Kintsugi is the Japanese art of taking broken pottery and gluing it back together with a mixture of glue and gold powder. I find kintsugi inspirational because it takes a bunch of broken pieces and makes it beautiful. In today's ever-changing world, mental health is an increasingly important topic. When people have a mental health illness like anxiety or depression, they often think that they are alone in their brokenness. But this simply isn’t true. We’re all broken people, mental illness or not. Like the art of kintsugi, broken people can be used together to accomplish a greater purpose. No matter how much we feel like it, we are not alone. Together, we can do beautiful things.
Stuck At Prom
Faith
B.
9
Rolls
13
Hours
Inspiration:
This dress was inspired by sitting in my boring classes with too much time on my hands. With that time I looked at different designers and what made their dresses stand out. Then from all that planing came my Duck Tape dress.
Stuck At Prom
Emma
F.
9
Rolls
81
Hours
Inspiration:
For as long as I can recall, I have been constantly creating. When I was young, I frequently enjoyed sewing with my mother and creating Duck tape wallets with my cousins. As I have grown older, I have channeled this energy into sewing my own prom dress or suit for each year I have gone. With these factors combined, I was extremely excited when I discovered the “Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest”. Inspired by the "Red, White, and Made by You" category, I decided to theme my dress based on the U.S. Constitution. To do this, I created a period piece based on women's fashion from the 1780s to pay homage to the year the Constitution was drafted. Unlike a historically accurate article of course, it was created out of Duck tape, which made elements such as the lace and ruffles difficult to replicate. As is historically accurate, the dress includes an underskirt, white trimmings, and a gown with an open front, which features a fitted bodice. For accessories, I created a necklace and a headpiece that accentuated the red accents of the dress. I chose red and white as the accents of this outfit because they represent the American flag. The feather of the headpiece is meant to represent the quill like the one that would have been used to write the Constitution. Most important to me, however, is that this dress would be as historically accurate as I could make out of Duck tape. Beyond the historical fashion, I included the iconic first words of the Constitution, “We the People”, on the sleeves. Then, on the center front section of the underskirt, I handwrote the original first section and preamble of the Constitution. This section describes the way the Founding Fathers envisioned our new country’s government. I believe that while important amendments have since been made here, this is a foundational part of the United States’ history. Each of these features are things I drew by hand. Works created by the federal government of the United States, including the Constitution, are not copyrighted and are in the public domain. Henceforth, I was legally able to include a portion of it on my dress. Overall, I am so excited to bring this dress to life and enter it into the “Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest”.
Stuck At Prom
Dasha
V.
36
Rolls
129
Hours
Inspiration:
Achieving inspiration from a Spanish, Paso double, Royal Rebel, and floral theme, I created a dress resembling a ballgown with a slit to represent the scandalousness of the red cape (the women) versus the bull (the man), incorporating our own style into it. With the help of my artistic, talented sister, we created something we’d never believe we would have ever started in the first place. After countless hours of staying up working on the dress and the amount of times we had to rush to Walmart to get more supplies, we not only completed a prom dress fully made out of duct tape, but also created a memorable, chaotic memory for my sister and I to cherish forever.
Stuck At Prom
Marina
N.
16
Rolls
27
Hours
Inspiration:
Since it is the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, I decided to make a dress honoring the country that has given so much to me! I was adopted from Russia when I was 18 months old. After living in America for most of my life, I have become extremely thankful and grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve been given. I decided to make the flag, since it already embodies so much of the country; freedom, and independence. I incorporated an eagle wing into my design as well, because the eagle is an important part of American history, as it symbolizes strength, resilience, freedom, and independence.
Stuck At Prom
Donna
C.
13
Rolls
33
Hours
Inspiration:
My inspiration was to have a tuxedo type outfit in the front and a flowing gown style outfit in the back. I simply started with a black canvas, and allowed all other artistic creativity to come to me naturally.
Stuck At Prom
Skylar
B.
21
Rolls
32
Hours
Inspiration:
My favorite movie is Grease! As a little girl I always wanted to be transported into the time of dancing, bright colors and fun silhouettes. Now as a teenager I finally got to experience what it was like to be in the 1950s. I wanted to capture not just a time period, but that beauty is not just defined in one specific standard for our current expectations, but that history can be beautiful too.
Stuck At Prom
Ashlyn
G.
14
Rolls
31
Hours
Inspiration:
My inspiration for this dress came from my own journey of growth and self-acceptance. I chose soft pink and gold duct tape because those colors represent confidence, beauty, and optimism. The handmade roses symbolize personal growth, while the bows placed throughout the dress represent important milestones that have shaped who I am. Each bow symbolizes a challenge overcome, an accomplishment earned, or a lesson learned during my journey through high school. Together, they remind me that growth happens through many small moments that eventually come together to create something beautiful.
As someone with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and depression, I wanted this design to reflect the process of learning to embrace who I am. The dress, bouquet, wand, and accessories were all handcrafted from duct tape and assembled piece by piece. Just like the dress itself, personal growth happens one step at a time. What started as rolls of duct tape became a reminder that creativity, perseverance, and self-confidence can transform ordinary materials into something meaningful as I prepare for my next chapter at Ohio University.
Stuck At Prom
Madaleine
C.
