An Arkansas senior high school student went to her prom wearing a special dress she made herself using pages from "Harry Potter" books. Hailey Skoch dazzled the other students at the unforgettable event and created quite a buzz on the internet.
Speaking with Fox 23, Skoch said it took her four days to create her "Harry Potter" prom dress using 12,000 pages of the first two books. She got some inspiration for her design by binge-watching the Harry Potter movies and the spinoff "Fantastic Beasts."
The student from Prairie Grove took a week-long break after binge-watching and then started her work on the dress. Because she used the actual pages of her favorite books, Skoch spent a lot of time folding, gluing, stapling, and sewing the prom dress together. Despite the laborious process, the reaction she received was well-worth her effort.
Obsessed With "Harry Potter"
Skoch is likely one of the biggest fans of "Harry Potter," and when she saw a similar idea on TikTok, the teenager felt that she could do a better dress.
The unique gown was also extra special for her because the teenager depended on "Harry Potter" books when she was growing up. It was her source of peace when she struggled with her parents' divorce. So, to "wear the words" that comforted her as a child also felt like a transition, per Ark Times.
Skoch said that she was a "shy, nerdy, geeky kid" when she came across the first book by J.K. Rowling. It made her realize that she was "searching for some magic" in her life.
As the dress was challenging, the young woman had some help from her mother, Valerie, a professional costume designer. Skoch gives her mom a lot of credit, especially for making the corset and the design for the bodice.
At the prom, Skoch made heads turn and got a lot of compliments for her dress.
"It was almost creepy in sync, everyone's heads just turned," she said. "It was the craziest feeling I've ever had."
After the prom, Skoch uploaded a photo of herself in the dress and got a reaction she did not expect. Even strangers remarked that she's very talented.
CHECK THIS OUT!
— Chelsea Helms (@ChelseaHelms1) April 28, 2022
This Prairie Grove High Schooler ⤵ handmade her #prom dress using pages from two of her favorite #HarryPotter books!📚https://t.co/yjt7Dw2PxF #NWAnews pic.twitter.com/oj1gxLTSly
Considering Her Options for College
Since she posted photos of her "Harry Potter" dress, Skoch has received two local libraries' requests to display her creation. She has also received a couple of proposals to borrow her dress so they could wear it at their wedding. However, the young lady said that the gown would remain with her.
After graduating high school, Skoch is set to attend the University of Arkansas through a scholarship and become a therapist or psychologist, Daily Mail reported. While she loves to talk to people, the 18-year-old said that she might also pursue design somehow since she said that this chance doesn't happen to just about anyone.
