FOR THIS PROJECT, I WAS INSPIRED BY THE BABYDOLL DRESS SILHOUETTE FROM BALENCIAGA AS WELL AS THE WORK OF REI KAWAKUBO, PARTICULARLY HER SPRING AND FALL 1997 COLLECTIONS. DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM BOTH DESIGNERS, I FOCUSED ON THE THEME OF SLEEPWEAR, SPECIFICALLY 20TH-CENTURY NIGHTGOWNS.
I REINTERPRETED THE TRADITIONAL NIGHTGOWN BY CREATING A DECONSTRUCTED VERSION. TO EVOKE A DARKER, MORE UNSETTLING FEELING, I COMBINED A DELICATE, FEMININE AESTHETIC WITH DISTRESSED AND TORN ELEMENTS, GIVING THE GARMENT A WORN AND EERIE APPEARANCE. ALONGSIDE THE NIGHTGOWN, I ALSO DESIGNED A DECONSTRUCTED BABYDOLL COAT.
THE TWO GARMENTS CONTRAST EACH OTHER THROUGH THEIR FORM AND VOLUME. IN THE DRESS, I AIMED TO DEFINE THE BODY THROUGH LOOSE DRAPING, WHILE THE OVERSIZED COAT CONCEALS THE BODY YET STILL SUGGESTS AND EMPHASIZES ITS SILHOUETTE. TOGETHER, THE GARMENTS EXPLORE THE TENSION BETWEEN EXPOSURE AND CONCEALMENT, SOFTNESS AND DISRUPTION.