Lydia Rogers

“The word ‘Smitten’ means deeply affected with or struck by strong feelings of attraction, affection or infatuation.

Reflecting on the 1940s, infatuated lovers endured the atrocities of WWII. Their elastic hearts were separated by war and held together by love.

I learned the word infatuation from a friend two years ago and it has since taken my interest. ‘You are infatuated’. The feelings I felt at that time were consuming. I wanted to portray those feelings into my design.

I want to signify that being infatuated is not to be viewed through rose tinted glasses. It is not soft and delicate. Infatuation is chaotic. An explosive, adrenaline filled period. It is an inhibitor in your mind, enthralling your senses.

I condensed infatuate into four feelings:

• Uncertainty – those few seconds of an adrenaline filled uncontrollable free fall.
• Ecstasy – the addictiveness of the overwhelming feeling of happiness and excitement.
• Enveloped – the compelling need to be immersed in their existence.
• Freedom – the finding of your soulmate, giving your soul immunity.

By fusing these four feelings of infatuation with hints of the 1940s fashion elements, my design unfolded.

I chose to create a bralette as the two piece bikini debuted in 1946, it’s bursting bubble sleeves resembling little pockets of erupting energy. The ruched elastic straps express the characteristics of the bungee cord, the pull and release endured while infatuated. Elastic hearts of WWII relationships longing to be together. The skirt I have designed relates to dispersion. The laser cut incisions from the hip down cause the fabric to progressively hang, giving the illusion of surrendering your resistance to erosion.“

Resene Whitecliffe Colour of Fashion clothing - 2021

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