Fashion and the Teenager: Where’s the Line?
This is something I struggle with. I remember being a teenager and not wanting my prom dress to look like one anyone else had. As someone who was known even then as being a bit of a fashionista (at my public school- not my private school, I feel the need to clarify because believe it or not while I went to private school I had yet to figure out how to dress for my body or even how to relate to kids my own age) I felt a self-imposed pressure to be different.
But an article on AL.com concerned me, regarding high school student Alexis Craft’s prom dress that got her kicked out of a Pensacola prom. The dress, in my opinion, is beautiful. It was hand crafted for Alexis by designer, and SCAD grad, Destani Hoffman. I was bothered for a few reasons, one- the article stated Alexis made it through the first “dress check” and two- that an adult felt the need to lift the dress up.
I had the opportunity to speak with Destani Hoffman via email, and wanted to give her the chance to answer some of my questions regarding this incident.
Destani: Yes, I agree that many girls in highschool are always trying to push boundaries, but in what world would that be wrong? No one ever gets anywhere new or starts a revolution or sparks new ideas without challenging what society feels is ‘acceptable’. As a designer/advocate of the Avant-Garde I for one, would never turn down an open mind, especially in the South; where rules of society are stricter and social acceptance is held higher than the arts, believing in new ideas, and being one’s own self.
DH is a brand that truly is infatuated with being one-of-a kind, always pushing boundaries and never taking ‘social acceptance’ into account. I, as a designer, am an artist (much like you, as a writer) and as an artist, what would art be without self expression.
That being said, I love that women (and men) are finally able to feel comfortable at any age, any profession, and any position in the world, to just be themselves, be the person that they always dreamt of being, no one should ever have to reign themselves in due to social norms.
I personally, love the fashion at the MET Gala every year. I love seeing women so confidently express their true selves, within some of the most beautiful and fashion forward garments ever created. My greatest achievement would be to attend such an event and see my own designs being honored and worn on the red carpet, or even better in the museum itself!
Molly: Tell us about dress you designed, why you went with the design, and why it’s appropriate for a high schooler.
Destani: The dress in question was specifically designed for Alexis. During our consultation she stated her dream dress would be the one Kendall Jenner wore on the red carpet. From there we altered that idea into something she would feel excited, original, and comfortable, while still being fashion forward in. I’m not usually one to base an idea from another’s, but in this case, she was my client and I did my best to make the design as specific to her wishes as possible. As a designer, my greatest accomplishment is to make my clients happy and excited to wear the piece I’ve created for them, so we were very excited when the final piece made Alexis overwhelmingly excited to wear it.
As for appropriateness- Neither I or Alexis were thinking of school rules when we sat for a consultation. Alexis is a beautiful 6’+ model who loves making a good fashion statement at her local high school. I was, as was Alexis I’m sure, more focused on making sure she got the dress of her dreams. Which is all that matters in this situation. Her and her mother were so excited about the fact that I could do the dress for her. If we’re talking about the slits- which I’ve been told most people did- they come up to about 3 inches below her pelvic line. Alexis does have very long legs and none of us in the studio thought anything of the amount of leg showing, after all, it’s prom, half the dresses at Dillards have more skin showing than this one! 
The dress is made of a mid-weight twill and is lined in a lighter-weight pink silk. The hem of the dress has horsehair stabilizer, weighing down so that nothing shows that shouldn’t.
The dress is made of a mid-weight twill and is lined in a lighter-weight pink silk. The hem of the dress has horsehair stabilizer, weighing down so that nothing shows that shouldn’t. Unless Alexis pulled a pretty-fast 360 in the dress, nothing would’ve shown unless someone moved it purposefully.
Molly: Also, how do you feel about high schoolers mimicking designs worn by adults? Is that just a matter of fashion, or should parents be more involved?
Destani: I of course think parents should always take part in something that involves their children, but I do think, like Alexis’ mother, they should be open minded. This is 2015 and fashion is a MAJOR way to express yourself in all facets of life. I think mimicking is cutting yourself short, like with Alexis’ dress, we took her favorite dress idea and made it her own…from colors, fit, beading, details, etc. If you like to follow trends, never follow them exactly, because then they aren’t trendy anymore! Trends are only created when people be themselves and get creative with their wardrobe. They cease to be trendy once people catch on! Set your own trends, let celebs/whom ever inspire you but don’t copy them, always be yourself, and no one else 
Here are some photos of Destani’s other designs:
