MEG STEPHANIA

           The way we dress says a lot about who we are to the world and ourselves. I have always found myself taking advantage of this, wearing things that spoke to me and pushing myself to take fashion risks. This body of work is about utilizing fashion as a tool for expression—specifically my own self-expression—with the work itself becoming an extension of this creative self-expression.

To emphasize the body of work’s relationship to fashion, I adopt characteristics of editorial fashion photography. Photographs in publications such as Nylon Japan serve as inspiration with their vibrant colors and use of studio lighting; while advertisements for high fashion brands, such as Gucci, provide examples of using settings to create contrast with outfits, or to create a behind-the-scenes aesthetic.

            There is little in life that we truly have control over, and my struggle with mental illness magnifies my lack of control.  However, fashion is something I can control. Anxiety can be an obstacle for reaching out to others or communicating effectively, but clothing can represent its wearer before they even open their mouth. Hyperawareness of my physical self can also be disabling, but when I feel unsure of how to move, feel, and sound naturally, I can still choose how to dress myself and find empowerment in that aspect.

            To demonstrate this concept, I style the models as well as determine elements from location, to lighting and posing to emphasize the control that creative expression allows. I may struggle with knowing how to move my own body, but through this project, I have been able to direct my subjects’ positions in my stead. Furthermore, a subtle reoccurring theme is the presence of my own personal clothing or accessories throughout the work, emphasizing my relationship with fashion as well as projecting myself onto the models.