We spoke to Judges Winner Rachel Petterson about winning at the Her Universe Fashion Show and her design “Totally Minnie”. The 9th annual Her Universe Fashion Show took place last week during San Diego Comic-COn and celebrated 100 years of Disney with a standing-room-only crowd of 2,000 fans. The show featured a one-of-a-kind couture design by Ashley Eckstein, performances by Michael James Scott, and 25 talented designers from around the country.
Interview with Her Universe Fashion Show Judges Winner Rachel Petterson
We spoke to Judges Winner Rachel Petterson about winning at the Her Universe Fashion Show and her design “Totally Minnie”.
Monica Duarte (Temple of Geek): So congratulations on winning at the Her Universe Fashion Show last night. For the people at home who didn’t get to hear your story. Can you tell us a little bit about why you decided to enter into the Her Universe fashion show? And can you tell us a little bit about your design and what inspired you?
Rachel Petterson (Judges Winner): Sure. I’ve been sewing for as long as I can remember, but only recently. Like, I would say in the last ten years, I really got into design. And I first came to the Her Universe Fashion Show in 2017. And it was the only thing that I had to see. The first time I was at Comic-Con, and when I went to it, I was not disappointed.
And I saw it and I said, You know what? These are my people. This is the kind of fashion that I want to do. And so actually this is my third time applying. So if you don’t succeed, try, try again. So, yeah, I finally got in and yeah, I put my heart and soul into it.
Inspiration for “Totally Minnie” design
Monica: So tell us a little bit about your design because it was incredible. What inspired you? And can you tell us a little bit about like how it was constructed?
Rachel: Sure. The design itself was inspired by the 1986 vinyl record that I had as a kid called Totally Minnie. So many and the eighties are just there, one in my mind, and we’re seeing a lot of eighties fashion starting to come back in. So it just was an instant click for me to put the two together and make this glitzy glam Minnie Mouse look.
Monica: What inspiration photos or images did you use for your design?
Rachel: Right. So I was really inspired by Dior and Oscar de la Renta and those kinds with the big ball gown dresses, especially from the eighties, where they have that drop waist and that, you know, fitted silhouette into, you know, just beautiful trains. So and then, of course, Minnie Mouse herself.
Monica: Can you tell me a little bit about the way it was constructed? Yeah. I wanted to take you.
Rachel: Oh, wow. Okay. So I think I lost count of the hours somewhere around 200, but I have been working on it every waking moment that I’m not at my day job. And for the last two months. It’s been a ton of time, but, you know, so worth it.
But the gown itself is a fully boned bodice and it has a Dior-style closure in the back.So it fits like a glove. And there’s over 60 yards of fabric in the skirt itself. It weighs I think it’s somewhere around the 25lb skirt… So there’s quite a bit of fabric. It’s silk and theres organza. You know, I just, I really wanted those lush fabrics too. And then, of course, lots of rhinestones, lots of beating. It was all hand-beaded there. And of course, that’s for many and, you know, lots of small details that really tied it together for me. So the earrings are vinyl records that I was inspired by. I custom-designed a lining for it. Yeah. So some of the little details like that.
The Her Universe Fashion Show
Ashley Eckstein opened the show with a groundbreaking couture design that combined technology and fashion. The design featured flexible OLED screens that wrapped around her like a film strip, playing video content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. Disney Producer & Director John Gleim curated the video content with Eckstein, and designer Andrew MacLaine created the look.
Special co-host Michael James Scott wore two couture looks designed by Andrew MacLaine (Genie and Darth Vader) and one by Kristi Siedow-Thompson (Thanos). He also serenaded the audience with performances of “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” from Disney’s Cinderella and “Friend Like Me” from Disney’s hit Broadway musical Aladdin.
The evening was a love letter to the fans, with Ashley Eckstein and Michael James Scott giving away a multitude of incredible prizes, including a new Ahsoka Tano lightsaber set, Disney on Broadway prize packs, premium figures from Sideshow Collectibles, D23 Gold Memberships, FŪL Bags Disney Minnie Mouse Rolling Luggage 3 Piece Set, and a three-night stay in a two-bedroom villa at the brand new The Villas at Disneyland® Hotel.
Surprise after Surprise took place at the show
The excitement reached a new peak when it was announced that the winning designers would create two collections for Her Universe: one with Hot Topic and one for Disney Parks. The winners were selected from an audience vote and a judging panel that included 2022 Her Universe Fashion Show winners Cindy Guillermo and Michael Burson, SVP Hot Topic Merchandising Robin Motts, Director of Concept Art and Story Development at Disney Consumer Products George McClements, and actor, artist, and owner of Bungalow Modern Bret Iwan.
