La Gazza Ladra, The Thieving Magpie

Jade Robertson's AW24 graduate collection, "La Gazza Ladra: The Thieving Magpie," reimagines the age-old tale of magpies' habits of stealing and collecting. This narrative is brought to life through loose-fitted bias cut dresses crafted from repurposed second-hand silks. The collection captures the carefree flamboyance of 1920s flappers with dropped waists and loose cuts, contrasted against the stringent and dark elements of 1890s Victorian mourning wear. The character of Ms. Miser, a widow and crone, embodies the ritual of changing one's attire in response to loss. Boiled wool wraps the body, and the silhouette reflects an interpretation of the physical toll grief exacts upon one's form. From these two central characters, the collection imagines the characters accessories and personal objects to inform the remaining looks within the world of "La Gazza Ladra." This juxtaposition of light-hearted and sombre seeks to evoke a range of moods and emotions within the limit of six looks.