Why did Missouri teen Maura Pozek make her prom dress out of cardboard and paper bags?

Because after fashioning the previous two years’ outfits out of Doritos bags and soda can tabs, “I had to top myself somehow.”

Seventeen-year-old Pozek, a high school senior from Reeds Spring (just northwest of Branson), told NPR’s Melissa Block this afternoon that it took “lots of hot glue” and some late-night last-minute alterations to make the dress work. Her original idea to construct it all of corrugated cardboard wasn’t going well. With just hours to go, she made the skirt from paper bags. The top remained cardboard. All of it was painted.

“The only casualty” from prom night was when the left shoulder curled up — she just ripped it off and that was that. “The skirt got crumpled a lot from sitting in the limo,” Maura added.

If things hadn’t gone well, she had a backup plan: “Duct tape and an extra dress.” Her date went traditional, except for the cardboard boutonniere she made for him.

Last year’s dress — made from about 4,000 “pop tabs,” as Maura said — was probably the most comfortable of her outfits.

So now what? Well, she’s graduating and heading to University of Missouri, Kansas City. And though she once imagined going into fashion design, she’s now thinking about elementary education.

We predict some fun art projects for her future students.

To see and hear more from Maura, check out this video report from KY3-TV in Springfield, Mo.

Much more from her conversation with Melissa is due on today’s All Things Considered. Click here to find an NPR station that broadcasts or streams the show. Later, we’ll add the as-broadcast version of the interview to the top of this post.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/04/24/151295590/cardboard-prom-dress-is-just-the-right-fit-for-this-young-woman

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Created as an entry for Moby’s music video contest at genero.tv.

This was an incredible experience for me. I had no crew and shot with only available light. This not only fostered trust and intimacy with the actors (a couple in real life), but was liberating for me as an artist.

I credit the technology for enabling me to shoot in this fashion. I feel like I have been waiting years for cameras like these HD DSLRs. Incredible.

Shot entirely on Canon’s 7D and Nikon lenses. Edited and colored with Final Cut Pro.

This film is Spring/Summer 1.0 in a series of films we will be releasing until the end of time. All clothing featured in the film can be found on our online store @ charlieandlee.com

Talent: Jessica Mavrikos, Kleah Graham, Sarah Devlin
Photography: Josh Michnik
Soundtrack: Saint Vincent – The Strangers

clothing: Iro, Kova & T, American Retro, Society For Rational Dress, Left Coast by Dolan, Blank NYC, , Seneca Rising, Fremont

jewelry: Neverland Collective, Thelma.A

bag’s: Rebecca Minkoff

Charlie & Lee is a woman’s fashion store located in beautiful Downtown Victoria, BC, Canada.

Charlie & Lee pays particular attention to boutique labels and unique pieces. We concentrate on providing a selection of clothing and accessories that we love and wear…we hope you will too.

For more info please visit us at charlieandlee.com or come in and say hello. 1115 Wharf Street, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8W 1T7

Model: Simone, Cultish Models
Audio: James Blake – “Limit To Your Love”

Shop here: charlieandlee.com/store/index.php?manufacturers_id=88

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Music:
The Do – “The Calendar”