Meet Elizabeth Gee, Pratt Student And Winner of Screaming Mimi Costume Design Contest
Halloween costumes are often a work of art, so this year’s costume design contest was a natural fit for Pratt Institute and NYC vintage boutique Screaming Mimi’s, who teamed up to offer a winning fashion design student a window display in Manhattan.
The theme? “Under The Sea.” The winner? Elizabeth Gee, whose design was selected by a panel of judges from both organizations, plus Paper Magazine and Vogue, and features costumes that, if you like it, you can purchase. Images of the winning costumes can be found here.
For Gee, “it felt like a reward enough just to complete my costume, but when they announced that I won, I almost didn’t believe it. It felt so gratifying that my work had been recognized, especially from such esteemed judges
like Lynn Yaeger from Vogue and Mickey Boardman from Paper Magazine. It made me feel, more than ever, that I am where I’m supposed to be, doing what I love, which is costume/fashion design.”
Her design was inspired by her background as a 90s child and fan of “The Amanda Show” on Nickelodeon, starring Amanda Bynes.
“One skit they’d act out was called “Judge Trudy” and at the end when the court was dismissed the judge would yell “bring in the dancing lobsters” and these goofy, bulky lobsters would dance around. That was the first thing that came to my mind when I thought of “Under the Sea,”” explained Gee, who combined Amanda Show lobsters with the silhouette of a classic dance costume for her final look.
The costume itself is mainly made out of double-faced satin silk and metallic chiffon, with a base silhouette draped first, then flat patterned along with the layers of lobster tentacles, tail, and skirt. “For embellishments I added layers of sequins, fringe, attached small crystals, and, using my knowledge of metal arts, made the lobster eyes out of brass.”
Harkening back to childhood memories is a great and common method of Halloween costume idea planning, so it makes sense that Halloween is one of Gee’s favorite holidays. “It’s a time where people really accept one another for being whoever they want. I wish everyone could do that all the time.”Her love of costume/fashion design allows her to spread the fun year-round, too. “I try to remember to have fun with clothes and life and never take things too seriously. To dare to be different and embrace the weird,” said Gee, who added that eventually, she hopes to run her own clothing brand that “conceptually transcends reality, but technically is innovative, sustainable, and connected with the other elements of society.“Fashion is more than just clothes,” she said. “It’s art you can live your life in. It is by no means easy but the end product is worth it for me, especially if I positively impact other’s experiences, as well. If I go with my gut instinct and let my passion for this profession drive me I feel limitless, in a world defined by limits. I hope others are as lucky as I have been.”