Jamie Challenor, BA Fashion Print, Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum Project Design

Reflecting on my own personal observations of masculinity in my family, my grandad became the muse for the project. My nan is a strong woman and when visiting her in her home I saw the impact of her feminine tastes on my grandad’s exterior self. e.g. the collection of ceramic plates and floral furniture in the house. Referencing Cristobal Balenciaga’s Avante Garde shapes within menswear to illustrate the influence of my nan on my grandad it became clear that placing accentuated features of a woman on a man’s body in exaggerated places gave a peculiar impression. The final outcome tries to take classic menswear pieces like oxford bags, jacket and shirt and playfully distort the proportions as if my grandad had been re-sculpted by my nan in an attempt to achieve feminine excellence.