Graduate Thesis
"A Botanical Excursion into Fashion"
For my culminating graduate thesis at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, I designed, patterned, and built five ensembles based on midwest native plants. The variety of the collection allowed me to explore the design and construction of many different silhouettes and construction techniques. After completing the build of the project, it was displayed as an installation at the Museum of the Grand Prairie in Mahomet, Illinois.
Photoshoot front view
Photoshoot back view
Design sketch
Photoshoot front view
Eastern Redbud
Model: Stephanie Spotts
This piece consists of many sheer layers hemmed with fishing line, floating sleeves, and a painted and beaded boned bodice.
On location photo
On location photo
Design sketch
On location photo
Trout Lily
Model: Kenneth Church
This piece consists of a tailcoat with fully canvased fronts and leather accents, and overalls with a zoot suit inspired silhouette.
On location photo
On location photo
Design sketch
On location photo
Mountain Laurel
Model: Nicolàs Dudit Pardo
This piece consists of a sheer ombre dyed blouse, a belt, a hair clip, and a pair of flared trousers with a skee slit hiding decorative pleating.
On location photo
On location photo
Design sketch
On location photo
Round Lobed Hepatica
Model: Mila Zidel
This piece consists of an off the shoulder mermaid style bubble skirt gown with a boned bodice and sheer pleated overlayer.
Photoshoot artistic shot
Photoshoot front view
Design sketch
Photoshoot artistic shot
American White Water Lily
Model: Khetag Tsabolov
This piece consists of a caped, hooded raincoat and pulled felt hat with a leather hatband.