Fashion Design

Maria Jones

Dead Love

My inspiration began when I visited Highgate Cemetery last summer. The cemetery has long been associated with the supernatural. I chose to focus on the story of one individual interred there, Elizabeth Siddal, the Pre-Raphaelite muse, artist and poet. After her death, her body was exhumed to retrieve a book of poetry with which she had been buried. According to legend, even though she had been dead and buried for seven years, she was perfectly preserved and her red-gold hair practically filled the coffin. I took much of my silhouette and pattern cutting inspiration from the shape of the coffin. It was important to me for the collection to be finished impeccably and so I utilized couture finishes and handmade textures. I wanted to portray the constrictions of life and of the coffin, in contrast to the freedom of the soul after death. I did this by using both structured cut and fabrics, as well as incorporating fabrics and textures which give the impression of fluidity.

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