Beauty is a constant theme in the fashion world; the question of what constitutes beauty is constantly in flux.
For me, the most compelling beauty is that which is tinged with a hint of darkness and decay. In my work, I strive to bring beauty into the world through unexpected avenues; to encourage my audience to see beauty in unexpected, or dangerous, places, thus my theme for this collection: Deadly Beauty.
Deadly Beauty: Oil Spill
Incredible beauty can be found in some of the worst horrors mankind perpetrates against the planet. This piece is inspired by the photographer Daniel Beltra, and his oil spill series; his aerial shots of the poisoned sea show a range of deep blues with brilliant, saturated oranges. The abstract images, rich in color and contrast, moved me to create this garment, playing with proportion, color and texture. I plan on realizing this piece in full, and am constructing it out of a cotton velveteen base that is then unevenly dip-dyed into a grey to inky black, referencing the organic forms of oil dripping down the garment from the shoulders to the waist. The shoulders will be covered with green, blue, and purple toned iridescent paillettes, providing an oceanic feel, with the sequins shimmering like the sea. The marine colors symbolize the highlights and shadows of the ocean’s changing value due to the oil; the lining of a rich orange silk charmeuse speaks to the toxic oil in the water. The complete outfit is both enchanting and dangerous, the wearer swathed in deadly beauty.
Deadly Beauty: Deforestation
This design is about deforestation, and how we have replaced the trees with steel forests of skyscrapers. Despite their environmental costs, I actually think skyscrapers carry a certain amount of beauty and wonder. When I traveled to New York last fall, I was completely awestruck by the staggering scale of each building. The fact that humans can build such soaring structures fascinates me. It’s an incredible feat, yet this extravagance has a price; our skyscrapers and cities cost us our forests and fields, and deplete our natural resources. This design shows a more abstracted version of what I find both alluring and alarming. This garment would be constructed out of custom-woven wool crepe-de-chine with iridescent leather accents, reflecting the geometric, Art Deco aesthetic of many skyscrapers. The pattern symbolizes the elevation and cluster of skyscrapers that extends from neck down to knees, at which point the print breaks its pattern and fades to black, gradually descending into destruction. The silhouette of this garment is very angular and sleek, referencing the lines of architecture, extending into a dramatic flare.. The boots represent charred bark from the process of burning trees to clear the land for construction. Lastly, her hair is fire red to contrast with the metallic blues, and also symbolizing the flames of deforestation.
Deadly Beauty: Smog Sunset
Growing up in Southern California, I loved looking out my window at the technicolor sunsets, and seeing the intense hues of pinks, reds, oranges, and purples. I didn’t realize at the time that the reason the sunsets were so intense was because of air pollution; a compelling contrast of beauty and toxicity. I am calling on these memories to create an extravagant, sweeping gown. I envision this piece to be constructed out of heavyweight matte satin, hand-painted with this skyline memory, and piped with black satin extending from the bodice to the floor. Her gloves will be blue gray stretch velvet and deep maroon ostrich leather. This gives the effect of the model being engulfed by the gown, as the people in California are being surrounded by toxic air. The pose of the model and her hair obscuring her face adds an element of mystery and shame; I’m shameful of what we have done to this planet, and wanted the model to express how I feel about these situations we face. Yet, there is an element of mystery, because these horrific things caused by man are intriguingly beautiful and horrific; a mystery.
The collection comes together in repetition of dramatic flares in the fabric and similar color touches to each piece, emphasizing unity and creating a conversation. Deadly Beauty speaks to the inherent dichotomy in life, and how even the most horrific can be perceived as divine.
