Holly Bocci

For my project, ‘Eccentricity and madness’, I have designed and made two costumes that juxtapose in style. Their purpose is to shine a light onto the institutionalisation of eccentric women in 19th century Paris who were considered mad for deviating from the prescribed societal norms. The costumes were made on the basis of investigating the treatment of madness and the Bourgeois mockery of non-conformists. The first costume is a straight jacket made from cotton poplin and wadding which were sewn to produce a padded and constricting jacket. The second costume is a ball gown fundamentally designed for the ‘Mad Women’s Ball’ novel and film based on the costume balls held at La Salpetriere.’ It features elements of 19th century Bourgeois fashion, and consists of a cotton padded regency style corset (lined and eyeletted), ‘jester’ skirt inspired by the Rorschach ink psychological tests, and a Victorian bustle overskirt. The blue chiffon sleeve features a vegetable printed MRI scan, and leather belts based on my research into constriction.