Since it’s that time of year where aspiring fashion designers are filling out the last bits of their Her Universe Fashion Show applications and filming the last take of their submission video, it seemed like a great time to share some pictures of the pieces I designed as part of our Winners’ Collection that was launched at San Diego Comic Con 2024. So, fair warning, this post is mostly a lot of photos of those pieces.
The SDCC collection for 2024 was focused on Star Wars and X-Men ’97. Raeven (my co-winner) and I each designed a piece for each of those fandoms. When I was at Disneyland in January for the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend, I seized the opportunity to take some thematic photos. The Photopass photographers at Disney got some amazing shots (the ones without a watermark on this page), but I also coerced my friend Coco and my husband into taking a few as well. I couldn’t have too many to commemorate my first pieces to be sold commercially!
The first piece was a reversible sleeveless dress which is still available on Hot Topic as of this writing. One side is black with gray images representative of the Imperial Army and the other side is white with gray images representative of the Rebel Alliance. When I was designing it, I couldn’t decide which one I wanted to design for. Sometimes you feel more like the dark side and sometimes you feel more hopeful. So I realized, why not incorporate that? Why not design something that you can change for your mood? So I did!
It has a side tie and little cap sleeves and is a super comfy fabric. The side tie means it’s adjustable and the tie is long enough to loop around your waist if you prefer to have a more defined waistband. I’ve worn this all day at parks and comic cons and it’s been just lovely. Unfortunately due to the construction, it doesn’t have pockets, but I usually wear it over leggings or shorts that have pockets.
My friend Coco wore her dress all day and was the greatest hype friend telling everyone that complimented us that I designed. Most of the photos above are her in the dark side and me in the light side. It really makes for some great duo photos. I like to wear it with Leia style space buns so I typically wear the light side. But I asked Coco to take some photos of me wearing both so you could see both versions on one person. I seriously love this dress so much and was incredibly happy with how it turned out.
Oh, and because I like to show everything, here’s a pic of the back so you can see the coordinating wrap tie.
The second piece I designed was an X-Men Varsity Jacket (again, currently available on Hot Topic as of this writing). Growing up watching the X-Men, I wished I had a super power and could attend a school for the gifted like the Xavier Institute. This jacket was my way of making that a reality, not just for me but for everyone. When you’re wearing this jacket you can feel like you are a student or alumni Xavier’s school. I like to think everyone actually does have a super power (it just may not be shooting laser beams out of our eyes).
There are so many details that I love about this jacket. The back has the crest. The 1963 is when X-Men first came out in comics. On the arms are the date again — Est. 1963 — and the Institute’s motto — mutatis mutandis. The inside has the X-Men logo (see the photo at the top of this post) and the buttons are also the classic X in a circle logo. It’s just the right warmth for California winters, although I hear my family in Florida only has about a week they get to wear it in winter (and, yes, this is what everyone got as gifts for the holidays).
Unfortunately there’s no X-Men area of Disneyland, but the Avengers’ Campus is at least Marvel and looks superhero-y, so that was where I did these photos. And colorwise, it was a good match. I told the Photopass photographer that I designed the jacket and wanted to get photos and she was fantastic, really making sure I got lots of angles. Again, I was sooo happy with how this jacket turned out as well.
One of the most amazing parts about winning the competition was this experience of taking a design from concept to consumer. Having only worked on things for myself, it was great to be designing in a way that would be flattering to all bodies and that would appeal to a wide range of people. It was fascinating and educational to go through the process with a team who knew exactly what they were doing and learn the hows and whys of the decisions needed and steps to take to make a collection happen. I definitely grew as a designer through the process and have a deeper understanding of the industry.
And, below, I’ll leave you with a picture of one of the pieces Raeven designed, a unisex Ahsoka pullover. So incredibly comfy and seriously looks good on all genders. Her other piece was an X-Men Storm themed hoodie which I didn’t have with me probably because I wear it all the time and it was in the laundry.
Oh, and if it looks like spilled something all over it, that’s because right before this, Coco and I went on Tiana’s Bayou, the new ride to replace Splash Mountain. We did not have ponchos. Coco had a mostly waterproof jacket so I made her sit in front. This was how wet I got so you can imagine the state she was in afterwards . . .
Rachel, your reversible dress looks so comfy and cute! Congrats on selling it commercially. I also love your shoes! What brand are they?
The shoes are Vionic Pismo Beach. These are a charcoal denim which is last season, but they have lots of other colors. They’re my favorites!