BA Fashion (with Collection Design)

The concept for my graduate collection began with an exploration of Laura Mulvey’s theory of the male gaze, examining how women have historically been represented in media through a male perspective. I sought to challenge this by reversing the gaze and shifting power back to the woman. I was inpsired by the allure and constructed image of femininity, looking at iconic figures of the 1950s and 60s such as Marilyn Monroe, alongside films like Vertigo by Alfred Hitchcock, which portray themes of male obsession and control. This led me to research 1950s burlesque dancers, whose performances played with seduction and the act of unveiling for an audience. I began my design process on the stand with men’s suit jackets, gradually deconstructing them to create new forms. By exposing seams and structure, I wanted to reflect the performative act of revealing and mirroring the tension between concealment and exposure. The collection combines traditional tailoring fabrics such as pinstripe suiting with more sensual materials like rich velvet, lace, chiffon, and satin, inspired by the lingerie of the era. Patterns evolved directly from the original suit jacket, becoming increasingly deconstructed throughout the collection. This progression reflects a narrative of unveiling and temptation, where classic masculine tailoring is reimagined through seductive, feminine silhouettes, ultimately reclaiming control over how the body is presented and perceived.

Work placement – Karl Lagerfeld -Amsterdam