Preconceptions of the Ideal

In a world where beauty standards often confine themselves to narrow definitions, my fashion design collection seeks to celebrate the natural beauty and diversity of the female form. Inspired by the intrinsic beauty found in the curves, lines, and textures, my journey began with an exploration into the relationship between fashion and body image, supported by my thesis ‘The Impact of Diverse size models on Brand Performance’.

Through interviews with diverse sized women, I delved deep into their perspectives regarding fashion. These dialogues became invaluable in my creative process, guiding me towards a more inclusive approach.

I collaborated with a curvy model, to develop a library of patterns, this was supported by the knowledge I gained a Fit and Pattern Technician on my work experience with Karl Lagerfeld. Working with my fit model, I crafted garments that celebrated the contours and proportions of her body.

Drawing inspiration from my own paintings of the unadorned beauty of nude women, I formed my colour palette, textures, and patterns. Fabric research was very important to me in my efforts to compliment the curvy body. I incorporated boning to create shapes, a rejection of the corset where boning is used to restrict the body.