The 2021 Her Universe Fashion Show went virtual tonight, showcasing 25 playful, stunningly crafted designs based on a diverse array of pop culture fandoms.
In a surprise twist, the show resulted in a tie with the judges’ prize going to two designers. They were Teighlor Johnson of Orlando, Fla., with a Pokemon-themed pantsuit, and Skyler Barrett, also of Orlando, with a chess-themed coat and gown inspired by Netflix miniseries The Queen’s Gambit.
This was Johnson’s sixth time entering the competition and her first time as a finalist. Her design was inspired by Team Rocket and influenced by ‘90s street fashion and Japanese streetwear.
The judges praised Barrett for creating a symbolism-laden homage to Beth Harmon and chess instead of simply recreating an outfit from the show. They commented on the elegant construction and perfect right angles of the chessboard coat, along with detailed accessories.
The fashion show’s audience prize has yet to be awarded. Viewers have 48 hours to vote for their favorite designer. Voting will close at 11:59 p.m. PDT on Sunday, July 25. The audience winner will be announced on social media, @heruniverse, on Wednesday, July 28.
The winners of this year’s show will have the opportunity to design a Jurassic World fashion collection for Hot Topic, which will debut in 2022.
This year’s theme of ‘Community’
Presented as part of this weekend’s Comic-Con@Home, the 2021 Her Universe Fashion Show featured the work of 25 designers, based on such fandoms as Star Wars, Ghostbusters, Avatar: The Last Airbender, WandaVision, Pirates of the Caribbean, Birds of Prey, Bridgerton, and Hamilton.
There were also clever nods to more unexpected properties, including Miraculous Ladybug, The Magic School Bus, The Muppets’ “Rainbow Connection,” Lore Olympus, The Lion King, Bob Ross, and the Twilight Saga.
The theme of this year’s show was “Community.” Host and Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein said the theme was chosen in response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
“Last year, when we should have been coming together at San Diego Comic-Con, we found ourselves at home alone during unprecedented times. We found ourselves isolated and distanced.”
Eckstein opened the show by displaying an Ahsoka Tano-inspired “unity quilt” created by members of the Her Universe community during the height of the U.S. pandemic. Eckstein voiced the character of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels.
“It’s easy to look at the Her Universe Fashion Show as a competition,” she said.
“However, at its core, (the show) is a community of designers, models, and fans who’ve created a bond over the past seven years, a support system of friends, and that is the ultimate prize.”
Ashley Eckstein’s awesome pantsuit
Eckstein re-emerged wearing her signature Ahsoka braids and a pantsuit with a hooded cloak emblazoned with Ahsoka’s fulcrum design on the back.
The outfit was designed by Andrew MacLaine, who won the audience award at the inaugural Her Universe Fashion Show. He has since created several memorable fashion show looks for Eckstein, including an Ahsoka Lego couture dress and 2019’s transforming She-Ra gown.
“It’s been a tough year,” MacLaine said, sporting makeup and a hooded jacket inspired by Ahsoka’s convor friend, Morai.
“Like a lot of people, I lost dear ones. There’s something about the fulcrum symbol that means a new day and beginning and that’s something we need right now, whether you lost someone that you knew or lost your job … starting over is something that we all need to do.”
Eckstein introduced this year’s judges, 2019 winners Adria Renee and Sarah Hambly, and Hot Topic Vice President and General Merchandise Manager Ed LaBay. The trio later placed the name of their chosen winner inside a custom, Ahsoka Tano-inspired Lego clutch, carried by Eckstein.
Videos feature Her Universe Fashion Show designers
The 25 competing designers were featured in clips recorded from home, highlighting their designs, the work that went into them, and their thoughts on the theme of community. The judges then discussed their favorite elements of each design.
Among the more memorable designs were a nostalgic, colorful “Rainbow Connection” gown, inspired by The Muppets; a Miraculous Ladybug look mixing spots, sequins, and pink satin; and a Stay Puft Marshmallow suit featuring pants that lit up with a “toasty” detail along the bottom.
A fringed, hand-beaded Avatar: The Last Airbender design “had festival vibes all over the place,” according to Renee. The judges also gushed over a gown featuring embroidered school buses in a nod to Miss Frizzle of The Magic School Bus.
Other notable looks included a bold Carmen Sandiego suit, trench coat, and hat that could be modeled standing or sitting in a wheelchair, and two designs based on the Disney Plus series WandaVision. One was a vintage outercoat atop a sleek Scarlet Witch dress. The other was a dramatic “Agatha All Along” look, featuring voluminous, metallic sleeves.
Further highlights of the show included a “manicured, militaristic” take on Lion King villain Scar; a silver brocade pantsuit with hidden pockets based on The Amorer from The Mandalorian; a Darth Vader-inspired gown with a hinged skirt that dramatically lifted to reveal a giant Death Star; a Harley Quinn design bearing the names of more than 200 powerful women; and a bright yellow, flower-covered confection dedicated to Bridgerton’s Penelope Featherington.
The fashion show also featured clips highlighting Her Universe’s new Comic-Con@Home Collection and the brand’s Community Ambassador Program.
In a touching moment, Eckstein paid tribute to Miranda Star, a 2018 Her Universe Junior Design Contest winner who died of cancer in 2019 at the age of 16. Miranda’s mother helped Eckstein unveil a star-shaped lamp that will hang over the runway at future Her Universe Fashion Shows.
You can still watch the fashion show
To watch the fashion show and get a closer look at all the designers, visit the Her Universe blog. To register to vote for the audience winner, click here.
For more about the Her Universe Fashion Show, check out:
This year, everyone gets a front-row seat to the Her Universe Fashion Show
Photos from the 2019 Her Universe Fashion Show
The Her Universe Fashion Show At SDCC With “The Power of Fashion”
All 24 Designs From The 2018 Her Universe Fashion Show
