Stuck At Prom
Chloe N.
8 Rolls
7 Hours
Inspiration:
The glitch tape was my inspiration sadly that swatch was not available so I choose the closest color wise
8 Rolls
7 Hours
The glitch tape was my inspiration sadly that swatch was not available so I choose the closest color wise
12 Rolls
70 Hours
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.
29 Rolls
45 Hours
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.
22 Rolls
43 Hours
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.
6 Rolls
49 Hours
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.
14 Rolls
46 Hours
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.
14 Rolls
77 Hours
Perseverance has been my main inspiration. The journey to arrive here began three summers ago when I designed my first Stuck At Prom dress. I’ve been submitting every year since then because I love art and giving up just isn’t for me. Since this is the last time I can participate in this competition, I had decided to include homages to each of my past submissions into today’s dress. The shimmery element and detailed straps are a nod to my first outfit. And the rhombus pattern, stain glass window design, and masquerade theme are tributes to my second. The gardenia on my mask was inspired by my biggest hero, my mom, because it’s her favorite flower. The orchid and cherry blossoms were influenced by my Asian heritage. Incorporating the variety of features and details from my past and present has shaped the design you see today. I have given my all into this dress, especially knowing this is my last time. It has been an absolute joy all these years to brainstorm and craft together an outfit I can truly be proud of. Thank you Stuck At Prom for this amazing opportunity.
14 Rolls
125 Hours
I was inspired by my Filipino cultural pride and my interest in cowboy outfits that led to the final design by combining the two. I used red, brown, and black tape as I believed that they complimented with each other. I like leather jackets with tassels so I added them on the design. To represent the Philippines, I made the Filipino sun by using the Duck Tape cover logo for a perfect circle and free hand the sun rays, and I used that same technique and cut out shapes for the cowboy hat when making the front logo as a carabao head, which is the country's national animal.
7 Rolls
40 Hours
My inspiration came from a combination of my affinity for red roses and carnations, the style of the sleeves on the gown in beauty and the beast, and the elegant colors of flamenco dancing dresses.
29 Rolls
87 Hours
My inspiration for this dress comes from my love of fashion. Fashion has always been a creative outlet for me, especially when it comes to upcycling clothing. One of my favorite things to do is take thrifted pieces and transform them into something new. Throughout my years of sewing, I’ve noticed that I am constantly drawn to polka dots. Whenever I’m thrifting, polka-dot fabrics always seem to catch my eye, and I tend to pick them over other fabric patterns. As I brainstormed ideas for my duct tape dress, I had countless designs running through my mind. Ultimately, I decided the best approach was to create something that felt authentic to my personal style. Because of that, polka dots became the foundation of my design. I decided a silhouette inspired by princess gowns was my way to go, especially since I have always wanted to create one. However, I wanted to add my own unique twist by creating an oversized skirt that spreads into a giant circle when I sit down, making the dress feel larger. Creating this dress has challenged me in many ways. It pushed me to think creatively, solve design problems, and step outside my comfort zone. Most importantly, it allowed me to create something completely original using a material I had never worked with before. Through this project, I was able to combine my passion for fashion, creativity, and transformation into a design that truly represents who I am.
5 Rolls
15 Hours
My outfit inspo came from McDonalds colorway and pinterest pattern ideas. I made it using freehand tape techniques, and overlapping tape.
15 Rolls
25 Hours
My inspiration was Victorian style. I absolutely love the big ball gowns that you see. I love the layers and bows or flowers. I even added a white rose on my dress.