15
Rolls
36
Hours
Inspiration:
My inspiration for the dress is having all the colors of the dress kind of blend. As the red and white are together at the top of the skirt and then flow into a blue and have bursts of red and white flowers throughout the blue section of the dress.
Stuck At Prom
Callie
H.
17
Rolls
14
Hours
Inspiration:
I was inspired to celebrate our Nation’s 250th Anniversary, by our flag’s colors- red, white and blue, and by the following elements: the 1920’s flapper era- my head piece and purse, meets Dolly Madison/Constitution- my apron, meets a combination of influences from the 1920s flapper layers, 1930s Spanish Flamenco influence, 1980’s bold layers- my ruffled skirt/shawl piece, and by Wonder Woman inspiring my top covered in stars and empowering myself to take risks and design something versatile and fun!
Stuck At Prom
Charlie
K.
8
Rolls
11
Hours
Inspiration:
I like the shape of the dress and went with what works for my body type. I didn't want it to be like a costume but something I'd buy at a store. And I wanted the colors to be vibrant. Yellow is also my favorite color, so just felt right with this really amazing color to work with.
Stuck At Prom
Bailey
K.
7
Rolls
68
Hours
Inspiration:
Ever since I was a little kid, I have been obsessed with any and everything Disney. From growing up with Disney movies and Disney Channel, to going on vacation at Disneyland. Which is why I knew that the theme of my dress had to be something Disney. While thinking bout what Disney thing to use as my theme, I remembered a scene from Sleeping Beauty. Two of the fairies are fighting about the color of Aurora's birthday dress. Going back and forth between pink and blue before the two colors mix. Which is what I tried to recreate in my dress.
Stuck At Prom
Taylor
R.
6
Rolls
21
Hours
Inspiration:
As humans we’ve been blessed with nature, but as our population has expanded, so has our greed. I wanted to make this dress show the beauty of nature because we’re so close to losing it.
Stuck At Prom
Dur-a-shehwar
A.
12
Rolls
70
Hours
Inspiration:
My outfit is inspired by a deep longing for the seas of my hometown, blending traditional sailor motifs with the wild, unpredictable majesty of the ocean. I layered various hues of blue and gold Duck Tape to create ocean wave patterns, an anchor-inspired structured naval torso, and a textured fishing-net overlay. I also embraced a mixed-media approach by making plenty of mistakes (mixing up parchment and wax paper!), and by painting the sleeve cuffs of my dress to achieve a deep royal-navy-blue tone when it wasn't available at my local stores. Beyond the aesthetics, the netting elements symbolize a call to action for ocean conservation, representing my hope that our curiosity for the deep remains as boundless as the ocean itself.
Stuck At Prom
Shagun
A.
29
Rolls
45
Hours
Inspiration:
My inspiration for this dress came from wanting to honor my Indian heritage while celebrating the bright, joyful colors of spring and summer. I’ve always loved the elegance of a traditional lehenga, so I wanted to create something that felt lehenga‑inspired but still original and bold. Flowers have always reminded me of the beauty and energy of the seasons I love most, and butterflies felt like the perfect symbol of movement, transformation, and life. Combining all of that with a dramatic black base allowed the colors to shine even more, turning the dress into a vibrant garden that reflects both my culture and my personality.
Stuck At Prom
Mylee
R.
22
Rolls
43
Hours
Inspiration:
The inspiration for my outfit was both from my love for exotic animals as well as attention to detail. Through this piece, I worked to prioritize the intricate details of each pattern, design, and print. Ultimately to express a glimpse of the beauty that can be seen in an untouched exotic ecosystem.
Stuck At Prom
Nehemiah
B.
6
Rolls
49
Hours
Inspiration:
My design is inspired by the television sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, a cultural story about a teen who leaves behind a difficult environment and discovers a new world of possibilities. While that narrative inspired the visual concept, the true story behind this outfit is deeply personal and completely real. You will see a Prom King with a crown, vibrant colors, and confidence enough to wear his blazer inside out. What you may not immediately see is the journey that earned me Prom King status.
My transformation became the foundation of this design. Every detail tells a piece of my story. The crown represents perseverance rather than privilege. The blazer turned in-side out like in the sitcom, symbolizes confidence and self-worth. The bold colors in the shoe design represent how I continue to walk in hope, opportunity, and a future no longer limited by circumstances. Even the material itself carries meaning. Duct tape is designed to strengthen, repair, and hold things together. In many ways, it mirrors the people who helped shape my journey. Family members, mentors, teachers, coaches, and friends became the support system that helped rebuild what life had tried to tear apart. They did not erase my struggles, but they helped me discover my strength.
Stuck At Prom
Summer
A.
14
Rolls
46
Hours
Inspiration:
When making this dress, I was inspired by art history. I took my inspiration for the patterns on the skirt and bodice from stained glass windows on historical cathedrals. The classic rose window inspired my headpiece, as well as the designs on the main skirt panel. The color scheme of my dress was also heavily inspired by stained glass. My art is often inspired by architecture, specifically cathedrals/places of worship, and I think it is a good way to honor past art while creating your own.
Karissa
C.
Keller High School
Colleyville, Texas
Faith
B.
Christ Lutheran High School
Buckley, Illinois
Emma
F.
Madison High School
Madison, Kansas
Dasha
V.
The Science Academy STEM Magnet
Los Angeles, California
Marina
N.
Booker T Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
