STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Graduate student brings Selena’s iconic costumes back to the stage

For his MFA thesis in costume technology, Theatre and Dance graduate student Matthew Smith set out to honor a Texas icon and the artistry behind her unforgettable stage presence.

Smith, who is originally from Texas, recreated three of singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez’s stage looks: the purple jumpsuit she wore at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a black-and-gold flamenco costume and a green velvet tailcoat from her final concert in Bryan, Texas. Inspired by childhood visits to the Selena Museum in Corpus Christi, Smith explored how the costumes shaped Selena’s stage presence. 

The project also highlights the work of Martin Gomez, the designer who collaborated with Selena on many of her stage looks. Smith met with Gomez, learning more about the construction, inspirations and design process behind the garments.

“It’s not just an homage to Selena,” Smith said. “It’s also an homage to Martin Gomez, whose history is often overlooked. This project brings to the forefront the labor of costume makers and designers.”

Each recreation required extensive research and experimentation. Smith applied glitter dots by hand to recreate purple jumpsuit’s fabric and he learned tambour beading to create leaf appliqués for the flamenco bustier. For the green velvet tailcoat, he used a chemical burnout process to create the crescent moon and vine patterns in white velvet before dying it green. He developed each silhouette using draping, a 3D pattern-making technique.

Smith collaborated with Selena tribute artist Amanda Solis, who danced in the garments during fittings and will wear them in performances. The completed looks appeared in a public showcase featuring Smith’s research with musical interludes by Solis, bringing the costumes off the dress form and back under the lights.