Heavenly Threads
My thesis is inspired by breast cancer awareness and created in honor of someone very close to me — Kim McCandless — who recently passed away from breast cancer. Kim was a single mother of four girls. Her life was never easy, but she fought every single day to provide for her daughters. And when she was diagnosed, she fought even harder — this time for her life.
Through it all, Kim never lost her smile. We used to call her our cheerleader because she would cheer everyone else on, no matter what she was going through. Even if your problems were bigger — or smaller — she was always there, lifting you up. When her cancer progressed and she entered hospice care, she still held on to her light and positivity. Her strength was remarkable.
I wanted to honor her spirit and share her story to inspire other women.
Look #1- Phase one Finding Out
I created a robe — symbolic of a hospital gown, but reimagined into something beautiful, just like she always wanted. She used to say, “I don’t want to be in a hospital gown. I want you to design me something beautiful.” So I did.
The robe has a hood, meant for women who have lost their hair — a gesture of warmth and dignity. Its short, flowing sleeves lift like angel wings when the arms are raised, representing the grace and strength of those who’ve fought. Embroidered on the hood are the words she always told us: “We will figure it out.” Even at the end, she believed in hope. I wanted that reminder to live on — to bring comfort and strength to others.
There’s a delicate bra beneath the robe, adorned with beads and a single evil eye bead — something she used to give us for protection. On the back of the robe, a soft bow adds a gentle feminine touch. Underneath, a lined petticoat adds volume for show, but it can be removed — because at its heart, this robe is meant to be simple, beautiful, and wearable.
When the hood is worn, the beaded trim around it and the robe’s center align to form the shape of a breast cancer ribbon — a quiet but powerful symbol of strength, survival, and remembrance.
This piece is for the strong woman in our lives that are faced with this battle.
Look #2- The Angels that Guide Us and The Ones We Become
This look is inspired by the angels who guide us—and the ones we become. The base is a bodysuit with a built-in corset for structure, layered with silver appliquéd flowers to resemble armor. It symbolizes the strength every woman and family needs when going through something like this. Whether it’s the support of friends, family, or subtle signs like a butterfly or an angel number, these moments become our shield. The look is completed with a detachable train skirt, crafted with fabric manipulation to allow light to pass through and create an ethereal, flowing effect.
