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MERGING
LINEN PROJECT
RMIT 2019
SEMESTER 2 FINAL
The merging collection explores the origin of the representation of femininity and masculinity within garments and it's development and merging of this throughout societal changes.
THE COLLECTION
The merging and contrasting of stereotypically gendered garments throughout my collection has mainly been executed through the use of the corset and the classic shirt, alongside the use of layering. The colour palette has been chosen to represent masculinity and femininity, yet through the use of slightly none conventionally used "boy, girl" colours such as purple and green rather than pink and blue. The idea of layering and the use of mesh fabrics, that is a trope throughout the collection used to represent the idea of merging the genders. While the pieces and fabrics within the outfits may be seperate, the distinguishing lines between them are blurred, what once was considered masculine and feminine are overlapping and soon to be indistinguishable.
TECHNICAL DRAWINGS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
DEVELOPMENT
Collection and final garment development sketches and thumbnails.
The corset and shirt was developed with the idea of classic simplicity. To create the corset a fitted bodice block was first created then the pattern was adjusted from here with the desired design lines and shape. A two sided toile was created to test and compare the use of underwire on the corset. Due to levels of difficulty as well as the finish of the corset with underwire the boning was best going straight through the bust.
The shirt was created with the reference of the classic mens shirt which minimised the additional design choices. The asymmetric design of the shirt caused the collar to need the most manipulation through the use of a sample. Samples were also made for the cuffs, as well as half scale samples to trial the sleeves to ensure the oversized look of the design could be present in the garment. A major feature of the development included looking at the outfit as a whole after every stage which allowed for additional features to be made that were necessary such as top stitching in purple to create more detail to the shirt and influence the perception of the outfit and further merging the corset and the shirt together.
THE FINAL OUTFIT
The final outfit consists of white linen shorts and shirt, as well as a lilac silk corset. The choice of colour is both to represent femininity through the lilac corset as well as masculinity through the classic white shirt. Significant design features include the lopsided collar on the oversized shirt. One side of the collar is tight on the neck to represent the male fitted classic shirt while the other represents the woman commonly represented in hollywood movies wearing the over sized mens shirt. This trope is further seen through the large fir of the shirt, as well as the buttons being on the side commonly seen on the mens shirt. The merging idea comes through the clear intertwining on the corset into the shirt, signifying the changes and development of fashion today through representation of genders within garments.
FOLIO GALLERY
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