Thesis Collection - in progress
Givenchy 50s/60s x Contemporary Workwear
Fall / Spring 2024/2025
This collection explores femininity and standards imposed upon women, commenting on the ways women are often not identified as strong figures, not apt to work in dangerous and physical work-spheres. Too often excluded from these environments, they are demanded to comply to masculine aesthetic and behaviours in order to blend in.
This collection is a reflection on these stereotypes and provocatively combines Givenchy in the 50s and 60s and contemporary workwear, more specifically firefighters, fishermen and divers. During the 50s, Givenchy has been known to represent very stereotypically feminine ideals, this is put into contrast with another opposite archetype of masculinity such as workwear in particular extreme and dangerous male-dominated working fields.
This collection plays on the irony of this societal view - done by creating very feminine, impractical “uniforms”. Women are often taught to look more masculine in order to be respected and taken seriously - what if they didn’t? What if they had cinched waists, huge skirts, and over the top coats?
This idea is visible throughout the pieces in this collection through the silhouettes focused on the waist, large volumes (present mostly in the back, and below the waist) and physical constraints seen in Givenchy during that time period in contrast with technical fabrics, cutlines, pockets, colors and certain elements, such as harnesses, life vests, etc., from workwear are brought into these feminine silhouettes in a clashing yet cohesive fashion - turning workwear into impracticality and glamor - creating an irony of the vision imposed upon women.