Spirit of Tuscany

*Point of Interest* Got the mannequin on loan from Macy's = awesome! Took FOREVER to make, to date this is my most complex costume.

From my thesis exhibition: "Defining and Discovering Personal Culture in the Context of a Mixed America"

The “Spirit of Tuscany” garment was something I came up with upon my return. I missed Italy so much; I wished I could return. I remember when I was leaving I tried to just read a book and not pay attention to the plane. I shut my mind and read my book. The plane began taxiing and I kept my eyes on the page. Amid the shakes and trembles of taking off, I riveted my mind straight, lest I tremble as well. And yet, as the plane rose above the city, I finally looked down. There were the red roofs of Florence. There were the rolling hills of Chianti country. There were the beautiful towers, arches, domes and tiny streets—and I was leaving it. I’ve moved a lot in my life, but never has it been so hard to leave a place before. I felt sick inside.
Throwing myself back into the world of studies was not easy, especially when the people I’d missed so much often didn’t really want to hear my stories. I felt like, upon returning, that my memories were being rejected. I had to create something to keep alive those memories, besides the scrapbook I’d made. Before I even knew exactly what I wanted to create, I began choosing fabrics that reminded me of Italy: golden museum lace, shimmering afternoon sun, glitzy modern spark, sunlight on the vineyards, glittering conversations with mixed peoples, and everything in between. I wanted to create something that embodied the spirit of Tuscany, the way I felt when I went on weekend explorations to tiny towns, feeling like I was discovering something new.
Before I created the actual garment, I made the headdress and earrings. I then began the construction of the base of the garment, which consists of three opaque colors. Next I layered petal after petal of fabric over the bases, giving it the look of memories fading into one another. I added embellishments, piecing together experiences like the gauntlet-sleeves to the dress. I made a corset from a pattern that I altered slightly, and added little golden coins to the bottom of that. Then I made more jewelry pieces to go with the outfit, and began beading the dress to add more texture and context, like little individual memories, happenings and moments in time. Once the outfit was completed, I was photographed wearing the work. Wearing this piece makes me feel that I’ve somehow shared my memories with more people through the process of creation.

More photos of garment to come soon.