Love & Death

II.
“Hear the mellow wedding bells,
Golden bells!
What a world of happiness their harmony foretells!
Through the balmy air of night
How they ring out their delight!
From the molten-golden notes,
And all in tune,
What a liquid ditty floats
To the turtle-dove that listens, while she gloats
On the moon!
Oh, from out the sounding cells,
What a gush of euphony voluminously wells!
How it swells!
How it dwells
On the Future! how it tells
Of the rapture that impels
To the swinging and the ringing
Of the bells, bells, bells,
Of the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells—
To the rhyming and the chiming of the bells!”
IV.
“Hear the tolling of the bells—
Iron bells!
What a world of solemn thought their monody compels!
In the silence of the night,
How we shiver with affright
At the melancholy menace of their tone!
For every sound that floats
From the rust within their throats
Is a groan.
And the people—ah, the people—
They that dwell up in the steeple,
All alone,
And who tolling, tolling, tolling,
In that muffled monotone,
Feel a glory in so rolling
On the human heart a stone—
They are neither man nor woman—
They are neither brute nor human—
They are Ghouls:
And their king it is who tolls;
And he rolls, rolls, rolls,
Rolls
A pæan from the bells!
And his merry bosom swells
With the pæan of the bells!
And he dances, and he yells;
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the pæan of the bells—
Of the bells:
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the throbbing of the bells—
Of the bells, bells, bells—
To the sobbing of the bells;
Keeping time, time, time,
As he knells, knells, knells,
In a happy Runic rhyme,
To the rolling of the bells—
Of the bells, bells, bells—
To the tolling of the bells,
Of the bells, bells, bells, bells—
Bells, bells, bells—
To the moaning and the groaning of the bells.”
-Edgar Allen Poe

Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Bells” explores the themes of life, love, and death. Written after he became a widower, the poem transitions from the joy of life to the terror of death. Inspired by this progression, I created my senior thesis collection, drawing on these profound themes.

My silhouettes are influenced by the grandeur of Queen Elizabeth I and the elegance of the Renaissance and Victorian eras. I envisioned a dark, romantic, and gothic aesthetic, featuring flowing sleeves, sparkling rhinestones reminiscent of starlight, and tight corsets that embody both strength and grace.

Nature also played a significant role in my inspiration. The spider lily, symbolizing death in various cultures, and the black widow spider, representing the intertwined nature of love and death, contributed to the collection's motifs. This blend of historical influences and natural symbolism shapes a collection that reflects the complexity and beauty of life, love, and death.

Love and death are intertwined in their intensity; living is loving, and without love, there is a true death. I've discovered that self-love is the greatest love one can give, yet it’s also the hardest to achieve. As an agender individual struggling with body dysmorphia, I found that lingerie has given me a confidence and self-love I never thought possible. It has been a transformative experience, helping me embrace my identity and feel comfortable in my own skin.

My mother inspired my decision to focus on plus-size designs for my senior thesis. She is my muse and my rock, supporting and loving me unconditionally, and she introduced me to fashion. Despite the fashion industry's neglect of plus-size individuals, her resilience in finding clothes in her size motivated me to pursue fashion design. Beautiful lingerie is especially challenging for her to find, impacting her self-worth and image. I want to change that. I want her to feel as powerful and beautiful as I know she is.

This collection is dedicated to her and to everyone who feels the way she does. I strive to challenge myself and push for inclusivity in my designs, believing that everyone deserves beautiful lingerie—men, non-binary, and trans individuals included. I aim to ensure that everyone is seen and heard in an industry that often tells only one story, overlooking the many beautiful tales yet to unfold.

My own journey has taught me the importance of representation and self-acceptance. Through this collection, I hope to provide others with the confidence and self-love that lingerie has given me. I want to create pieces that make people feel strong, beautiful, and seen, regardless of their size or gender. Fashion should be a source of empowerment, and my goal is to make that a reality for everyone.

“In the Heaven’s above, the angels, whispering to one another, can find, among their burning terms of love, none so devotional as that of ‘Mother.” -Edgar Allen Poe