For the final project of my junior year costume design class we were asked to design, draft and create a scaled down version of a T-Shaped Tunic inspired garment.
I drew inspiration from androgynous and gender neutral fashion and the contrast between masculine and feminine silhouettes. I wanted to achieve a playfulness of gender in this garment and I did so by combining a more masculine, structured silhouette for the base of the piece and disrupting it with the softer and more feminine ruffle across the chest and over the left shoulder.
If I had more time, I would have incorporated beading and embroidery of internal organs and the skeleton on the panels beneath the ruffle to achieve an effect of a peeling away of skin or a facade - a reference to my interest in the exploration of the performance of gender.
This was my first time drafting patterns and creating a garment from scratch and while it was extremely challenging, I am extremely happy with the final garment I created.