One might think that the notion of queerness and challenging gender norms is more of a late 20th-century or 21st-century idea. But back in the 1930s, English socialite, Vita Sackville-West was already known as one who’d wear menswear pieces and have romantic sexual liaisons with countless women. It’s this sort of courageous gender-bending spirit within society’s most refined circles that Thea Bregazzi and Justin Thornton were inspired to create their Pre-Fall 2019 Collection. Most of their looks were inspired by Sackville-West’s own mismatching of feminine and masculine tropes, such as wearing a tailored suit (when women at the time preferred dresses). Here, an earthy brown pantsuit (with an oversized jacket) was beautifully juxtaposed with a silky and soft pink-and-black polka-dotted blouse with a pussycat bow. This look encapsulated their muse’s rebellious spirit, along with her sense of humor and undeniable sophistication. But just because this woman wears a bit of menswear, doesn’t mean she detests glamour. In fact, Thornton and Bregazzi included a willowy white dress full of marabou feathers to take the fabulosity up a notch. Certainly, their woman this season is a complex creature, and that’s probably what makes her so beautiful and alluring!
Photo: Courtesy of Preen by Thornton Bregazzi
