For my prom dress, I originally debated whether it should be long or short. It has always been difficult for me to decide since I've always wanted to wear a long prom dress, yet, being only 5'1'' it is hard to find a long dress that doesn't draw too much attention to my short height. My inspiration came from ballerinas and tutus. It has a sweetheart neckline, preferably with a built in bra. The bottom half, where the waist line is will draw out like a tutu although I prefer not as much "poof." I believe this will draw more attention to the natural curves in the upper half of the body. The dress itself will be a peach/beige color with gold sequences (excuse my horrible drawing) that will cover the breast area and flow down to little patches on the waist line. The sequence will also cover most of the back. Since the back will be in a "v" shape, it will reveal the back, creating a more daring/flirty look. The back will also have an enormous bow, covering the zipper. The idea of the bow came from the Japanese Kimono which, very often, had these enormous bows, adding femininity to the piece. It did not come out so well on the scanner, but the color is pink/beige, with it fading to white on the bottom of the dress. This dress is strapless, for no other reason than personal preference, but I sure the addition of straps will not change the overall ballerina effect.

In the first stages of my design, I must admit, it was an "okay" dress, it wasn't amazing, but it was definitely something I would choose over many others. But, as I continued to add the smaller pieces, such as the design of the sequence and the bow, I started to fall in love with it, realizing that I would never find another dress that looked like this. It is perfect for me, small, feminine, fun, a little risky, but draws attention in a good way.

The story behind my design: As a senior, prom hasn't really been in my mind until recently. As a result, I wasn't really sure where to start my search for that perfect prom dress. I went through pages after pages of dresses online. Some were gorgeous, yet they cost more than I am willing to spend on prom altogether. After a few days of searching, I came across this contest, and decided that designing my own dress will ensure (in my eyes) that it will come out perfect. This is my original design and I acknowledge and accept the terms and conditions of the Free Prom 2010 campaign.

Thank you for the opportunity
Belinda L.
Massachusetts