SDCC 2023: Her Universe Fashion Show celebrates new designers, technology

The 9th annual Her Universe Fashion Show, sponsored by Hot Topic, kicked off at San Diego Comic-Con 2023 with a song! Co-hosted by Broadway star Michael James Scott, who serenaded a packed house for Ashley Eckstein’s annual competition, the show featured strong designs by several competitors whose couture interpretations of different Disney themes and properties could have easily been seen on a Fashion Week runway. In an opening statement to the crowd, Ms. Eckstein made a point to thank her contacts at SAG-AFTRA for helping ensure the show complied with the current strikes.

Ashley Eckstein wore a dress designed by previous show-winner Andrew Maclaine, with smart panels made of LEDs designed by Disney Imagineer Daniel Joseph.

Things kicked off with a sneak peek at Her Universe’s newest Star Wars collection, which combines wearability and function with the sneaky-geeky logos, cuts, and color combinations the company is known for. Models of all sizes showed off a plethora of new stealth Star Wars gear that is designed to take Disney-bounding out of the parks and into the everyday. It was good to see the everyday collection in motion, but the real show started with the introduction of the couture design contestants.

A group of 25 designers hailing from around the U.S. and with backgrounds in everything from fashion degrees to geology competed for one of the two top spots: the Judges’ and Audience’s Winner. Transformational pieces and the incorporation of technical elements were all over the show – starting with the hostess’ dress made of flexible LED panels displaying various film clips throughout the evening. Individual styles and creativity were on full display as every look – from a light-up hoop skirt complete with matching cane (Lea Gifford) to a retro-futuristic Lightning McQueen outfit (Catherine Gravereaux) to the gauzy show-opener covered in embroidered princess illustrations (Megg Waddington)  – showcased the entrant’s abilities in both design and construction. Menswear, womenswear, and drag styling were all represented and represented well, with the finalists for Audience’s Winner anyone’s guess by the time the final model exited the stage.

Michael James Scott and Ashley Peterson shortly after the announcement of Peterson’s Judges’ Choice Winner 2023

Rachel Peterson won the judges’ hearts with her glamorously 80’s themed Minnie Mouse gown. The software engineer and part-time fashion design student has been coming to the Her Universe show since 2017 and had unsuccessfully applied to compete twice before. The third time has been a charm, however, with her acceptance into the show leading to a solid Judges’ Favorite win for the Bay Area resident. When asked why she chose to compete, Rachel recalled a deep love of both Disney and the character of Minnie Mouse from as far back as she can remember. As far as the construction of the dress – a beautifully tailored ball gown with a full, layered skirt – she joyously “threw everything – heart, soul, blood, sweat, tears” into the project.

Michael James Scott serenades the crowd dressed in a Kristi Siedow-Thompson-designed Thanos-inspired piece.

Audience Favorite winner Raeven K. combined her love of the X-men character Storm with her BFA in fashion design to create a beautiful and technologically fascinating draped gown that had the audience thunderstruck. LED lights hidden in the sleeves and across the bodice combined with beading on a sheer cape to evoke Storm’s weather abilities, while the dress remained understated enough to stand on its own without any character-theming context. A first-time entrant and first-time competitor, Raeven was still reeling from her win after the show. Alongside preparing for the Her Universe show, the Austin, TX resident is looking forward to opening a community sewing space in her home city. “Lots of firsts,” she explained after the private sewing instructor admitted she had also never incorporated electrical elements into a design before.

Check out the Her Universe website for more information on all of the designers this year. (The author particularly loved BAMF by Anna Bowen and Long Live The Queen by Siberia the Queen)