Playing Dress Up is a playful and conceptual collection that draws inspiration from personal childhood photographs of dress-up, handmade costumes, and vintage dolls. It evokes a whimsical atmosphere, underpinned by a subtly eerie aesthetic. Rooted in a deep connection to home, my work reflects a dedication to using found objects and materials. Drawing from my grandparents’ doll collection, I explored themes of forced movement, modularity, and interchangeability, along with 1950s classicism. This also speaks to ideas of improvisation and resourcefulness, through geometric cutting and newspaper drapes to form silhouettes. Draping is central to my practice, beginning with 2D shapes, and transforming them into organic, architectural forms from which patterns are developed. Processes included childlike scrunching, tucking and knotting, along with magnets to create dynamic, changeable drapes, with zero-waste cutting. Textile inquiry included laser-etching fabrics and hand-painting silk.