By combining sophisticated tailoring and unconventional office wear with feminine and nightlife-inspired elements, the collection reflects the fast-paced lifestyle of a woman who moves effortlessly between her professional and social worlds. Ultimately, the collection provides an expressive and adaptable wardrobe that empowers modern businesswomen to challenge traditional expectations and embrace confidence, individuality and freedom in the way they dress.
Inspired by the vibrant rhythm of New York City, this Pre-Summer collection celebrates a lifestyle where work and play exist in balance. Designed for the modern woman who transitions effortlessly from the office to evening, the collection draws on the sharp tailoring of Tom Ford and Stella McCartney, alongside the architectural geometry of the Brooklyn Bridge and the celestial ceiling of Grand Central Terminal. Clean, structured lines and considered detailing reflect the city’s sophistication, iconic skyline and after-dark energy, creating garments that are both polished and playful.
The collection combines traditional officewear with expressive eveningwear, creating versatile garments that can be worn across professional and social settings. Tailoring is a central design feature, demonstrated through suiting, button-up shirts, tailored skirts and a refined dress silhouette. These conventional wardrobe staples are challenged through the use of upcycled denim, cropped proportions, asymmetrical detailing and revealing necklines. By reinterpreting traditional corporate dressing, the collection explores contemporary femininity and challenges conventional expectations of what is considered appropriate office attire.
Silhouette 1 translates the architectural geometry of the Brooklyn Bridge through the deconstruction and reworking of upcycled denim. Structural lines are incorporated into the denim skirt and tie, creating distinctive details that reflect the intersecting lines and framework of the bridge. The shirt is developed from a men’s block pattern, with a relaxed, cropped proportion that challenges traditional gender expectations within the corporate wardrobe. The contrast between conventional shirting and reworked denim reinforces the collection’s balance between structured officewear and contemporary, unconventional styling.
Silhouette 2 explores architectural line through unconventional asymmetrical strap placement and chain detailing across the bralette. These elements introduce directional lines and visual interest, contrasting with the clean tailoring of the suit. Designed as a transitional day-to-night look, the suit provides a polished officewear foundation, while removing the jacket reveals the bralette to create a more playful and revealing evening look. This styling approach reinforces the business-to-bar concept by allowing a single outfit to transition between professional and social environments.
Silhouette 3 draws colour inspiration from the celestial ceiling of Grand Central Terminal, introducing green as a softer counterpoint to the collection’s structured silhouettes. Influenced by Tom Ford’s sensual approach to eveningwear, this design features a long maxi dress with a deep V-neckline and high side splits. A contrasting green silk lining extends beyond the outer hem, creating additional volume and movement while allowing the colour to be revealed through the splits as the wearer moves. This construction detail introduces fluidity and visual depth, balancing the collection’s architectural influences with a more sensual, evening-focused aesthetic.
Silhouette 4 demonstrates a direct translation of visual research into garment construction. By overlaying an image of the Brooklyn Bridge onto my initial corset design, I traced its architectural lines to develop the corset’s 42 individual panels. This process translated the bridge’s structural framework into a fitted garment, using panel construction to create definition and architectural interest across the body. The corset is paired with a minimal slip skirt featuring a denim pocket, creating a deliberate contrast between the complexity of the bodice and the simplicity of the skirt. Constructed using upcycled suiting and denim, this silhouette reinforces the collection’s commitment to material reuse while combining architectural structure with contemporary styling.
Zoe Brady
Zoe Brady is a Bachelor of Fashion Design student at QUT with a lifelong passion for fashion and a background in the arts, having previously pursued professional ballet in London. Her design philosophy embraces sustainability, ethical practices and elevated tailoring, balancing sleek, sophisticated silhouettes with playful, expressive details.