21 Rolls
109 Hours
First in Flight. That’s what’s written on nearly every license plate in my home state of North Carolina. Perhaps the claim is somewhat controversial, but it’s worth wondering why this, more than anything else, is what my state wants to be known for. Why is flight so important? My answer is that to fly is to break free from the limits of the earth, and that’s something that everyone wants. This suit represents dreams and ambitions that reach sky high—improbable fantasies that can nevertheless become reality through determination and hard work. Nothing worthwhile can be done without a good amount of work, and flight is no exception. Wilbur and Orville Wright spent years on their flying machines, and today every space mission takes hundreds or even thousands of people working together to launch. In a small way, my Duck Tape suit is similar, because it took so much work to make. I incorporated pointe shoes into the design because they symbolize how hard it is to achieve great things. Pointe shoes are beautiful and graceful, but they are also very painful and take years of training to wear. It’s hard to get even a few inches closer to the clouds. Everything beautiful, from space flight to ballet to a Duck Tape costume, takes a lot of work to create. But when you’re willing to pour yourself into a project like this, then your work becomes wings that can lift you off the ground, wings of power and inspiration that carry you into the sky. This was by far the most ambitious craft project I have ever attempted, and it took a lot of problem-solving and learning new skills. For the wings, I made a structure out of cardboard, adding layers and using modeling clay for a more 3D shape. Then I covered the cardboard with 180 individual Duck Tape feathers, and almost 40 long strips of Duck Tape feathers, all of which I cut out by hand. I layered and folded the feathers to create texture, imitating real life bird wings. For the rest of the suit, I covered a clothing base with two layers of Duck Tape for a smooth, glossy and opaque surface. I used white and sky blue on the jacket and shirt to represent the sky in daytime, and dark blue on the pants for night. Before starting this project, I had been making paper beads, so of course I tried the technique on Duck Tape! I measured and cut long triangular strips of white and silver tape, then rolled them up into beads. It worked very well, although it was extremely time consuming. I made more than 220 beads, and sewed them onto the pants to imitate stars in the night sky. One of my favorite parts of the design is the Zodiac sign belt. To make the signs, I drew the pictures on parchment paper, covered it in Duck Tape, and then cut out the drawings. Then I peeled off the parchment paper and stuck the signs onto my Duck Tape belt. The feathers on the hairclips and pointe shoes are also made completely from Duck Tape. I had a lot of fun making this suit, and looking through the amazing entries and past winners. I’m very grateful to my family and friends for being so encouraging and enthusiastic, and especially to my cousins, who told me about this competition in the first place!
11 Rolls
42 Hours
My inspiration was the monarch butterfly. I chose this butterfly because I have always admired its beauty. These butterflies are so recognizable in nature and have a gracefulness that fills you with awe when you see them fly by. I wanted to base my dress off of something I was fond of, and these butterflies have always been a fascination of mine.
11 Rolls
29 Hours
My biggest inspiration for this outfit was my father, who was the one to inform me of this scholarship opportunity. He works as a master-custom gunsmith, and consistantly strives to protect the first ammendment rights of those around him. Because of all he does for me, my family, and the people of this country; I decided to go for the most patriotic suit possible!
20 Rolls
67 Hours
I knew that if I was going to make my own prom dress out of duct tape, it had to be puffy and frilly and purple. I’m also a fan of fashion history, so I chose to base my designs off of 1860s ballgowns. Using this as a jumping off point, I created the (duct tape) gown of my dreams. I designed all of the lace patterns and the cameo, and had them cut out of a craft machine. I think my favorite part is the scalloped lace on the bottom of the pink skirt.
15 Rolls
56 Hours
What inspired me to design and create my prom dress was my Tex-Mex culture. I created a ball gown dress to display a traditional “quinceañera” style dress with a corset top design that gives it a unique feature. The bow in the back with the message “Puro 956” means the area code from the Rio Grande Valley. My accessories are a brown cowboy hat with a sleek style buckle, a purse with a buckle star design to represent “Lone Star State,” and the modern flower bouquet with the white bow to represent a new beginning. The necklace was to show the turquois accent, the golden glitter bangle bracelet, and hoop earrings to represent my personal touch. I added golden horseshoes to my dress and accessories because I believe it signifies good luck.
12 Rolls
55 Hours
This dress was inspired by the traditional Ethiopian clothing and jewelry that I have seen my mother, grandparents, and other family members wear throughout my life. I incorporated blue, white, gold, geometric patterns, and a cross pattern inspired by Ethiopian clothing. I also blended in my own personal style by adding dramatic puff sleeves and bows. This dress combines my Ethiopian heritage with my own creativity. My culture is an important part of who I am, and this dress allowed me to celebrate it in a unique way.