At the Royal College of Art 2019 MA degree show, fashion designer Karoline Vitto showcased a collection of body-positive fashion designs that showcase bulges and rolls of the body rather than attempt to conceal or minimize them.
The collection of cut-out dresses, jumpsuits and maxi dresses boast minimalist silhouettes with bondage-like details in the form of metal frames and straps. Inspired by materials like elastics, which are commonly used to cinch the body, Vitto decided to put a decorative twist on parts of the body that are conventionally smoothed or flattened. In the designer's explorations of the human body as a material, there are plenty of pieces of fabric that cinch and flatten—though not in the way that is represented by conventional beauty and fashion.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Body-positive Fashion
- Opportunities for designers to create unique and inclusive apparel that embraces and celebrates all body types.
- Minimalist Silhouettes
- Exploration of minimalist, unconventional silhouettes for clothing design that celebrates the human form in all its beauty and uniqueness.
- Decorative Twists on Common Materials
- Innovation opportunities for using everyday materials like elastics or metal frames in unconventional, artful ways in fashion design.
Where This Applies
- Fashion
- Opportunities for the industry to embrace inclusivity and promote body positivity, with innovative designs to cater to all body types.
- Textiles
- Exploration of unconventional and unique textiles and materials that can be used in the creation of fashionable and body-positive clothing design.
- Art and Design
- Fashion as an artistic and creative expression to redefine the beauty standards and break conventions in the fashion industry as well as challenge conventional body image ideals.
