A shimmering gold gown made entirely of jewelry now stands proudly in the Mount Vernon High School cafeteria.
The piece, titled “Theia’s Gown,” was created by Vedette member Jaden Cook for the group’s newest showcase, which celebrates mythological themes through art and fashion.
Cook’s inspiration came directly from her love of Greek mythology. “I really like Greek mythology, I’m very into it,” she said. “I have a cousin that’s pagan and all those things, so I have a lot of those references in my everyday life.”
That connection fueled her creative process and motivated her to take on an ambitious project. “I make jewelry—I have for a couple of years—and I really enjoy it,” she explained. “I’ve always wanted to do a big project, especially something I could wear, because that has always been really cool to me.”
Even with her experience, crafting Theia’s Gown was no small task. Cook spent four days assembling the dress from gold-plated jewelry pieces. “Opening jump rings and stuff like that can be painful because you have to use pliers,” she said. “It’s not real gold, but there’s a gold coating, and if you’re too rough, it can come off.”
” The process, though challenging, was deeply rewarding.
Looking ahead, Cook hopes to keep the creative momentum going. “We’re hoping to get some more advertisement and submissions because this year has already been kind of slow,” she said. “We want to ramp things up and produce more for the people.”
For students interested in joining Vedette, Cook describes the group as “very accepting and welcoming. We love having new people—it’s very fun and pretty stress-free.”
From gold-plated links to glittering creativity, Theia’s Gown reflects not just mythological inspiration, but the artistry and passion thriving within the Vedette community.
