Natalie Dickinson

“Fairyland”

Designer statement

I have designed a costume for the intended purpose to be worn to the 2021 Met Gala “Fairyland” themed ball.The Met Gala is a ball that the Costume Institute holds each year at the Metropolitan museum. It is an annual fundraising event which showcases a variety of “over the top” costumes that celebrities wear. Each year the Met Gala has a different theme and each attendee must dress according to the theme. My design fits into the focus area of costume because the criteria of the Met Gala is to be different, unique and designers need to think outside the box and create larger than life style of garments. My costume design fits perfectly into this criteria. My additional sources of inspiration come from couture designers Julian Mendez and Marnie Senofonte, as well as Victoria’s Secret runway collections.

Rebecca Akladious

“A Wartime Woman”

Designer statement

My apparel collection is the ideal addition to a vintage-lovers wardrobe as it is primarily inspired by 1940s women fashion. Particularly the impacts of WWII on women’s fashion, such as fabric rationing and minimalistic designs which are demonstrated through the simple colour pallet and style of my shirtwaist dress and reefer coat. The inspiration of Hollywood movies such as Under the Tuscan Sun and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society which showcase 1940s inspired costumes have influenced the elegant and feminine aesthetic of my design. As well as, French fashion which inspired the classic beret hat and silhouette of the design. My apparel collection features techniques such as trapunto quilting on the collar of the coat, fabric covered buttons, reverse pin tucks on the dress, hand gathering, chemical dyeing of the dress and self-drafting the beret pattern.

Lucija Glavan

‘‘Le Style Rocaille”

Designer Statement

My Major Textiles Project is within the focus area of High-end Apparel, suitable to be worn at formal events such as the red-carpet, as it is a functional couture gown. My focal source of inspiration was the detailed designs of French Rococo Architecture which developed out of the Baroque period and characterised by a pastel colour palette - a range of soft, airy, feminine tonnes, and elaborate gold ornamental designs tied to nature. Significant elements of thorny leaves, and long, curved, shell-like structures are incorporated in my design through the use of hand-embroidery using metallic threads on the front and back of the corset, as well as the use of dissolvable stabilizer technique using white thread to create 3D leaves, which are hand-embroidered on the corset. My garment combines contemporary and historical elements to create a design that has a strong relationship to the past, incorporating a modernised version of the 16th century Elizabethan corset. The sweet saccharine style of the ‘Marie Antoinette’ film was another source of inspiration. To complement the gown, a short, soft pink, capelet made from silk double georgette was made using a pattern I drafted myself. Gold Tambour Embroidery added to a strip of tulle on the bottom edge of the caplet adds intricacy to the overall look.

Jade Rennie

“A night to remember”

Designer statement

For my Textiles Major Project I have designed a costume intended to be worn to a masquerade ball. My primary source of inspiration came from the 2015 Cinderella movie specifically the wedding dress of Cinderella. The inspiration from the movie can be seen in the foundation of my garment, as seen with the embellishments of lace and flowers. As well as the 2015 Cinderella movie, the original 1950’s Cinderella ball gown has also been heavily incorporated into my garment. The 1950s ball gowns were very large and heavily accentuated the female figure which promoted femininity. Designers such as Christian Dior, Cristobal Balenciaga, Hubert de Givenchy, Pierre Balmain and Coco Chanel were some of the main designers in the 1950s for creating ball gown dresses and evening dresses, however, Christian Dior was the main designer that inspired my costume. Christian Dior revived the use of crinoline skirts after the war and this has been taken and been incorporated into my gown to create the desired stiffness and support my dress needs to recreate the large appearance. Christian Dior also incorporated corsets into his designs therefore I incorporated the use of corestry into my dress to create the same desired cinched in waist he did and finally the theme of masquerade has also been incorporated into my dress through the added mask and flower detailing on the top.

Aria Padukone

“Flora”

Designer statement

The primary inspiration for this design accentuates Elie Saab garments, more specifically his 2018-2019 Autumn/Winter Haute Couture Collection. This collection features dazzling embellishments capturing the beauty and animosity of the natural world. Elie Saab’s collection entitled, “of forms and light”, drew on the serenity of the Spanish city atmosphere as well as the famous Spanish Architect Antoni Gaudí which was resembled through delicate bead work. My garment is an original take on Saab’s collection. I have similarly sourced inspiration from Spain though focus on the natural beauty of the Spanish environment, specifically the Spanish almond trees in bloom. This is captured through handmade wired flowers which are embellished using hand beading and are furthermore structured through the use of wire to three-dimensional shape. The soft neutral shades of dusty pink emphasise the beauty of Spain and resemble the almond flowers that grow within the country. The fabrics used include silk satin, silk georgette and lace resembling the glitz of couture fashion, enhancing the functional and aesthetics of the garment. The gown is based solely on a contemporary perspective but incorporates some historical ideas through the use of lace on the garment's skirt. This skirt furthermore consists of hand pleated georgette layers, also inspired by the Spanish theme, resembling the Spanish Flamenco skirt worn by women during their traditional dances. Overall this garment resembles the extravagance of high end couture and symbolises the beauties of the natural world.

Highlights

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