Materials: Silk Organza, Interfacing, Horsehair, Boning, Grommets, polyester thread, etc.
This suit jacket exposes the artificiality of what is considered masculine to wear and deconstructs the very concept hegemonic masculinity. Men’s jacket is so deeply embedded in the society as a symbol of masculinity that people seem to have failed to realize what kind of effort goes into shaping of a modern masculine man. There are various elements of garment construction such as layers of padding and horsehair, meticulous hand stitches, and molding of fabric; all to achieve a single goal—creating an illusion of a more muscular and angular body shape that conforms to the socially acceptable masculine ideals. The sheerness of organza uncovers the understructure of a suit jacket and brings the audiences’ attention to the inside of the garment rather than its surface. Additionally, the introduction of the corset elements on the back of the jacket juxtaposes the possibly harmful nature of corset on women and suit jacket on men. Finally, the deconstructive aesthetics—portrayed through open seams and raw edges—symbolize the conceptual deconstruction of the hegemonic masculinity itself.