My dress design was primarily inspired by my middle name, Rose. This is implemented through the pedal-shaped skirt, as well as the floral adornments throughout the outfit. I used bright colors in order to harness the sunny and cheerful essence of spring into my project. Lastly, I included a drawstring corset that added to the visual appeal as well as the functionality of this design.
Stuck At Prom®
Ashlan S.
13
Rolls
35
Hours
Inspiration:
I've always been fond of wildlife and nature. For this particular project, I was greatly inspired by koi fish and their environment. Not only are koi fish breathtakingly beautiful, but they also represent many good qualities that I seek to behold. In accordance with the fact that they consistently swim against the current, koi fish are known to symbolize courage, perseverance, and strength. My tux seeks to highlight the beauty of the koi fish by depicting three of them swimming around elements of their typical environment, such as lily pads and flowers. Thus, I also made the tux primarily blue in order to represent the water that koi fish inhabit. I also opted to create a lily pad hat to tie together the theme of the outfit. All in all, I love and appreciate koi fish, and I am incredibly happy that I chose to represent them in this outfit. Navigating this process was difficult at times because understanding how to manipulate the tape was rough, but I'm proud of myself for persevering much like a koi fish would because I learned a lot about project creation and fashion design!
Stuck At Prom®
Carmel R.
14
Rolls
21
Hours
Inspiration:
I was inspired by the blooming flowers of spring. Watching buds transform to mature flowers brings me so much joy while I ride my bike through Central Park. I am always amazed by their intricate patterns and vibrant colors. Blue and orange are the preeminent colors in my design because they are opposite on the color wheel and therefore, compliment each other.
Stuck At Prom®
Owen M.
11
Rolls
50
Hours
Inspiration:
I got the idea for my outfit when my AP US History class began to learn about the AIDS crisis and I discovered the historic AIDS memorial quilt which brought my idea came to life. Each of the colorful tiles features highlights of my interests, experiences, personality, and even my previous Stuck at Prom submission. I wanted to create something that was so personal to me that if someone had dropped my blazer in the middle of my school, anyone would have been able to pick it up and recognize that this was my blazer. Hopefully, you all can decipher each of the tiles to discover the complexities of my life and personality. Pro tip: to get finer details with duct tape, apply some duct tape to parchment paper and cut out your desired pattern to create a sticker made out of duct tape to avoid a sticky situation.
Stuck At Prom®
Makayla S.
15
Rolls
60
Hours
Inspiration:
I had a hard time finding inspiration, I decided to go with a sunset dress but was disappointed to only find grey and black in my store, (the colored duck tape was in the craft section, not the hardware section). I decided to take a risk and go with a thunder storm themed dress, hot glue makes up rain drop embellishments, which are hard to see in some photos. I spend a lot of time sewing so I assumed this project would come easy but it was honestly a struggle and I ended up figuring it out.
Stuck At Prom®
Gracie Z.
14
Rolls
65
Hours
Inspiration:
My black glitter-layered dress was inspired by the poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" by William Wordsworth. Throughout the poem, he explains the brilliance of daffodils across the landscape. In the second stanza, he writes, "Continuous as the stars that shine... And twinkle on the milky way.." which inspired my color palette. My dress is adorned with beautiful flowers and intricate details which personifies the poem's true meaning and the beauty of the daffodils the poet sees. In the last stanza, he states, "And then my heart with pleasure fills... And dances with the daffodils..." The poet is remembering the happy memories of his experience and I hoped to invoke that experience when creating my dress.
Stuck At Prom®
Lily B.
6
Rolls
40
Hours
Inspiration:
The dress was inspired by my favorite necklace which features a black and red spider.
Stuck At Prom®
Catherine Z.
10
Rolls
30
Hours
Inspiration:
The image of the fish on my dress jumping out of the water was inspired by my own life. Instead of staying in the water like the other two fish, the jumping fish took a leap outside of its comfort zone. This is how I feel about going to college next year. Instead of going to a college in state like my peers, I am taking a leap of faith by going to an art school out of state.
Stuck At Prom®
Lauren C.
20
Rolls
55
Hours
Inspiration:
I was brainstorming ideas for my dress while watching the Harry Potter movies (as one does) when it hit me; I should make a dress inspired by my house, Ravenclaw. I decided to use the house colors as described in the novels rather than the movies, blue and bronze. The dress is entirely composed of the two colors and includes many elements involving feathers as an ode to their mascot, the eagle. This competition perfectly encompasses what the Ravenclaw house stands for, intelligence and creativity. On top of the challenge it was to make, it required a heck of a lot of imagination. I have always loved sewing, with my latest projects being designing and sewing my two prom dresses this year. I will be attending the University of Virginia in the fall to pursue business with a focus on entrepreneurship. I plan to continue my passion for creative projects and sewing in college and beyond!
Stuck At Prom®
Ziqin C.
18
Rolls
100
Hours
Inspiration:
I hoped to combine my studies of herbalism, woodblock printing, and costume design to make an ethereal and modern piece. Herbalism informed my choice of flowers. The chrysanthemum that lies on my chest expels windheat nodding to its placement between my lungs and the association red has with fire and passion. In combination with the Chinese rose in the center panel, liver heat is expelled and blood flow is regulated. My passions grow instead of burn because I regulate my time and combine my approach to each study. Woodblock printing encouraged my understanding of the flower’s shadows and the order in which to layer colors. The time devoted to this art conditioned me for the time spent simply laying the tape. Following the ethereal concept, I found inspiration in Tang and Qing Dynasty clothing, as they seem to float without any wind and layer pieces effortlessly. The beauty of those times reached far past clothing, so I also showcased other art forms to honor the richness of the culture. As I am a mix of my Asian roots and my American reality, this dress credits everything that makes me, as if my own costume.
