AMES, Iowa – Kristin Geiger, 4-H’er from Boone County, explored the fashion world through metal, wire and chains and found herself sharing her yellow electrical wire dress with morning radio personality Colleen Kelly at the Iowa State Fair.
Kelly stars on Big Ken and Colleen in the Morning on Star 102.5 each weekday. She had volunteered to participate in a Celebrity Showcase event put on by Iowa State University Extension 4-H Youth Development. The event allows high profile professionals to showcase 4-H youth and their project work on stage in the 4-H Exhibits Building at the fair.
Geiger, a senior at Ames High, designed a line of clothing for the school’s annual fashion show. She then took the funky yellow electrical wire dress to the Boone County Fair, where it was selected for the state fair. This dress features a skirt of soft yellow tulle with a bodice shaped of yellow electrical wiring.
Kelly was surprised by the look of the dress, saying it was not what she imagined at all. Geiger, who had helped her brother wire his house, noticed that electrical wiring was flexible and could be formed into different shapes. At first the dress was to be made completely out of the yellow electrical wire with the skirt in a hoop shape, but Geiger said it didn’t look right so she went with just the top being made of wire.
Last year the 4-H’er made a dress out of a shower curtain, and in this year’s collection she also had garments featuring a halter top with chain links and a top with decoupaged pictures across the bust line. She said that for the fashion show at school the director asks them to do something different, so she likes to experiment with different mediums.
As part of the interview, Geiger challenged Kelly to a 4-H version of her popular radio game, “Smarter Than Colleen.” Answering by moo’s and neighs, Colleen and Kristen both held the lead at times. Kelly definitely did her homework, spouting off the 4-H motto, colors, and three original Hs of the 4-H clover, but Geiger held her own, knowing a 4-H founder, that gauchos are back in style, and the year of the 4-H centennial.
Kristin, whose parents are Marlene and Randy Geiger, also shows sheep and modeled her prom dress, which she made herself, in the 4-H State Fair Clothing Event.
-30-