4th semester
In*FORMAL: Shame
The theme of the project is shame in the form of the feeling of shame caused by the gaze of others. This results in a look that deals with the topic of concealment in order to reveal as little of one's own body as possible. The jacket is extended to reach the knees, covering the thighs. The shoulders are cut wide to disguise narrow, thin shoulders. The long-sleeve is made of white pleats and is a homage to the wrappings of Christo and Jeanne-Claude. It's about covering the arms and obscuring their length through long sleeves. The shoot in the dark in front of a forest is meant to portray a wearer who prefers to hide in the shadows of the forest rather than show themselves in the spotlight.
If this look were to be presented as a runway show in a collection, the concept would be as follows:
The concept of the collection aims to explore the different types of self-perception and shame. The idea is portrayed on the runway by two contrasting groups of models: one half with blindfolded eyes and the other without.
1. First Group (Models with Blindfolded Eyes):
- Appearance: These models walk with blindfolded eyes and wear minimalist, exposed clothing.
- Symbolism: The blindfolded eyes symbolize their inability to perceive the gaze of the audience, thus being detached from the opinion and judgment of others.
- Conceptual Meaning: Without perceiving the gaze of others, these models feel no shame and are free to show their bodies uncovered. Their indifference to the opinion of others is emphasized by their exposed clothing.
2. Second Group (Models without Blindfolded Eyes):
- Appearance: These models have clear sight and wear clothing that covers their entire body.
- Symbolism: Clear sight symbolizes the ability to perceive the gaze of the audience and be aware of their judgment.
- Conceptual Meaning: Since they feel the gaze of others and fear their judgment, these models experience shame. This shame is represented by the covering clothing that hides every bit of skin.
Overall Statement:
The collection highlights the duality of human self-perception: the absence of shame when one avoids the gaze of others and the feeling of shame when one is aware of it. This message is visually and emotionally illustrated on the runway through the contrasting outfits of the models.