Corset dress in peach cotton/nylon stretch fabric; padded underwire bra, topstitched satin bodice inset, big zip at front neck and back hem; CB lacings
I chose this image of a garment from the FIT exhibit because it is clearly inspired by lingerie. I feel like this creates a very intimate relationship with the body as it is tight fitting and a bit more exposing. Jean Paul Gaultier made this dress in 1967, with a very clear understanding of fit of the womens body. I connect with this because fit is really important to me and I aspire to be able to create my garments with the proper fit always. I feel like this garment can help give a women confidence in her body and make her feel sexy or proud of how she looks. I want to be able to create the same fit for my garments because I think fashion has the power to make people feel different ways. This garment relates a lot to the conversations in class about clothing being performative. This garment is performative of gender in some ways because it emphasizes the body. This garment relates to gender and class as well because Jean Paul Gaultier is not a cheap brand, so we know the wearer had some status money wise, which is a point of intersectionality as discussed in week 4 readings. When I break down this garment past the surface level I feel I don’t relate to it as much because I hope to design clothes that do not conform to the gender binary and I also want to be able to make clothing that is available to people of all classes.
Jean Paul Gaultier Corset Dress.” Pink: The History of a Pretty, Punk, Powerful Color, exhibitions.fitnyc.edu/pink/?url=the-exposed-color/exposedcolor-98.98.1-1.
Kaiser, Susan B. Fashion and Cultural Studies. Berg, 2017.
