Wearables, wearables, wearables! What a wild treat!¶
This week was nothing short of exhilarating. I’ve always admired those illuminating dresses gracing the red carpet, Iris van Herpen’s futuristic masterpieces, and garments that move! Never in my life did I imagine I could create something like this. Me? A total newbie? Yet, here I am.
This week was the perfect example of how clothing can tell a story. The concept of creating interactive elements felt almost too good to be true. Honestly, I was terrified at first—navigating the unknown is never easy. But as I dug into the possibilities, something shifted. I got so excited to tell my side of the story, representing the things I value and appreciate.
The Jazz Night Gone Wild dress¶
Inspiration¶
I am completely captivated by the 1920s—the ROARING 20s! This era was a vibrant celebration of life, a treat of glamour and rebellion after the hardships of World War I. People were hungry to party, and it showed in everything—the silhouettes, the bold color palettes, the lively jazz music, the intricate beads and embellishments. The entire aesthetic speaks to my soul!
Jazz holds a special place in my heart. It’s authentic, raw, and full of life—glamorous yet intimate. There’s something so warm and familiar about it. On rainy days, you’ll always find me with jazz playing softly in the background
That’s why I decided to create my own modern take on the iconic flapper dress!
The flapper girl was fearless—a roaring, unapologetic spirit who partied all night long. Her low necklines, corset-free chest, and rebellious attitude made her a true icon. The 1920s silhouette was revolutionary. Women broke free from the restrictive “pretty” ideal of small waists and exaggerated curves, embracing slimmer, baggy structures instead. It was bold, modern, and beautifully rebellious. With this inspiration, I wanted to channel the spirit of the flapper girl—authentic, fearless, and ready to dance through life!
A huge focal point of the 1920s was the architecture. If you know me, you’d know that my designs are deeply inspired by cities and their structures! Especially New York City—which, unsurprisingly was considered the jazz capital of the time.
During this era, NYC wasn’t just about music; it was also a showcase for Art Deco architecture . Art Deco, an architectural style that rose to prominence in the 1920s and 30s, is known for its bold geometric patterns, symmetry, and luxurious details. Think of iconic landmarks like the Chrysler Building which embodies the sleek, modern energy of the time.
For me, the connection between jazz and Art Deco is mesmerizing. Jazz, with its raw and vibrant rhythms, and Art Deco, with its bold shapes and patterns, feel like two sides of the same coin—a celebration of life, and unapologetic glamour.
The Process¶
With all this inspiration in mind, I’m setting out to create a flapper dress with a modern twist—it’s going to glow and react to music! This design will incorporate the opulence of the 1920s with a futuristic flair.
To bring this vision to life:
Fiber Optics as Fringes: I’ll add the fiber optics along with the traditional fringes , and code them to movement and sound-reactive nature of the flapper aesthetic. 3D-Printed Embellishments: Inspired by Art Deco geometry, I’ll design intricate 3D-printed embellishments to adorn the neckline and back of the dress. These details will pay homage to the architectural elegance of the era, especially the bold lines and patterns of New York City's landmarks. A Touch of Jazz: The glowing fringes and embellishments will create a dynamic interplay of light and movement, reminiscent of jazz rhythms and the carefree spirit of the 1920s.
The Dress
For the foundation of this project, we created a drop-waist dress to mimic the iconic flapper silhouette of the 1920s. The dress was crafted in organza, a fabric chosen for its lightweight and sheer quality.
To further enhance the design, we added a basque waistline as a guideline. This detail creates a triangular effect, staying true to the geometric inspiration of the era while adding a modern structural element. The combination of the drop waist and basque waistline gives the dress a unique, layered aesthetic that feels both vintage and contemporary.
Neo Pixels and Fiber Optics
The first step in my journey was making the fiber optics light up! To achieve this, I started experimenting with NeoPixel strips—a fun and versatile way to create dynamic lighting effects.
Install the Adafruit NeoPixel Library
1. Open the Arduino IDE.
2. Go to Sketch > Include Library > Manage Libraries.
3. In the Library Manager, search for Adafruit NeoPixel.
4. Select the library and click Install.
After that, I connected the NeoPixels to Arduino Uno and ran a simple code
This code controls a strip of 7 NeoPixels connected to an Arduino Uno. The LEDs will cycle through red, green, and blue, with a delay between each color.
#include
#define NUM_PIXELS 7
#define NEOPIXEL_PIN 6
Adafruit_NeoPixel strip(NUM_PIXELS, NEOPIXEL_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
void setup() {
strip.begin(); // Initialize the NeoPixel strip
strip.show(); // Turn off all pixels initially
}
void loop() {
strip.fill(strip.Color(255, 0, 0)); // All pixels red
strip.show();
delay(1000); // Wait 1 second
strip.fill(strip.Color(0, 255, 0)); // All pixels green
strip.show();
delay(1000); // Wait 1 second
strip.fill(strip.Color(0, 0, 255)); // All pixels blue
strip.show();
delay(1000); // Wait 1 second
}
I used hot glue to connect the fibers to the strip
After my initial experimentation, I realized I needed a longer NeoPixel strip to cover the entire waistline of the dress. After measuring, I determined it would require about 92 NeoPixels to achieve the look I envisioned.