Stuck At Prom®
Cayden S.
15
Rolls
25
Hours
Inspiration:
I had gotten my idea from our own high-schools prom theme, which was a night under the stars. I had also gotten inspiration from cartoon galaxy themed gods and characters from several tv shows.
Stuck At Prom®
Hailee S.
18
Rolls
21
Hours
Inspiration:
Going into this I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I take inspiration from a lot of things when it comes to art so it was hard to narrow it down, however in the end I just decided to go with the flow. This year for my graduation I had a dress with a bow on the front so I took that idea and combined it with my love for layered dresses. The butterflies come from my family who always call me their little butterfly and how free they are. Butterflies may be an intricate insect but in a way they are also simple, hence my dress being simple.
Stuck At Prom®
Jessica O.
26
Rolls
56
Hours
Inspiration:
My design was inspired by the simplicity of flowers floating by during the spring. In this season, flowers gracefully drift through the air, carried by the gentle breeze, and release a delicate, fresh fragrance. I aimed to capture this essence by creating a dress that embodies this freshness, simplicity, and elegance, especially in its silhouette. With carefully chosen red and white colors and the addition of multiple layers, the design reflects the bold yet elegant phenomenon. To further emphasize the dress's message, I crafted hibiscus flower accessories. The fresh scent of flowers floating by in the spring is a delicate and invigorating aroma that fills the air. It carries the essence of new beginnings and rejuvenation. With each waft, a distinct sweetness lingers, accompanied by a subtle hint of earthiness. Therefore, I incorporated three layers in my dress to create a more dramatic silhouette that flows gracefully. The scent is light and crisp, resembling a gentle breeze that carries the enchanting fragrance of blooming petals. Its captivating and soothing qualities bring a sense of joy. I hope that all those who see this dress resonate with the joy and captivating beauty of spring, just like I do.
Stuck At Prom®
Sofia H.
22
Rolls
210
Hours
Inspiration:
Have you ever searched up what poppies mean? They mean beauty and youth, a nice symbol for young adults going to prom. But there's another meaning, this time in Ukrainian (my parent's language), it is a symbol to remember all that happened before and during world war II, so that it never happens again. A symbol that connects everyone and everything, but also to what is happening today still in Ukraine. So I wanted to make something that everyone could to see and look at and just be happy about their day, beauty and youth, but to also remember their past and all that they have achieved.
Stuck At Prom®
Kendyl K.
4
Rolls
34
Hours
Inspiration:
I live, breathe, and dream all things fashion/beauty related. When I saw an add for the Stuck at Prom scholarship contest, I knew it was something I had to take a shot at. I wanted to design a dress that could be pictured on a runway during fashion week. I chose a simple fitted dress with an asymmetrical ribbon design. I wanted the dress to be sophisticated with a fun flare.
I first began with using an old sheet and pinning it to my desired shape. Once this was done, I began making strips of duct tape and folding them 3/4. I then began laying them in a herringbone pattern on top of the cut sheet, centering the 45 degree angle in the center. After they were all in place, I cut a 1/4" strip of tape and taped the center of the skirt from top to bottom, securing all the pleated strips in place. The back of the skirt was a little more tricky, forming it to my body. I placed strips of tape on a sheet to have a smooth and crisp look. Because of the shape of the dress, I tacked a zipper down the center back to be able to get it on and off easily without damaging the dress. To make the ruffles, I used a metallic silver to make a piping edge. I then added 4" of red tape for the width. I gathered the ruffles to the desired look and tacked them to both sides of the skirts slit. I then continued the ruffles around the hem of the dress.
For the top, I decided on a strapless V-neckline. I used an old sheet to make a pattern for the cup area and inserted a built in bra. Once this portion was completed, I played around with the length of the crop top. The ribbon was made and applied the same way as the ribbon on the skirt. I angled the ribbon from the bottom right, up over the left shoulder.
To accessorize, I wanted something simple that would not draw away from the glam of the dress. I used a dowel rod, and cut it to 3". I then used the metallic silver tape to cover the rod, in a long cylinder shape and attached it to a delicate chain. I also made earrings using a cylinder shape. I used 2 paperclips for each earring and wrapped them in red and silver tape. The last accessory I made was a large tropical flower. I used yellow, to contrast and add some vibrancy to the overall look.
This project was a great learning experience and I look forward to viewing all the fabulous entries.
Stuck At Prom®
Isabella O.
12
Rolls
52
Hours
Inspiration:
Nature's blossoming in the spring and summer influenced my outfit. The season shifts from chilly and lifeless to butterflies and blooming flowers. Each butterfly represents a deceased family member who had a huge impact on my life, and with spring and summer approaching with flora returning, I thought it would be a perfect depiction. I've always enjoyed nature, even when it's dark and the seasons have rendered it lifeless. When summer and spring arrive, the flowers and all the animals returning to where the weather is warm gives me a sense of tranquility and enjoyment to be outside.
Stuck At Prom®
Isabella P.
4
Rolls
10
Hours
Inspiration:
I love mythology, and I've always wanted to make outfits based on my interests, so I made a dragon-inspired dress. I did cut out the individual scales, which did take most of the time spent making this dress, but I think the time was well spent.
Stuck At Prom®
Anamika P.
15
Rolls
60
Hours
Inspiration:
I have always loved reading. Reading has helped me get through a lot of difficult times in my life and also just makes me happy. Some people don't like to read because they can't see the story come to life. But I see whole worlds being built around me. It's like I'm right there alongside my favorite characters. That feeling is what my dress is inspired by.