Edie Flanagan

A genetically modified blue rose inspired Natural Blue SS24, raising questions about what is considered natural and the desire to continually update and improve aesthetic beauty. It reflected the larger aesthetic phenomenon of attaining or maintaining natural beauty in times of trending wellness and cosmetic surgery leading to inescapable taboos when interacting with beauty standards. Using the iconography of a rose in contrasting dimensions and texture to explore ideas of what is considered “natural” or usual in representing the same motif. Many garments are designed to be enhanced with wear over time in contrast to the pristine rose aesthetic inspiration. This aims to reduce pressure on customers to maintain an unrealistic natural beauty by adding wear and ageing to the aesthetic. In recognising work put into creating feminity, other garments focused on contour with opacity and occasional plasticity aim to highlight the work feminine, identifying customers’ curation of their feminity through appreciation of the process as an alternative to taboo.