Shelly Teed Makes Her Debut as a HighBall Halloween Solo Designer
HighBall Halloween returns for its 18th year on Saturday, Oct. 25. The Costume Couture Fashion Show, a staple of this Short North Arts District event, invites seven designers to showcase their costume-inspired fashions along with a couture showpiece. Shelly Teed, a Columbus-based costume designer and makeup artist, has been involved with Highball Halloween for three years, and 2025 marks her debut as a solo designer.
Nicole: Having participated in this event for three years already, what does it mean to you to appear as a solo designer for this year’s HighBall Halloween?
Shelly: It has been a dream of mine since I moved here in 2015! I was lucky that my former design partner, Rachel Katz, first brought me into Highball Halloween, but getting the chance to design and create everything on my own this time has been so much fun. It’s been challenging, of course, but also incredibly rewarding to see my vision come to life from start to finish.
Nicole: We’d love to get an idea of your creative process. What are some of the ways you source new inspiration for your work?
Shelly: To be honest, ideas just tend to appear out of nowhere, and once they do, I become completely obsessed with bringing them to life. That usually means diving into a new technique and channeling my inner MacGyver. There’s always a lot of trial and error, but every misstep has taught me something valuable and pushed my creativity further. I also can’t complete a project without burning myself at least once with a heat or glue gun. It’s apparently a very important part of my process.
Nicole: Without giving away too much, what should audiences look forward to when your models come together on the HighBall Halloween catwalk?
Shelly: I think the audience will have fun seeing familiar characters reimagined in a fresh light. I love taking classic costumes and giving them an unexpected twist. There is also a lot of detail, different textures and some fun silhouettes to look forward to!
Nicole: We know that you love to incorporate visual storytelling into your creations. Where did this passion begin for you?
Shelly: My passion for visual storytelling began at an early age when I realized clothing could communicate more than just style — it could tell a story about a character, a culture or a moment in time. I was fascinated by how costumes and makeup in movies and theater transformed actors into entirely different people. I started sketching my own designs, experimenting with fabrics and textures, and imagining the narratives behind each look. That early curiosity grew into a deeper appreciation for how costume design shapes the audience’s understanding of a story — and that’s what continues to drive my work today.
Nicole: HighBall is as much about spectacle as it is about fashion. When audiences see your collection under the stage lights, what kind of emotional reaction do you hope they walk away with?
Shelly: I hope the audience leaves feeling curious — wondering not just how I created these designs, but what they’re even made from. I also want them to feel a spark of nostalgia, recognizing something familiar while being surprised by a fresh perspective. Most of all, I think about that one young dreamer in the crowd, the way I was 10 years ago, imagining a future in design. If I can inspire even one person to chase that dream, it would truly mean the world to me.
Nicole: What are some of your favorite places in Columbus?
Shelly: One of my favorite places to go to treat myself is Bite This by Annie. I love their vibe and I could eat my weight in their biscuit bombs and sweet treats. One of my favorite events, which is held at my favorite museum, is Wonderball at the Columbus Museum of Art. They always have a fun theme that allows you to express yourself in creative ways. It offers great entertainment and is a way of seeing the museum in a different light.
See Shelly’s designs take center stage at HighBall Halloween on Saturday, Oct. 25 in Columbus’ Short North Arts District. Shelly will compete with six talented designers in the Costume Couture Fashion Show, and dramatic live performances and the annual public costume content will also take to the runway throughout the evening. General admission is free.
This article is part of a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council as part of the Art Makes Columbus campaign. Explore a calendar of events, public art database and artist stories at columbusmakesart.com. To learn more about GCAC grants visit gcac.org.