Sometime toward the end of spring, I called designer David Tupaz, to ask him a favor.  As an advisor to the Miss Nevada Scholarship Organization, I was hoping that he’d be so kind as to design a gown for the as-yet-to-be-crowned Miss Nevada 2015 to wear for the Evening Gown segment of the Miss America competition.  David - who shows his collection at New York Fashion Week - is a strong proponent of anything that promotes the City of Las Vegas, and the State of Nevada (not to mention an arrow in the quivers of such stylistas as Elaine Newton, Susie Molasky, Arda Yeminidjian, and, well, me), replied “Oh Darling, of course!  It’d be my pleasure!”

Well, after the state pageant, which found Katherine Kelley crowned Miss Nevada, and Lauren Watson crowned Miss Nevada’s Outstanding Teen, Audra Baldwin (VP, Operations – Miss Nevada Scholarship Organization) and I went to meet with David, at his atelier.  When David found out that, if Katherine progressed to the Finals she’d need a second gown, he immediately said “Don’t be silly.  I’ll do that, too!”

And when he overheard Audra and I discussing our state’s Outstanding Teen (the pageant for which is this Saturday, in Orlando), he interjected “Why don’t I design those, too?”

Well, fast-forward a few weeks, and Tupaz was in it to his eyeballs, designing a trio of looks for both Katherine and Lauren to wear at their respective pageants – a dress for the Interview, a gown for Preliminaries, and a gown for (fingers-crossed) the Finals.

I’ll come back to Katherine, and the looks she’ll be wearing this fall, at Miss America, as that draws closer; but now I’m gonna focus on the looks designed for Lauren, who’s competing, this weekend.

With Audra merchandising each look, pulling ideas from the Internet, magazines, and catalogues (very “This skirt, but without that bustle; and this top, but with a higher sweetheart neckline.  And maybe a metallic lace capped-sleeve?”); and me acting as a style consultant (very “By limiting the metallic silver to the lace on her shoulders and the belt at her waist, it’ll draw the eye up to her gorgeous face!”), David whipped-out his sketchpad, while we went through fabric swatches, and produced sketch after beautiful sketch of gorgeous dresses, that he then produced at breakneck speed (one week) for Lauren to come and try-on.

Never having dressed a teenager, David is used to plunging necklines, and dramatic collars; but there are a lot of rules for the Teens, and at the end of the day, they’re supposed to look like the sixteen and seventeen year old girls that they are.  Lauren, realizing that the goal of each look (and our little design collective) was to make her feel as confident and empowered as possible; she got in on the action and gave her two cents with each look, too.

Last week, Lauren, Audra, David and I gathered one last time, for the final fittings, and I was gobsmacked.  For Lauren’s interview look, David took a lovely metallic blue floral denim fabric from Belgium and created a dress that is so timeless and chic that Lauren can (and should) wear it for the rest of her life.  It’s a perfect dress.  (Kinda makes me wish I was a sixteen-year-old drag queen...)  As for the pair of gowns, both in brightly hued French silk – one in electric teal with capped-sleeves in silver lace, with a tiny silver jewelled belt at the waist; and the other in shocking pink with the top covered in fuchsia lace, over a layer of silver sequins, with magenta beading over the florettes of the lace – they’re just right, and will look totally glamorous (in an age-appropriate manner) as Lauren walks across the stage, beaming, and feeling utterly regal.

If you want to view the live webcast of Miss America’s Outstanding Teen, it is available to view by clicking the link at the bottom of the page.

Read all about the looks being featured by Katherine, at Miss America; later this month.  And until then, check out David Tupaz Couture.

Lauren Watson, Miss Nevada’s Outstanding Teen 2015
Miss America’s Outstanding Teen
Saturday, August 1st | 6pm EST

Click HERE to watch the MAOTeen Webcast 2015

Get into it!
#MAOTeen

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