‘The rebirth of Venus’ is a reinterpretation of the mythological roman Goddess of love, sex, beauty and fertility, using Botticelli’s 15th century painting, ‘The Birth of Venus’ as a springboard. Here, ‘rebirth’ refers to a celebration of the modern empowerment of women, inspired by admirable historical female figures. From Joan of arc, Queen Elizabeth I, Amelia Earhart to Patti Smith, I examine the clothing that they wore as a vehicle to express their confidence and power. The collection interprets the concept of the female journey from a state of, protection, suppression and domination to one of empowerment; a celebration of the rebirth of the female figure as a personification of strength; something more than an object of desire. Deconstructed armour is used as a metaphor for ‘protection’ and ‘concealment’. The use of suiting is meant to satirise the notion that female empowerment is conveyed through women in men’s clothing. Here it ‘conceals’ the female; overshadows the qualities beneath, which shine through in my chosen examples of strong women.