I made this dress for the Scholastic Art and Writing competition. It’s made completely out of masking tape and let me just tell you that it was a bit of a sticky situation (haha pardon the pun, but I just couldn’t help myself). I was inspired by architecture and an empty butterfly chrysalis.
I first constructed the underneath by using a stiff interfacing. Next I had to add a couple of layers of masking tape on top of that in order to get the length where I wanted it. Then I started adding, one by one, layers of masking tape starting from the bottom. I used over 18 rolls of masking tape and over 80 hours went into making the dress. The dress is completely wearable. It has a zipper sewn in the back for getting in and out of.
I might have nightmares about wads of tape attacking me in my sleep, but I’m pretty happy with the way it turned out. Haha. I just dropped it off for judging and I find out Sunday if it got in. Oh I’m so nervous! Wish me luck and I hope you like it :)
***Update Sunday*** I got the results back and the dress won a Gold Key!! :D Thank you everyone for all the kind and encouraging words!
wow, it's amazing! good luck!
ReplyDeleteThis is so innovative! I love it, Esther! I sure hope you get in.... with all the time and effort (and tape rolls) you put in to it, and the stunning final result, they'd be out of their minds to turn you and your brilliance down. :) good luck! ~Monica
ReplyDeleteIt is so gorgeous! Good luck! I hope you get in :)
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteYour dress is beautiful best wishes.
ReplyDelete-Kirstie
This is incredibly amazing. Woaaaah.
ReplyDeleteThis is so unbelievably amazing!
ReplyDeleteI love pattern and structure. It's simply beautiful.
I don't think I've commented here before, but I just had to for this. Your talent never ceases to amaze me, and this is stunning! You should be working in couture when you're older ;) If you don't get in then the competition must be rigged!
ReplyDeleteThe design is beautiful and you did an amazing job executing the construction. I think it's gorgeous. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThat is amazing, I can't believe how stunning a dress made from masking tape can look! It's such a gorgeous dress, the patience you must have! I hope you win the competition, good luck!
ReplyDeleteThe dress is utterly phenomenal and I hope you win not only for the beautiful garment you constructed, but for your ingenuity as well. Masking tape? Who knew???
ReplyDeleteYou somehow need to get this dress to Lady Gaga...she would wear it and catapult you into design stardom (where you rightfully belong!)
Beautiful... I like the long flowing skirt, almost like a wedding gown and it looks very different to the evening gown from alu foil... although I m slightly afraid, that it might share the same destiny in the end...
ReplyDeleteGorgeous...I don't know why my jaw dropped when I saw this dress. You always made gorgeous things with the craziest materials. I really shouldn't be so surprised that "she's done it again!"
ReplyDelete:-D
missyellowshoes.blogspot.com
Hope you'll win! You're so creative and talented! That's real art.
ReplyDeleteWow! That's incredible! Such a beautiful and inspired piece of art.
ReplyDeleteGosh that's amazing! You are so talented and creative, I hope you win!
ReplyDeleteEsther...I'll be shocked if you DON'T win!
ReplyDeleteGod has given you an abundance of talents!
This is Max. You got 3 Gold Keys, This dress, you can ride in my car, and of course your video. Congrats NYC here we come.
ReplyDeleteCooool! This dress is gorgeous, I hope you win! Thanks for inspiring us! ^_^
ReplyDeleteoh my word! so impressive! 80 hours... I couldn't do that in 80 days, haha! Great job, really.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness you did such an amazing job on this!! I just love how you used a mix of architecture & nature for inspiration, I can def see it in the design flow lines. It reminds me of a project on Project Runway & I def would have voted for u to win! I'd love to see it on too, is it your size? Hope your 2012 is off to a great start!
ReplyDeletehttp://dusanabotswana.com/
Wow, this is amazing. You are one super talented lady! x
ReplyDeleteMan Alive I am impressed. I wish I was half as good at making clothes with fabric as you are at making clothes with tape :D
ReplyDelete~ Kelsey
Little&Trivial
Yay, you won!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!!!!
You are so talented!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wow. that's really lovely. :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations. Your dress is amazing!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! Your creativity is limitless. Keep it up; it will take you far in life.
ReplyDeletethis dress is breathtaking!
ReplyDelete80 hours? seriously?! what are your grades like? and how do you do this? where do you find time?! i'm a 16 year old aspiring to be a fashion designer as well, but i only ever make dresses when a dance is coming up (like now) and even then it's from a pattern. are you a super hero? what the heck girl, you crazy!
ReplyDeleteomg, this is incredible. I am thoroughly impressed! You are seriously talented! Keep doing what your doing!
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone! I finally got all the little pieces of masking tape out of my carpet! haha yay!
ReplyDeleteThea- Thank you! Haha well I was planning on doing that, but someone heard about my intensions and they offered to possibly buy it from me. So who knows...this dress might be safe from my destruction after all. haha.
Dusanabotswana- Thank you! No I'm afraid it's not my size. The dress form is a little bigger than I am, but that doesn't mean that I still won't wear it! ;) I just need to get a little creative in how to wear it. Haha.
Is this dress really made out of masking tape? It's amazing. Wow!
ReplyDeleteEnhorabuena! Es un trabajo FANTÁSTICO!!
ReplyDeleteHi, A friend found your dress and sent me the link. My recent dance work involves lots of tape, so we share that fascination. It's a stunning work! Congrats on the prize too!
ReplyDeleteMariana
www.marianaluciamarquez.com
Gosh this is amazing! Congrats congrats congrats! I adore it!!! <33 And from a fellow Indiana (except recently moved to NY) 17 year-old designer, I am super super impressed!! Can't wait to see more of your work :))
ReplyDeletesewinginstilettos.blogspot.com
Wowwwwwwwww you are pure talented !! <3<3 i LOVE THIS DRESS SO MUCH !
ReplyDeleteImpressive! This dress and your work have 100% deserved that you won :)
ReplyDelete