Norman Norrell x Neiman Marcus x Parsons

Project:

As part of an external partnerships course with Norman Norell/Parlux, Neiman Marcus, and Parsons, I was tasked with designing an original collection inspired by the iconic American designer, Norman Norell. The project required extensive research into Norell's heritage, history, and legacy, which I then reinterpreted through a modern couture lens. I presented one final look to a panel that included Ken Downing, Michael Avedon, Jason Wu, Dean of Parsons Burak Cakmak, and the Norell/Parlux leadership team.

Collection:

During my research into Norman Norell's designs, I found myself unexpectedly connecting with his personal life. Norell, known for being more reserved and modest than his contemporaries, mirrored some of my own tendencies toward shyness and internalizing emotions. This collection explores the impact that holding in emotions can have on both the body and mind.

I was inspired by the concept of objects being held in place and wanted to reflect both the tension of holding something in and the release of letting it go. This led me to incorporate pleating as a central element. The pleats, representing fabric that is pressed into a new form, became symbolic of the transformation caused by held emotions.

Ultimately, I combined my exploration with Norell’s timeless, clean aesthetic. The structural elements combined with the softer, fluid pleating spoke to both modernity and timelessness.