My design is a complete reflection of me. If I was fabric and beads, this is exactly what I would look like. It’s completely different, stylish, show-stopping, and also completely classy. This contest is huge for me because I would never be able to find this dress anywhere and I know I can’t afford to have it made, and for that I want to say thank you. The sad thing is so many companies refuse to go against the expected and usual “ball gown”.

This dress is nothing like anything I’ve ever seen before. Not even close. And I believe for that reason alone, I should win this contest. My name is Desiree Francies, and I live in Baltimore, MD, my fashion sense is a little out there, but I have to trust it because I did win the Distinguished Scholar award for my talent in the arts and fashion, and the art achievement award, so I’m trusting my judgment and going for what I want, which is this dress! I want to be a fashion designer when I grow, up, I’ve already started sewing and my favorite thing to make is purses, I give the purses I’ve made throughout the year to the little girls in my church at Christmas, and I sell them on the side, everything I make is completely by hand, but I can’t make a ball gown by hand, so I would really like your help.

The dress is a light teal and silver satin print with white satin on the bust and layered underneath the print fabric on the skirt. On the hip is a silver flower broach to go with the silver flowers in the print. The sleeves are long and widen around the wrist to be just a little baggy. The dots are silver and teal beads that are on the bust, neckline, and hem of the print on the skirt. The sleeves are a jacket that comes off. The cuffs on the jacket are white to match the skirt and bust. The dress closes with a zipper in the back. I want the dress to be a ball gown shape, but not shooting out of the waist, because that causes a line and that’s not flattering.