Oxford fashion student shows true flower power (From The Oxford Times)

Oxford fashion student shows true flower power

1:25pm Tuesday 28th April 2009

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A FASHION student has won a contest for creating a stunning prom dress made from flowers.

Alice Riley, who is a fashion student at Oxford and Cherwell Valley College, used pink and white rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias to create the puffball skirt of her prom dress.

The Westonbirt Arboretum, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire, set a challenge students to design a dress inspired by spring blooms and Miss Riley’s design was picked from a dozen entries from colleges across the region.

Miss Riley, who lives in Epwell, near Banbury, said: “I was shocked when I found out I’d won but also really excited about getting the chance to actually make my dress and have so many people see my work.

“It was quite a challenge attaching all the flowers to the frame of the dress, but I was really pleased with how it turned out and it was great to see my design worn by a professional model.”

It took her five days to make the fabric and about four hours to sew on all the flowers, which will be replaced by fake flowers and netting when they wilt.

Kellie Lovett, of Westonbirt Arboretum, said: “Alice’s design really stood out and we were very impressed with the concept she came up with.”

fbardsley@oxfordmail.co.uk

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