To make the design more interactive, I wanted the lights to react to sound. For this, I used the Circuit Playground Express, which conveniently includes a built-in sound sensor. This made it easy to pick up ambient noise and translate it into dynamic lighting effects.
#include
#define NUM_PIXELS 96
#define NEOPIXEL_PIN A3
Adafruit_CPlay_NeoPixel strip(NUM_PIXELS, NEOPIXEL_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
// Updated colors: Base Deep Gold, Deep Emerald Green, Bright Gold, and White Blue
uint32_t colors[] = {
CircuitPlayground.strip.Color(255, 200, 0), // Deep Gold (Base/Quiet)
CircuitPlayground.strip.Color(0, 128, 85), // Deep Emerald Green (Moderate)
CircuitPlayground.strip.Color(255, 223, 40), // Bright Gold (Louder)
CircuitPlayground.strip.Color(180, 200, 255) // White Blue (Very Loud)
};
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
CircuitPlayground.begin(); // Initialize Circuit Playground
strip.begin(); // Initialize NeoPixel strip
strip.show(); // Turn off all NeoPixels initially
strip.setBrightness(80); // Adjust brightness to avoid excessive power draw
}
void loop() {
// Read the sound pressure level
float soundLevel = CircuitPlayground.mic.soundPressureLevel(100);
Serial.println(soundLevel); // Debugging: Print sound level to monitor
// Determine the color based on sound level
uint32_t color;
if (soundLevel < 65) {
color = colors[0]; // Deep Gold (Base/Quiet)
} else if (soundLevel < 75) {
color = colors[1]; // Deep Emerald Green (Moderate)
} else if (soundLevel < 85) {
color = colors[2]; // Bright Gold (Louder)
} else {
color = colors[3]; // White Blue (Very Loud)
}
// Set all pixels to the determined color
setAllPixels(color);
delay(100); // Small delay for smoother transitions
}
// Helper function to set all pixels to a specific color
void setAllPixels(uint32_t color) {
for (int i = 0; i < NUM_PIXELS; i++) {
strip.setPixelColor(i, color);
}
strip.show(); // Update the NeoPixel strip
}
After coding the NeoPixels, it was time to attach the fiber optics to the strips—a process that turned out to be both rewarding and incredibly time-consuming.
I started by detaching small batches of fiber optics from the larger bundle and taping them together. This step made it easier to handle and align them precisely with the NeoPixel strips. Then came the painstaking task of gluing each batch onto the strips. Let me tell you, this took forever!
Claudia joked that we were creating “couture with electronics,” and honestly, it felt like that. Every piece required patience, precision, and a lot of care to make sure the fiber optics were securely attached and evenly distributed.
Once the fiber optics were securely glued to the NeoPixel strips, the next step was attaching the strips to the dress itself. Using super glue, I carefully adhered the strips along the waistline, following the guideline I had created during the sewing process.
Watching the fiber optics light up in sync with the sound-reactive NeoPixels while perfectly framing the dress's silhouette was incredibly satisfying—everything was starting to come together!
Art Deco-Inspired Embellishments
For this project, I decided to take a modern approach to creating embellishments by 3D printing them. Instead of using traditional embellishments, this method allowed me to integrate techniques and skills I’ve learned through the Textile Academy.
One of my key influences for this project was the Chrysler Building—one of my all-time favorite buildings! Its bold geometric patterns and iconic spire perfectly encapsulate the glamour and sophistication of the 1920s. I wanted to channel its elegance into a unique amulet-like embellishment or necklace, designed to mimic the neckline of a classic flapper dress.
To bring this vision to life, I created the design in Fusion 360, translating the building’s architectural details into wearable art. After finalizing the design, I sliced it in Cura and set it to print. When the print was complete, I was left with so much beauty—it was thrilling to see the intricate details come to life!
Next, I draped the embellishments over the dress to get a sense of how they’d look. This step helped me visualize the placement and decide how best to accentuate the neckline. However, I didn’t glue them at this stage—I waited until after adding the fringes.
Dress Assembly
With all the components ready, it was time to assemble the dress! We already had the NeoPixel strip securely glued along the waistline, and the 3D-printed embellishments were prepped and waiting. Next, I added fabric fringes to the dress for that essential flapper-inspired movement and texture. Using super glue, I carefully attached the fringes, ensuring they flowed naturally with the dress’s silhouette.
Once the fringes were in place, I began attaching the embellishments. These 3D-printed details brought a stunning architectural flair to the design, tying everything together with their Art Deco-inspired elegance.
The assembly process required patience, but seeing all the elements come together was incredibly rewarding. The dress truly came alive, blending technology, architecture, and vintage charm into one cohesive design.
The Result
