Cape High students wow in custom-made prom gowns

For many high school students, the prom is a much-anticipated way to dress up and celebrate the end of the school year with best friends and dates. 

Some Cape High fashion construction and design students decided to make the best use of their skills by creating their own one-of-a-kind custom gowns.

BMX racer Kayla Werner let her feminine side show by designing a red satin, off-the-shoulder butterfly brocade gown for her junior prom.

The second-year sewing student said she got the idea after seeing a sweetheart-cut dress on a Netflix show.

“I knew I wanted that look,” she said, and even made a matching tie for date Xander George.

Fashion construction and design teacher Alayna Aiken said Kayla is adventurous in trying new things; she created the gown by reworking several different patterns.

“She’s always pushing herself to do something challenging,” Aiken said. 

As a young child, Kayla said, she often sat on the lap of her great-aunt April Hudson as she sewed, and helped by gently pushing fabric through her sewing machine.

Junior Ella Porman couldn’t find a gown she liked, so she created her own flattering satin and chiffon green dress with a matching purse.

Porman first made a prototype of a pattern that she tweaked by adding pleats and lining to fit properly.

At the beginning of the school year, fourth-year student Gwen Gofus said she found the fabric she wanted, a vintage-look cranberry and gold, and knew she wanted to make it come to life.

When the dress was complete, Gwen said she found it was too short in heels, so she added a gold trim.

“It all came together perfectly,” Aiken said.

Senior Mizarah Jean paired a 1980s vintage pattern with fabric from Kenya to create a gown she modeled, but ultimately did not wear.

Mizarah said her sewing class was unlike any other she had at Cape.

“You can come in and do what’s in your head,” she said. “You have a lot of freedom. When you learn the basics, you have the opportunity to create anything.”