Dare to Wear
2023
Photo by Ronald Smits
Photos by Patty van den Elshout
Throughout history and into the present day, corsets, girdles, push-up bras and shapewear have shaped our perceptions of beauty. Hidden under layers, body-contouring clothes have long served as tools to conform to conventional notions of beauty. ‘Dare to Wear’ reframes these so-called ‘enhancement’ garments as objects that sculpt the body into nonconformist shapes. Elements once intended to restrict — boning, padding, and constriction — are used as features that empower. Assigning a liberating purpose to oppressive elements in clothing, this collection introduces a new approach to body acceptance. Instead of enhancing specific body parts, it challenges the notion that there is a single ideal body type.
