I Don't Dream of Marriage

I Don’t Dream of Marriage exists as a balancing act between desire and evasion. Garments range from heavy to nearly transparent, with structured silhouettes that force the body to move in deliberate ways, reflecting the contradicting duties of wifely life—burdens to carry, what should be seen versus covered, and for whom. Still upholding the beauty of bridalwear and what could be, the work incorporates repurposed materials, traditional and non-traditional fabrics, laser cutting, and braided hair. “I Don’t Dream of Marriage communicates my anxieties around the self-inflicted sacrifice I have observed that comes with being a wife. Falling in love so earnestly that the self-imposed loss of agency slips past you—you hold the pistol at your own foot, not him. Eroding your own dreams, career, time, identity, and agency so deeply and dangerously for the sake of love is something I don’t dream of—the act of silently losing yourself for another person. The fear deepens when I think of the women in my family—fierce, defiant—who also became wives through great sacrifice. So, it seems like my fate is already sealed. This is a bit of an odd love letter to them as well.”

Look 1: Marjorie

Fabric Information:

Bra: Polyester Tafetta
Bra Lining: Polyester Twill Blouse: Silk Chiffon
Sleeve, Skirt/Dress: Polyester Satin, Silk Chiffon

Description:

With the hidden option of being worn as a gown, a de- teriorating heavy dress slings at the hips. Within the raw finishes and edges, buttons and ties provide different ways for the dress to be bustled up, emphasizing its vulnerable state. I Don’t Dream
of Marriage’s narrative begins where naive girl- hood messily melts away and womanhood emerges.

Look 2: Jennifer

Fabric Description:

Bustier: White Lace and Silk Organza “Panties”: Scuba Crepe Spandex Draped Top, Skirt, and Hood: Silk Organza Side Hoops Boning Casing: Cotton Twill

Look 3: Olympia

Fabric Details:
Bra: Polyester Satin
Draped Blouse: Silk Chiffon
Overpant: Cotton Twill, Cotton Twill Laser Cut Lace, Real Lace
Pant: Polyester Twill
Cape: Cotton Twill, Cotton Twill Laser Cut Lace, Real Lace

Description:
A heavy, trailing cape contrasts with a minimal bra, pants, and a lightweight bias-cut top. An anti-bride look that explores autonomy through contrasting forms of coverage and weight. Laser-cut lace drags and deteriorates throughout, its burned edges introducing a warm off-white against the otherwise crisp white palette.

Look 4: Maria

Fabric Details:
Dress: Polyester Tafetta, Silk Chiffon, Hand-Braided Hair and Hand-Beaded Embellishments
Arm Bands: Cotton Twill Laser Cut Lace
Organza Train/Wrist Peice: Silk Organza
Back Structure Boning Casing: Polyester Twill

Description:
Braided embellishments and laser-cut elements run throughout the garment, embedding identity into its construction. A bustle-in- spired structure emerges at the back, tied around the legs and visi- ble through high-cut chiffon panels. With bindings at the legs and wrists, the piece restricts movement, requiring the wearer to walk with care and awareness of the burdens attached to her.

Look 5: Olympia

Fabric Details:
Dress: Cotton Twill, Cotton Twill, Laser Cut Lace, Actual Lace, Hand-Braided Hair and Hand-Beaded Embellishments
Structure: Reed Boning, Cotton Shirting Laser Cut Lace

Description:

A traditional hoop skirt turned upside down—defying gravity and engulfing the wearer. It decays around her as laser-cut lace pieces dangle from its cage. Hair twirls within the dress standing as the collection’s only pure-white collective ensemble.

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