FASHION WORK
“Unbroken” 2025
For this piece, I was inspired by the rebirth aspect of the fallen woman. I wanted to use feathers, but was trying to be conscious of using feathers that were humanely sourced. I reached out to local butchers and got the name of a young chicken farmer. He gave me a batch of feathers that were going to be composted to use for this piece. Since these feathers were a meat industry byproduct, I had to go through a process of sanitizing and cleaning them for use. After cleaning, I dyed the white feathers an eggshell color to relate to the last letter my Grandma wrote me and hand painted black polka dots which are a recurring pattern in my artwork in honor of my late Grandma. My Grandma is the ultimate symbol of new beginnings for me and the greatest connection to womanhood I have felt. I attached the feathers to a vintage corset that was handed down to me. I based the skirt off of a vintage 1950s skirt, but designed it to be worn inside out, so the lining is exposed and the circle top layer skirt is underneath. Inspired by Degas' sculptures, I wanted my final look to be playful and have movement.
"Sacred Heart" (2025)
Beadwork based on the below abstract collage that I made using scrap paper. Inspired by the Immaculate Conception and the Coronation of Mary, the beaded heart was made to be added to a vintage 1950s/1960s style wedding dress. This beadwork was an incredible devotion of time and it only seems fitting that it would adorn an article of clothing that represents devotion.
“Intimacy (Sex and Religion)” 2024
Shown below are lace references found from the Los Angeles Public Library, a fashion drawing, and the finished veil for this project. Veil was dyed using cyanotype dyeing to create an inverted lace pattern. This piece explores the relationship between intimacy with sex and religion relating to Catholicism. The lace veil is used for modesty in churches as well as to focus the wearer on Christ and take away any worldly distractions; however, adorning the body with lace is inherently related to sexual promiscuity. I wanted the dress to resemble a slip dress that would be worn to bed, but with a cutout exposing the stomach to remind the wearer of fertility and child bearing.
“Jacky (1938)”
Based on the women’s fashion that was popular for the everyday, new working woman, when my late Grandma was born in 1938. My Grandma was born into a middle class family at the end of The Great Depression, so I chose a fabric that she or her mother would have been more likely to afford/wear. I was also inspired by the movie Pygmalion which was released the year she was born. As pictured in the below references, the dark and tattered clothing the main character wore was inspiration for the messy ironing at the bottom of the skirt- refined pleating at the top, whereas the bottom looks more worn and the hem is unfinished.
Finished textile paintings inspired by the 3 Graces. (2024)
Based on the 3 Graces, the following textile work represents the 3 Graces found in paintings such as Primavera by Sandro Botticelli.I painted three different stretched silk pieces of fabrics to represent Fertility, Beauty, and Purity (the ideal qualities of a woman of the time).Shown here is an exploration in draping based on the aforementioned references.
“Joan (Drawn Collection)" 8 Looks.
I wanted to create a drawn collection referencing different women in history that I admire and that had significant impact on women in society. Joan of Arc and Mary Magdalene were the two women that I focused on in this drawn collection. Inspiration stemming from metal armor, structure, bird wings, historical as well as modern dress for women, and my drawings. Red, black, and neutral tones with silver metallic accents.
BE WITH US
Two pairs of jeans deconstructed and bleached to match shades of blue. Exact measurements were taken to made the perfect fitting pair of jeans. Hand painted " IS THERE LIFE ON MARS?" on front and screen printed the Muybridge horses on back. Screen printed "BE WITH US" stars down the leg.
