Prom 2024

I always knew I had to sew my own prom dress. For months, I didn’t know what it might look like—how could I make something that challenged my limits and combined the colors, shapes, and ideas I loved? One night at 2AM, I sat bolt upright in my bed and began to draw. Over the course of four months and 60 hours of work, I had created a mold of my torso, two mock-ups, and the final dress.

Of course, as my first time working with organza or charmeuse, and my first time designing something so structural and fitted, there were its complications. If I made this again, I’d use bias tape over the corset boning and make sure the grain of my corset pieces were aligned properly to avoid stretch. Additionally, I’d invest in a hemming foot for the (not one, but) two one-and-a-half circle skirts. Finally, I’d look into cups to offer more support and comfort for the chest.

Some of my favorite details of the dress:

• The grain of the organza chevrons on the chest are perpendicular to one another, creating the lighting effect where one side is in shadow while the other is in light.

• Likewise, the grain on the corset sections of organza alternate.

• The skirt twirls wonderfully!

• The back laces up to make it size-adjustable and to give a modern fantasy twist.