Valerie Grapek

This project is about the embodied experience of dress and the contrast in that experience between womenswear and menswear. Menswear tends to have a practical, utilitarian nature, while womenswear has a sensual feeling, often with little regard for practicality. The design reflects gender roles in a binary system. In our society, men hold the majority of the most powerful positions in media and government. Men are in control of the portrayal of women and of women's bodies, which are objectified and politicized. Yet men are not intimately conscious of women's experiences. By creating a menswear collection with elements usually found in womenswear, I want to introduce the male wearer to a new experience. In sheer fabrics he may feel that his body is on display. I intentionally placed closures in the backs of the garments so that he may require assistance simply to get dressed. Since getting dressed is something every person does every day, my hope is that the experience of dressing and wearing creates a feeling of empathy and understanding between genders.