A Rose by any Other Name

This piece is part of my 2025 Senior Portfolio Collection, Le Germe de la Résistance. Inspired by flora, the collection explores themes of resistance and rebellion, encouraging viewers to reflect on what they resist—and why. Drawing from historical acts of resistance and elements of counterculture, I used these influences to inform both the design details and silhouettes.

This particular look represents the rose—a symbol of quiet defiance and strategic subversion. Though she wears sumptuous, elegant velvet, she remains thorny and scandalous, rebelling against expectations through nuance and contrast. The ensemble consists of two pieces: a corset and a skirt.

The corset is crafted from low-pile green velvet, interlined with coutil, and finished with a patterned cotton plain weave. Each spike is meticulously constructed using a layered system: an inner coutil structure is stuffed and encased in velvet, then hand-sewn through faced openings in the corset’s base. The corset is bound in matching velvet and features a six-grommet lace-up closure at the back. A modesty panel is intentionally omitted to emphasize the garment’s provocative, revealing nature.

The skirt is a sleek velvet mermaid silhouette with a high front slit, lined in satin charmeuse. Designed to be worn beneath the corset, it features a fitted waistband and an invisible zipper closure at the back. The outer layer and lining are connected only at the waistline and slit, allowing for ease of movement and a more fluid fit.