Graduate Collection “Louchewear”
June 2019
Notes on Louchewear
It has been said that the Birth of Venus hung alongside The Birth of Venus hung alongside Botticelli’s Primavera above a marital bed in the house of Medici. My collection was influenced by the manner of which Botticelli painted, to create an opulent pyjama-style evening collection.
From researching the history of sleepwear, I decided to keep all my garments unlined. This helps the heavier weight wool feel lighter and restrictive. The two heavier robes have long sleeves to add a sense of coolness and luxury. The rich and faded colours in my work are lifted straight from the paintings.
To harmonise all of the colours used in the collection, the satin bias binding and piping contrast with the main garment colour but appear elsewhere. Therefore, enabling the pieces to be mixed and matched. Ribbons have been attached inside of the robes to hold them closed when tied, reminiscent of traditional dressing gowns. The scarves emphasise the notion of layering and the abundance of draping fabric within Renaissance. The exquisite movement is elucidated through the flowing fabrics and generous cuts in all the garments for an oversized and affluent look.
The predominance of aqua and teal tones in the sea and sky influenced the sheer fluidity of the scarf styled with the blue robe and the textured lapel represents the rippling water in the painting. I was inspired by the golden flesh tones of Venus’ hair and shell against the sea which is why I chose silk organza and the georgette due to the transparency, delicacy and subtle visibility of the wearer’s flesh.
It is said that the droplets of water dripping from Venus’ tresses turned into pearls in the shell. This special detail is subtly exposed through the use of shell buttons and mother of pearls.
The incorporation of my own soft pencil drawing on glossy, languid silk brings in my own personal representation of Venus’. Dark lines were used to contour the curves of her body in order to make her elusive form contrast against the background to make her statuesque. In the painting, Venus is blown towards the shore.
It is the image of Venus’ fugitive and fragile innocence at the moment of its ending. The direct reference of a woman’s body combined with the dream-like, delicate sheer fabrics in menswear investigates and experiments with the idea of masculinity.
The man behind Louchewear
He is effortlessly elegant and confident in his own skin.
He does not buy for the sake of it and just because he can. Not a lot of the items he displays around his home are new as he enjoys the character and unique quality of vintage items. However, this does not always apply to his wardrobe. He enjoys the hunt for luxurious, one off, collectable items from independent boutiques and high-end departments stores, but not so much online as he enjoys feeling the textures and fabrics as he shops.
He has adopted an eclectic wardrobe and appreciates world art history, especially the decadence and warmth of Italian culture and the Baroque era which inspires the aesthetic of his home. Soft fabrics and relaxed silhouettes are what he prefers.
He invests time and money into his lavish home, filling it with freshly cut flowers and gifted artwork from his close friends. The table is always set, displaying his finest tableware. The atmosphere is extravagant, yet warm and welcoming. Somewhere you desire to be and never want to leave. He prefers to dress up and invite his guests around to dine with him than to leave the house. The clothes he greets them in harmonise with the relaxed, decadence of the interior. The events he hosts have become notorious for rakish behaviour.
He seeks comfort and culture, oozes sophistication and is passionate about the finer things in life. He knows that he does not behave in the same way as most other people do. Unconventional is the way he lives his life and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Therefore, with all that said, what he wears is beyond loungewear, it’s Louchewear.
