Local designer Borris J. Powell wins gold at Oscars
Sun. February 27, 2011 8:50 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
borris powell's gown wins oscars dress competition
photo credit // twitter feed
Los Angeles, CA -
Chicago-based designer Borris J. Powell won gold in the prestigious Oscars Designer Dress Challenge competition with his Black Swan-inspired black satin dress.
Powell's winning gown, a asymmetrical satin dress decorated with 25 hand-stitched feather pinwheels, was worn by one of the Oscar-toting models during the 83rd Annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Kodak Theatre on Sunday night.
The 36-year-old Powell was one of nine up-and-coming designers participating in the competition, which included Chicagoans Miriam Cecilia Carlson and James De Colon, Angela Avanesyan (Los Angeles), Katelyn Bischof (New York), Octavio Carlin (Los Angeles), Zoe Hong (Oakland, CA), Natalia Romano (Los Angeles) and Clay Sadler (Los Angeles).
ChicagoPride.com tried to reach the out designer in Los Angeles, but his cell phone battery was dead - apparently from all of his Tweets before and during the competition.
Powell's last Tweet on Sunday night read, "loving life. met valentino. he called my dress very nice. without words. told my model she looked chic. phone is dead, so thanks."
In a Feb. 18 interview with ChicagoPride.com Powell said, "I feel like the luckiest person alive. This is a dream come true for me. I've had many dreams of this moment."
A passionate designer and active member of Chicago's LGBT community, Powell was born in Alabama and moved to the Windy City in 1997 to follow his dreams. Now the designer's career is skyrocketing with the biggest exhibition of his career - televised live during the Academy Awards.
Powell's winning gown was chosen in an online poll and was announced during the Oscars Pre Show.
For more about Powell and his work visit www.borrispowell.com.
Powell's winning gown, a asymmetrical satin dress decorated with 25 hand-stitched feather pinwheels, was worn by one of the Oscar-toting models during the 83rd Annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Kodak Theatre on Sunday night.
The 36-year-old Powell was one of nine up-and-coming designers participating in the competition, which included Chicagoans Miriam Cecilia Carlson and James De Colon, Angela Avanesyan (Los Angeles), Katelyn Bischof (New York), Octavio Carlin (Los Angeles), Zoe Hong (Oakland, CA), Natalia Romano (Los Angeles) and Clay Sadler (Los Angeles).
ChicagoPride.com tried to reach the out designer in Los Angeles, but his cell phone battery was dead - apparently from all of his Tweets before and during the competition.
Powell's last Tweet on Sunday night read, "loving life. met valentino. he called my dress very nice. without words. told my model she looked chic. phone is dead, so thanks."
In a Feb. 18 interview with ChicagoPride.com Powell said, "I feel like the luckiest person alive. This is a dream come true for me. I've had many dreams of this moment."
A passionate designer and active member of Chicago's LGBT community, Powell was born in Alabama and moved to the Windy City in 1997 to follow his dreams. Now the designer's career is skyrocketing with the biggest exhibition of his career - televised live during the Academy Awards.
Powell's winning gown was chosen in an online poll and was announced during the Oscars Pre Show.
For more about Powell and his work visit www.borrispowell.com.