The story of identity in trial, betrayal, and acceptance. Designs for queer panic and nostalgia.

Eclectic ABduction: Sophomore Studies in Storytelling

A woman in a vintage style white dress dancing on stage with a black background.

A young woman walking on stage during a fashion show, wearing a strapless top, a tulle skirt adorned with ribbons and bows, and high heels.

A woman on stage wearing a black lace crop top, beige ruffled pants, white high-heeled boots, large circular earrings, and layered necklaces, posing confidently.

A woman walking on stage wearing a pink bodysuit, matching pink furry scarf, and gloves, with her hair in a ponytail, against a black background.

A fashion model walks down a runway with cloud-like decorations at the edges. She is wearing a colorful, beaded, and decorative outfit with a large shoulder adornment, and high heels, with a spotlight focusing on her against a dark background.

FEATURE DOCUMENTARY

After working with my Overgrown collection in 2023, photographer Milan Lazovski contacted me with a proposal for a larger project;

Creating a short film that documents my process as I designed my new collection entitled Eclectic Abduction for the VIM 2024 fashion show.

The documentary explores the triumphs, struggles, and creative vision it takes to work in the world of fashion with Michigan State University.

My lense as a queer designer is also highlighted to showcase the unique perspective my experience has offered and how I use my work to share that with others

Learn more

The Housewife

The feminine, perfected, and restrained. The piece is created with deadstock and vintage fabric to reference the vintage aesthetics associated with the Housewife archetype.

A mannequin dressed in a vintage white and blue polka dot dress against a yellow background.

A young woman with wavy auburn hair styled in pigtails, wearing a white polka-dot dress, layered pearl necklaces, and light makeup, sitting against a brick wall, with part of another person's face visible to the right.

A person with dark nail polish holding a small fabric patch with a grid pattern and small blue spots on a gray cloth surface.

A woman with long red hair is twirling in a white vintage-style dress on a stage with a black background.

Our narrative begins with the un-touched ideal of cisgender American beauty. She will follow the path that is destined for her, demanding her time, dignity, and self.

Fashion illustration of a woman in a vintage blue polka-dot dress with a full skirt, wearing gray gloves and high heels, with an inset showing a fabric swatch matching the dress.

A woman in a vintage-style dress and high heels dancing on a stage with a dark background.

Woman with long, wavy hair wearing a vintage-style, cream-colored dress and beige heels, smiling and walking on a stage with a black background.

When a woman ‘loses’ her femininity it is treated as a tragic event. A short haircut, affinity for sports, or even a loud personality is treated as an abandonment of self. Leaving a woman seen as Martyr to her femininity.

Our protagonist begins to be exposed to the freedom and expression of queer identity.

The Martyr

A woman performing on stage wearing a skirt decorated with bows, ribbons, and butterflies, with her hand near her face and a dramatic expression.

A fashion sketch of a woman in a strapless dress with a full, tulle skirt decorated with colorful bows, and a corset-style top. A realistic bust display of a corset with a blue design is also shown.

A female mannequin wearing a light blue corset with a black splatter design on the side.

A woman with dark hair styled in an updo, wearing a corset top with a graphic print, in a room with beige walls and a mirror.

A woman on a runway wearing a strapless, corset-style top and a voluminous, sheer skirt decorated with yellow ribbons and silver details, with clouds at her feet and a dark background with an exit sign.

A person in a tuxedo is adjusting a costume on another person dressed as a fairy or princess, with a tutu, pearl accents, and colorful ribbons. The setting appears to be a backstage area or dressing room.

Ballet dancers in costume preparing for a performance in a studio, with some adjusting costumes and practicing in the background.

When I came across a bolt of hot pink rib knit fabric at the thrift store, I was struck by the color and the thick comfort of the tension in it’s weave. It’s application as a catsuit completely covers the body yet the sharp hip bones and figure of the model are still displayed.

The Darkness

Fashion illustration of a woman in a pink jumpsuit, purple fur vest, large black hat with netting, and white gloves, standing with hand on hip, with fabric swatches nearby.

The accompanying scarf acts as the ‘threat’ of homosexuality. Fear of queerness is not new, in recent years however, the demonization of transgender people has caused significant harm to a group of people seeking the same happiness as everyone else.

The threat suffocation executed only by the wearer.

Fashion mannequin with metallic silver face and hands, wearing a pink jumpsuit, a purple furry scarf, and shiny silver gloves, against a yellow background.

A pink dress with a purple faux fur scarf on a dress form in a fashion design studio.

A woman on stage in a pink bodysuit, pink fuzzy scarf, and gloves, walking barefoot with a confident expression.

Mannequin wearing a purple halter top with beaded details and beige wide-leg pants, posed against a yellow background.

While so much of queer identity comes with shame and fear, one of the best parts of discovering identity is the joy of community. This piece highlights this sense of togetherness by incorporating a variety of textures and secondhand trims.

Fashion illustration of a woman wearing beige wide-leg pants, a blue cropped top, and a dark gray jacket with ruffled edges, paired with black ankle boots and sunglasses, with her hair styled in a short blonde bob.

The Brightness

Close-up of hands guiding fabric through a sewing machine.

A woman on stage, topless, holding her hair with her hands, wearing beige ruffled pants and white shoes, with large earrings, against a black background.

A woman standing confidently on stage, wearing a purple crop top, beige wide-legged pants with ruffled details on the sides, and white platform shoes, with large circular earrings and styled hair.

Created using plastic thermal fuse beads, The Angel celebrates the authenticity and nostalgia of viewing the past in a new lense following self discovery. I frequently spent childhood confused about why I seemed different from my peers. Being able to look back at moments I felt isolated and being able to relive them in a new light has brought me a lot of joy

The Angel

A colorful fashion illustration of a woman with long yellow hair, wearing futuristic clothing with vibrant patterns and geometric shapes, including a structured top with large pointed shoulders, shorts, and thigh-high boots.

Mannequin wearing colorful pixelated outfit with pixel art patches, including characters, a rainbow, a shoe, and other designs.

Colorful pixel art-inspired jewelry and decorations on a mannequin, featuring pixelated characters and objects like a bee, a lemon, and a rubber duck.

A woman posing on a runway with a black background, wearing a colorful, patterned, and sculptural outfit, with clouds or fog on the stage floor and audience in the dark.

A group of young women dressed in colorful outfits standing in a line on a staircase indoors, with some smiling and holding hands.

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