Harlequin Self

The Philosophy of Fashion Design

The series of fashion designs presented in this Look Book is inspired by the many readings I have read throughout my educational career and the thoughts sparked by them. As one progresses through the designs in the order presented, one is taken through my mindset starting from four years ago, and ending with the present. This series illustrates how my thoughts have changed over time and which philosophies have stayed the same thus far. Each piece metaphorically alludes to specific plays, books, and other readings and symbolically reflects my personal opinions and thoughts or significant changes in perspective of each. Elements of each design like the cut and fit of an outfit as well as color and patterns of cloth or embellishments like beading, lace, and accessories (jewelry/shoes etc.) will all reflect my opinions or changes in opinions towards a specific topic (philosophical or otherwise life-related).

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Six: Harlequin Self – My idea of Self is a bit of a twist to Hume’s philosophy. While Hume argues that a collection of labels does not form an identity, I would say that the unique combination of labels together form a Self. In this design, the rectangular patches of cloth all represent unique labels. Some have spots, others are lighter or darker shades of a color while still others have “label” embroidered at its hem. Each of these cloth labels are put together in one conglomerate. In a purely physical sense, that conglomerate of labels have already formed a mass of cloth. That mass of cloth is a dress; as a whole, all labels form an identity. Some of these cloth labels layer over other labels. As I thought back when I read Cyrano, the Self will display certain labels and hide others and as a result, put on different “masks” that reflect the different facets of the Self, much like a harlequin jester, hence I added some jester-like touches including the folded ruff and harlequin hat.