Ever wish you had a fashion Fairy Godmother to answer all your sartorial needs? Well we did just that, by giving two lucky students the dress of their dreams. We’re talking about the prom queen competition we launched earlier this year where you could win a custom made dress by entering your ultimate prom themed mood board via Pinterest! The Topshop design team sifted through the many stylish submissions with a little help from the girls over at Miss Vogue and eventually they narrowed it down to two entries from the UK and US.
Want to meet the lucky winners? First up, here’s Gabi from Chicago, whose mood board caught the design team’s attention instantly! After having initial sketches sent over to Chicago, we whisked her over to Topshop HQ in London for a fitting with our pattern team and time to put the finishing touches on the gorgeous gown. What more could a girl ask for? We caught up with Gabi during her London trip to chat all things prom.
Is your dress what you imagined?
I love it! I’m so happy with it.
How did you create your moodboard?
I spent a while going through my Pinterest boards to find things I knew I already liked and to help me figure out exactly what I wanted for my dress. It was a combination of both the dresses and the colour schemes I’ve seen that I like. I went for a lot of sheer fabrics and textures, which you can definitely see in the finished dress.
Are you a big Pinterest fan?
I like it a lot. It helps me organise my thoughts. I’m a very visual person so I like seeing everything laid out neatly.
How excited are you for prom?
I’m very exited. It’s going to be held at Chicago’s Navy Pier in a ballroom that looks over the lake. We have dinner and a dance then you can go on a cruise afterwards. Once you’re on the boat there’s no way off so I’m not so sure about that bit!
Do you have a date?
Yes. From what I’ve heard he’s basing his prom outfit on Brad Pitt in Inglorious Bastards so we’ll see how that turns out! He’s a big movie person.
Who would be your ultimate prom king and queen?
Claire and Bender from The Breakfast Club. They’d be the best prom couple!
How does your school nominate its prom king and queen?
There are seven kings and queens in the running. There’s a first round were people get nominated and then people actually campaign – like ‘I should be prom queen because I’m pretty and smart!’ It’s mostly the girls who campaign but the guys don’t really care.
What music are you into at the moment?
One of my favourite bands is The National. I love every single one of their songs. I’ve been listening to a lot of James Blake lately too. But at prom it will be mainly hip hop and rap that you can dance to.
What magazines and blogs inspire you?
I really like the Sartorialist and I read Vogue every once in a while. Over time they’ve definitely influenced my style subconsciously.
Who do you look up to in the fashion industry?
I love Amy Lebovitz’ photography. Her work is so whimsical and beautiful.
Any style icons?
I like Rooney Mara a lot – she does the whole minimalist look really well.
What are your plans post-prom?
I’ve got graduation then after the summer I’m off to college to study anthropology in Virginia. Exciting!
Prepping for your own prom? Snap up our standout dresses and accessories right here.