Shape-Shifting Clothes

This last semester has been rather un-fashion related. I have had two english-like classes, and a design class where I learnt (or tried to learn) the skills of Photoshop, Illistrator and InDesign. One elective, however, was fashion related; Form and Structure. In this, we looked at 'shifting the shift', and used pleating, bias cut and darts (amoung others) to change the form of the shift dress.

For our final assessment we were to choose a concept exploring the idea of 'shape-shifting'. I chose to look at the theory of evolution, relating to the change in animals over time as well as looking back in history to discover the change in function of the shift dress. To first explore the theory of evolution as the change in animals, I created clothes that can be changed so that they become a number of different dresses in one. As for the style, I chose to link to the Great Depression era where sacks were cut into simple dresses- the early shift.

The following images are the three dresses I made and examples of how each can change. I limited my photoshoot to 4 styles per garment but each can become at least 3 more.


Garment one; The volume dress.

Style one; In its simplist form

Style two, volume in skirt

Style three, volume in shoulder

Style four, volume in bodice

Garment two; The flow dress

Style one, in its simplest form



Style two, back and front up



Style three, back detail

 

Style four, front twisted around waist

Garment Three; The Silhouette dress

Style one, in its simplest form

Style two, messy tie up

Style three, tight dress

Style four, strapless dress

  I studied Hussein Chalayan's S/S 2007 collection which explored different fashion eras. The collection also had garments that changed shape by use of a remote control. Amazing! Check out  http://www.husseinchalayan.com/ for the S/S '07 collection and Click Here to see the video of one of the dresses changing.

I also studied Italian designer Susanna Gioia creates garments which change dramatically. For example, one garment may change into a top, a skirt, a dress and then turn into a jacket. follow this link to see the transformation of  'The Cow Dress'.

Cordelia xx