Medium: Textiles & Design- Apparel
Statement: My design is composed of a two-piece jacket: a three-quarter length jacket along with a reversible bolero accompanied by a highly structured dress. This ensemble is designed and made to be worn on the Red Carpet at the 2015 CFDA Awards [Council of Fashion Designers of America]. This creation draws cultural inspiration from the delicate and intricate designs and shapes of Gothic Architecture reflected in the construction of the garments, the choice of delicate silk-screen printing with an overlay of machine embroidery on organza, the choice of fabrics, and the appliqued shapes. The Renaissance historical period has had a vast impact on the choice of colours; mostly the soft and muted colours of the renaissance ceiling paintings as well as the bold use of gold, the shapes of renaissance garments; seen through the large collar on the bolero and the use of triangles and diamond shapes found throughout the garments, as well as the types of fabric manipulations included in my Major Project. The contemporary designer Iris Van Herpen has also influenced my design as shown through the use of fabric manipulation to achieve volume, texture, and a three-dimensional effect to the garment. Herpen also creates quite structural garments, thereby allowing the garment to shape the body, which can be seen through the structured dress; fitted around the waist. These specific features make this outfit suitable for this contemporary and modern occasion.
