the inspiration for the outfit was kind of low and it started with us going for a gothic-style jacket, but we later realized that the jacket wasn't really gothic. The red was too bright and the form was more party-like, and then we realized a wonderland aesthetic/playing card/casino aesthetic was more fitting for what he have already done.
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Jahmari
B.
13
Rolls
23
Hours
Inspiration:
I wanted to incorporate a dual-colored theme into the suit. I love 2-colored outfits, so I chose blue for the main color.
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Alexia
S.
24
Rolls
36
Hours
Inspiration:
I remember from a young age my grandma and I walking around Costco, and myself marveling at the beautiful dresses on the clothing racks, hoping to wear one someday, and feel like a princess as I enjoyed Disney films at the time. This childhood passion for elegance and fantasy flourished as I grew, leading me to immerse myself in history, where I discovered the beauty of the elaborate ball gowns from past eras. Enamored by their unique and elaborate designs, I began sketching dresses, envisioning the day when I could bring one to life myself.
My dress is a true reflection of my passion for history and art, drawing inspiration from the glamor of the Met Gala, the whimsicality of Tim Burton films, the evocative melodies of Laufey and Disney, and the elegance of Victorian-era fashion.
The Met Gala symbolizes contemporary fashion, with themes like "Garden of Time" inspiring the flowers and pearls in my design. Books like "Alice in Wonderland" also fueled my imagination, with Alice's outfits influencing my vision. Songs by Laufey, which sound like something out of a fairytale, added to the fantastical elements of my dress.
Creating this dress allowed me to channel my diverse ideas into one cohesive design. I envisioned it as my "dream dress," something I would have loved to wear. Using various materials like fake butterflies and three types of lace, the process was both challenging and rewarding. A memorable moment was when I tried the dress on for my family. Their amazement at the beauty and the dedication I put into it made all the hard work worthwhile. One significant challenge was attaching an external bodice piece that wouldn’t stick, which I had to redo after spending a lot of time.
Crafting this dress has been a dream come true. Despite being my first time making a dress, the process taught me about materials, construction, and patience. Seeing the final piece come together filled me with pride and excitement as I realized I had turned my imaginative sketches into reality.
By merging the timeless allure of the Victorian era with modern and fantastical elements, my dress celebrates both historical and contemporary styles. It is a testament to my love for art, fashion, and history!
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Shelley
H.
9
Rolls
168
Hours
Inspiration:
I was inspired by my Chinese culture. I love the hanfu style dress, and I wanted my duct tape dress to have a large sleeve near my hand. I wanted to add lots of riffles in the dress to incorporate the modern prom dress style. The main theme was a star/moon because my family celebrates the Lunar New Year and the mid-autumn festival. I made this dress using blue, white, transparent, silver, and glitter gold Duct Tape brand.
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Janvi
V.
21
Rolls
67
Hours
Inspiration:
In an earnest spring cleaning, while rummaging through my mother’s old clothes, I stumbled upon a beautiful dress. Heavy, red fabric, absolutely covered in detailed gold embroidery and embellishments, I was stunned. Taking note of the color combination, I realized that I was holding my mother’s wedding dress, and was inspired.
Indian bridal wear showcases a unique combination of colors, jewelry, and culture. One notable aspect of these dresses is that are covered in intricate details. From a skirt full of embroidery to equally magnificent jewelry to match, one always feels regal when donning them.
For my dress, I wanted to portray this side of my culture. I took direct inspiration from bridal wear by using traditional colors, red and gold. I then started to replicate the embroidery patterns and motifs I often found in South Asian textiles through the new medium of tape. Finally, I utilized silhouettes found in Indian lehengas by creating a two-piece prom dress with a long, detailed train.
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Nathalie
L.
18
Rolls
55
Hours
Inspiration:
This dress was inspired by the Venezuelan national flower the cattleya mossiae, with the structure of a 1950s evening gown. The colors I used throughout the dress were representing the flower’s colors, which are white, yellow, purple and pink. Venezuela is known for its flora and fauna, being connected to the rainforest and having the tallest waterfall in the world. The 1950s are known as the golden ages of American history, adorned with popular pop culture, as well as beautiful wardrobes. The bodice of the dress contain princess seams, and two darts (one in the back and one in the front) to give a structured look, as well as make the silhouette of the 1950s. The dress contains several elements of ruffles, to represent a typical joropo dress (which is a traditional Venezuelan celebration dress). Overall, this was made to honor my Venezuelan-American identity.
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Beyuti
B.
8
Rolls
40
Hours
Inspiration:
My suit was inspired by incorporating, traditional African patterns, and textiles specifically those focused in Ghana. I wanted to show myself, the culture, and the joy associated with it in my prom look.
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Adayah
U.
10
Rolls
120
Hours
Inspiration:
The inspiration of this dress was the African American (Soulaan) Flag. The colors red, black, and gold were highlighted to showcase my pride in my heritage and culture. This flag represents the struggle but also the pride of the black community and me. I wanted to show people the importance of loving your heritage and culture.
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Lucas
V.
16
Rolls
46
Hours
Inspiration:
This tuxedo was inspired by the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024. I was fortunate to see this spectacle. What struck me was that everyone, across all social, ideological, religious or political divides, for a few short minutes was focused on the sky. We came together across the nation to view something larger than ourselves. Some places even just came out to view the partial eclipse-together! On my leg are phases of the eclipse. My shoes depict gazers looking skyward. The hat shows the alignment of the earth, moon and sun that make this phenomenon so utterly awe-inspiring. On the back is a rendering of the total eclipse corona. I crafted a pocket-watch that says ‘Time to Come Together’. I appreciate these moments when people join together.
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Nadia
L.
15
Rolls
28
Hours
Inspiration:
My dress was inspired by all the powerful Mexican women that surround my life. I admire their qualities and aspire to be like them. I admire the juxtaposition of the femininity yet toughness she possesses. That is why my dress has flowers that express femininity as well as a geometric structure that highlights the resilience of every woman. The skirt of my dress is completely made out of shower curtains and the top is made of plastic wrap covered in white Duck Tape. Every flower was handmade and every 'muñeca de trapo' was also handmade.
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Laylah
R.
16
Rolls
150
Hours
Inspiration:
I enjoy walking to relax and so the back of my dress represents a path. Its made of a series of small red, black and silver squares overlapping that fill like pebbles. My favorite color is black and its always a great base to accent other colors red, white and silver. The front lower area represents the unique flowers on the path. I wasn't really certain where I was headed in creating my look but it became clearer as my mom and I worked together.
