ASU graduate designs one-of-a-kind outfit for Tony Awards
Photo of ASU Gammage Executive Director Colleen Jennings-Roggensack on the ASU Gammage stage wearing an outfit designed by ASU alum Alexander Diesner. Photo by Tim Trumble
Fashion designer and ASU graduate Alexander Diesner can't wait for Broadway’s biggest night, the Tony Awards, where one of his special creations will be worn by Arizona’s only Tony Award voter: ASU Gammage Executive Director Colleen Jennings-Roggensack.
Diesner graduated last month from ASU FIDM in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. This year’s one-of-kind creation was part of a collection he worked on last year, inspired by what he calls “new beginnings.”
Diesner says he began making gowns out of blankets with his sister while dressing up dolls. Inspired by fashion icons such as Lady Gaga, Diesner took his hobby and turned it into a career, studying fashion and designing pieces throughout high school.
During his time at ASU, he has obtained several opportunities in the fashion world, including an internship in New York with renowned fashion designer Christian Siriano.
“ASU really gave me more of the footing to kind of take what I knew and just take it a little bit further,” Diesner said.
The outfit contains a silver, asymmetric top with a 14-bone corset underneath. The outer layer of the corset is made of glitter tulle, which Diesner says “sparkles under the light,” layered on top of organdy lined with a Mikado fabric. The corset itself is made from cotton denim with another layer of lining. Jennings-Roggensack described the look as having a “Monte Carlo” feel.
His original design with the corset included a Mikado fabric skirt, but he updated it and created a pair of pants to accompany the top. The switch from skirt to pants is a fresh take on Tony Awards outfits worn by Jennings-Roggensack in the past.
“This is a first for me — to wear luxury pants on the red carpet at the Tony Awards," Jennings-Roggensack said. “Alexander has captured the sparkle and excitement of the night with this design. It feels fabulous; it feels elegant and chic.”
While Diesner did not know how far his work would go at the time he was creating it, he created the outfit to reflect the beauty of whoever would be wearing it.
“It’s really just making a gorgeous outfit that’s going to be worn by a gorgeous person,” Diesner said.
The Tony Awards are set for Sunday, June 8, at Radio City Musical Hall in New York City.
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