The Ozdust Ball Collection - Extension -
Inspiration/ Designer Purpose
The original collection was inspired by vibrant, floral, and magical theme within the musical and movie Wicked. The Ozdust Ball itself was a rebellious scene where the main characters sneak away from school to attend a glamorous yet lively dance filled with multicolored dresses and animals playing instruments. The vibrant, detailed, floral, and magical ballroom environment and dresses left a lasting impression and inspired me to create my own interpretation of these dresses. The original collection featured 5 ball gowns but as an extensions of that collection, 4 new gowns were designed, constructed with the same playful shapes, vibrant colors, and floral detailing following the collections theme. Similarly, these dresses were also constructed completely out of packaging tape, tissue paper, wire, and plastic bags. This is because as a stem major and an artist, I have always found beauty and magic in transformations. I loved being able to reconstruct unconventional materials into unexpected yet beautiful and functional creations like in this case tissue paper into ball gowns. By blending my passions with the wonderful world of oz, I’m able to again welcome you to the Ozdust ball.
New Collection Pieces
This first dress features a blue strapless base with purple ruffle elements resembling flower petals and multicolored side panels. These side panels are pleated and layered so that the colors blend and ombre into each other. On the other hand the warmer colors contrast with the bright blue, reflecting how flowers often feature a balance of colors within their layers.
The second dress is similar to the first in that the top features layered, ombré, petal like elements. However, the base of the dress is constructed from a coral colored tissue paper that closely matches the model’s skin tone. This allows the base to blend seamlessly with the model’s body, drawing the viewer’s attention to the layered upper portion and creating the illusion that the model is wearing a mini dress. This illusion is reflective of the natural design of many flowers
This next dress features a green base with multi colored tiered ruffles. The top of the dress is rigidly structured and exaggerates the dresses silhouette similar to the curves of flowers like bells or calla Lillies.
This last dress was created to add a few warmer tones to balance out the rest of the dresses in my collection so this reddish coral was chosen. A typical red would have been too intense so this muted peacher color blended better.
The silhouette of the dress is similar to the last dress in how the peplum style top helps exaggerate the waist. However, the addition of ruffles creates a fuller, softer, and more delicate appearance that was inspired by the softer, romantic quality associated with the structure of a rose. .
Process
Similar to the original Ozdust Ball gowns, these dresses were created with the same base structure composed of tissue paper, packaging tape, and wire. The tissue paper was backed with packaging tape to strengthen it and prevent distortions. The same strapless base gown pattern pieces were cut and assembled to form the base of each dress. The additional details and pattern were drafted and added accordingly to each gowns own design. The inside of each dress is lined with wire for strength and structural support. Grommets and a lace up panel were then added to the back of each dress to improve the wearability of the dresses so that they can be taken on and off and tightened.
Sketches
Assembling The Gown's Base
Taped tissue paper panels
Cut pattern pieces
Stabilize structure with wire
Installing the Lace Up Panels
Line the panels with wire for support
Cut holes
Add grommets
Adding Details to Individualize Each Gown
Building the side panels
Finalizing the dress
Draft pattern
Cut out pattern and assemble
Finalizing the dress
Draft pattern and cut
Dress base
Add trim
Cut out the high low skirt and add trim
Cut out circular and peplum trim
Northwestern University Unity Fashion Show
Northwestern University Unity is a student run organization that hosts an annual nonprofit fashion show, with proceeds donated to local art centers throughout the Chicago area. For the 2025–2026 school year, Unity partnered with Snow City Arts as its beneficiary. The fashion show features ten professional Chicago area designers, who are selected and recruited by Unity members. In addition, Northwestern students have the opportunity to design a single garment to be featured as part of the “Unity Line.” The theme this year was Escapism which pushes designers to "break free from the rules of reality" and step into an almost dream like fantasy "filled with freedom, desire, and joy".
For the 2025–2026 show, I had the unique opportunity to present my entire collection as one of the ten selected Chicago-area designers.
Model Fittings
Model Walk Training
Fashion show
Show Backstage | Behind The Scenes
Unity Show Articles and News Coverage
THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN: UNITY CHAIRTY FASHION SHOW WEAVES TOGETHER ESCAPISM-THEMED RUNWAY FUNDRAISER
The Daily Northwestern is Northwestern's daily new source, posting stories covering all genres written by students from Medill School of Journalism- the number one journalism program in the US.
Click the link to read more about my collection and the fashion show.
