Fashion - Bachelor

H.O.L.L.A.N.D.

H.O.L.L.A.N.D. 2026 explores femininity, romance and intimacy through the revealing and concealing of the female body. Inspired by the letters my Oma wrote to my mother throughout the 1990s, the collection examines how femininity is experienced, performed and preserved across generations. Translating intimate garments into public dress, the collection challenges the boundaries between private and public expressions of sexuality. Through hand-printed textiles and intimate detailing, my Oma’s letters become both a physical element of the garments and a recurring reference to memory, intimacy and femininity across generations.

Holly Vanden

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H.o.l.l.a.n.d.

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Look 0.1 Inheritance

The first look draws from the letters my Oma wrote to my mother throughout the 1990s, translating personal correspondence into a wearable record of family history. Using sublimation printing, the handwritten letters were transferred onto a white satin base, preserving fragments of intimate correspondence within the garment itself. The fluid satin is complemented by delicate lace donated by Brisbane bridal boutique Ella Moda, introducing bridal elements that remains consistent throughout the collection. Through the combination of archival text, lustrous satin and donated lace, the garment brings together personal memory and contemporary femininity.

Look 0.2 Subversion

The second look explores the subversion of traditional lingerie through the reinterpretation of intimate undergarments as outerwear. The top draws inspiration from the shape of a traditional G-string, while the satin trousers incorporate the construction of a garter belt, translating elements typically concealed beneath clothing into a visible part of the silhouette. Black lace contrasts with lustrous pink satin, continuing the collection’s romantic material palette while introducing a more provocative expression of femininity. Through the transformation of intimate apparel into contemporary dress, the look challenges conventional distinctions between underwear and outerwear.

Look 0.3 Devotion

The third look explores romantic devotion, attraction and the enduring bonds between women across generations. Red lacing features at both the front and back of the girdle-inspired skirt, wrapping around and containing the body in a sensual, corsetry-inspired construction. Delicate lace is layered beneath the lacing, introducing a soft, feminine detail that contrasts with the restrictive structure of the skirt. The lace camisole features handwritten letters from my Oma, continuing the collection’s use of personal correspondence as a textile motif. The juxtaposition of the girdle skirt and intimate lettering reflects the experience of growing into womanhood while remaining connected to the women who came before us, as we forge our own paths, develop new relationships and establish a sense of self. A lipstick kiss mark introduces a playful symbol of romantic affection, bringing together familial intimacy and the complexities of desire.

Look 0.4 Confession

The fourth look reinterprets traditional bridalwear through an unconventional silhouette, exploring the relationship between femininity, vulnerability and self-expression. Inspired by Tracey Emin’s confessional approach to art, the look considers the intimacy of revealing aspects of the self that are often kept private. Structured panniers extend the silhouette beyond the natural body, creating an exaggerated feminine form, while sheer blush fabric allows the body’s underlying shape to remain visible. Delicate lace appliqué embellishes the bodice, juxtaposing bridal ornamentation with the transparency of the garment. Through the interplay of volume, transparency and traditional bridal references, the look challenges idealised representations of femininity while embracing the complexities of the body beneath.

The Family archive

Inspiration behind H.O.L.L.A.n.D.

Photographs of my mother on her wedding day sit alongside handwritten letters exchanged between my mother and my Oma Helena throughout the 1990s. These personal archives inform H.O.L.L.A.N.D., particularly a photograph of my mother in her lingerie on her wedding day, captured by my Oma. This intimate image prompted me to reflect on how femininity, romance and expectations of womanhood are inherited, remembered and reinterpreted across generations.