This Artistic Teen Hand-Painted Her Own Stunning Graduation Dress

DIY Dress by Ciara Gan

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Manila-based student Ciara Gan faced a problem that many of us have had before. She couldn’t find the perfect dress to wear to a special occasion—in this case, her graduation. But instead of settling on something she didn't love, Gan decided to take matters into her own hands—literally—and teamed up with her mom to create a custom DIY dress. The result is a gorgeous emerald green garment that features voluminous pleats and a sweetheart neckline. The most striking element of the dress, however, is Gan’s surface decoration of hand-painted flowers that trail down the skirt’s large folds.

Every part of the dress was inspired by things that make Gan happy, including the act of painting itself. “As nerdy as it may sound,” she tells My Modern Met, “I chose emerald green because I’m an avid Potterhead and a proud Slytherin.” The orange florals came to mind after re-reading the book Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson. Gan felt that the blooms spoke the best to who she is. “I strayed away from basic roses and dainty florals because although they’re pretty, they don’t reflect my personality. I love the vibrancy of loud colors like orange and green.”

Creating a gown is no small feat, even if you know how to sew. Gan, however, had little knowledge of garment construction prior to making this dress. “I learned it all from Youtube tutorials!” To start, Gan and her mom bought 13 yards of fabric, crinoline, boning, and Swarovski crystals. They sewed one skirt panel at a time, and when the dress was complete, Gan spent five days painting the flowers. From start to finish, the project took about a month, during which time she kept it a secret from her fellow classmates. She made the ultimate grand entrance at her graduation event and wowed them all—including people from around the world, thanks to social media and the power of the internet.

Gan clearly has a knack for fashion design, so it’d make sense if she were to follow that path. But, she has other plans. “I recently graduated from the STEM strand, so I plan to pursue a degree in a science related course,” she shares. Gan doesn’t see them as separate, though. “I am in love with both the arts and sciences and I want to incorporate two different things with each other. I want to bring art into science, or vice versa.”

Ciara Gan faced a problem that any teen can relate to—she couldn't find the perfect dress for her graduation.

DIY Dress by Ciara Gan

She decided to make a dress with her mom, except she had barely any knowledge of garment construction.

DIY Prom Dress

Luckily, she had YouTube tutorials to help her out. And after much planning…

DIY Prom Dress

And sewing the skirt panels one-by-one…

Dress Making of a DIY Dress

DIY Prom Dress

…the dress was complete! Well, almost.

Dress Making of a DIY Dress

Gan spent five days hand painting flowers that trailed down the skirt. It was a beautiful way to adorn an already gorgeous dress.

Dress Making of a DIY Dress

DIY Graduation Dress by Ciara Gan

The final result wowed her classmates and, later, people around the world.

DIY Graduation Dress by Ciara Gan

DIY Graduation Dress by Ciara Gan

Ciara Gan: Instagram | Twitter

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Ciara Gan. 

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Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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