BY LYNNE MEREDITH SCHREIBER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAN LIPPITT

1

t her June 2 prom, Ashley Levine
stood out from her peers in more ways
than one. Although it may not have
been apparent to passers-by, Levine
wore a dress that she hand-crafted in class, based
on magazine ideas, personal sketches and a
dream to create something trendy and elegant
without shelling out the big bucks that a store-
bought sheath requires.
"I always wanted to make my prom dress,"
says Levine, a die-hard fashion-class attendee
who is graduating from North Farmington High
School and Temple Israel's religious school this
year.

"Any kid wants the coolest styles, what's new,
what's hip," says Levine. "When I'd go to the
store and see how expensive [things were] and
looked at how it was made, I realized I could
make the same thing for a third of the price. My
friends think it's so cool — they ask me to make
them things."
Levine's passion for fashion was sparked by a
ninth-grade introduction-to-sewing class, taught
by Linda Lethemon. That year, she learned how
to use the sewing machine and made tote bags
and hooded vests. Sophomore year, she
advanced to clothing, making a matching long
skirt, pants and hooded jacket.
Now, poised for graduation, Levine is ready to
enter Western Michigan University's fashion
design program, with the hope of studying in
London or New York during her junior year. One
day, she wants to design her own clothing line or
open a signature boutique.
"It makes me feel good that I can do something
that not a lot of people can do," says Levine, who
started working on her dress in January
At three-quarter length, the dress bucks cur-
rent long-skirt trends. "I don't like going with
the flow," insists Levine. "I like standing out."
The strapless, off-black satin gown has velvet,
flowery decals and sequins on the left hip. The
bodice is fitted, and Levine bared her legs (no
hose) and wore matching shoes. A piece of satin
ribbon and flower became a choker necklace.
In all, the dress cost about $150 to make. A
similar one at BCBG, says Levine, carries a
$250-$300 price tag.
"My dress is something different, something
that no one has," says the crafty teen. "It's really
cool."

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