SELLING HER ORANGES
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‘Selling Her Oranges’ is inspired by the promiscuous Nell Gwynn, mistress to Charles II. I wanted to explore the controversial presence, even glorification, of adultery within the otherwise enforced monogamy of an aristocratic society. Focusing on the most vulnerable member of the relationship, I explored the life of someone who enters such an intimate yet endangered role. Above all, Gwynn was most infamous for wearing loose chemises which scooped below her chest, not just exposing her bosom but her ‘loose’ morals, thus inspiring the name of this collection; ‘Selling her Oranges’.
Corset Knit Jumper, Pinnie Skirt and Embroidered Bloomer Trousers
Purple Corsage Earrings and matching Hair clips
Hanky Dress
Corset Knit Jumper, Pinnie Skirt and Embroidered Bloomer Trousers
A GOOD STANDARD OF LIVING
PRE COLLECTION
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The Victorian term ‘A good standard of living’ was first used measuring the quality of an individual's life by the amount of material items a person owned, inspiring my collection. As a result of the boom in consumerism and advances in technology towards the end of the Victorian era, a multitude of deadly inventions were ironically brought into the home in an effort to improve people’s standard of living. For gentlewomen, wearing large dresses seeped in arsenic, dying them green, became fashionable resulting in lethal arsenic poisoning. I was inspired by the drape of the bustles and colour of the fabric when designing these two realised garments. I wanted to present a satirical view upon our idea of how we measure a good standard of living where we focus on materialism rather than acknowledging other social factors which arguably result in a better lifestyle.
Mini Belted Dress
Bustle Coat
Bustle Coat
Mini Belted Dress