PHOTOGRAPHY Leah Davies
Heralding a new era for rebellious high school anti-heroine, south Londoner Sinead Gorey takes us back to school showcasing her collection at a tinsel and confetti-decked sports hall complete with disco ball.
The designer ditches the archetypal prom dress for dress code-breaking corsets and audacious micro skirts, channelling her punk sensibilities to reimagine the event into a story where the prim and proper prom queen is usurped by the rebellious outcast anti-heroine.
Signature Gorey elements, such as the Haçienda-inspired stripes, are reimagined across a range of garments. Cowl-neck mini-dresses, felted cardi-short co-ords, and lycra gowns showcase her distinctive style, while subversive pieces like studded, ribbon-fastened o-ring bodycons and diamanté-encrusted corsets chime with tangled earbuds lending testament to Gorey’s ‘Phonecore’ collaboration with Human Mobile Devices.
Merging tech, fashion and nostalgia, the designer highlights the innovative HMD Skyline smartphone and equips girls on the runway with bespoke spiked belts to carry their new device.
Elsewhere, plaid leggings and boyfriend-style patchwork shirts evoke post-prom sleepover vibes, adding a touch of nostalgia, while Gorey’s beloved faux Mongolian fur jacket, reworked with meringue hues, frosted ochre trims, and a bubblegum and emerald tweed body exemplies her innovative approach.
The palette remains delightfully bratty, featuring candy floss pinks, crimson reds, and canary yellows, all enhancing the collection’s playful and irreverent charm.
Footwear also receives Gorey’s distinct flair. Her custom versions of Converse’s XXHi, Chuck Taylor All-Star, and Chuck 70 Wedge incorporate elements like fluoro belly button bars and decorative details, marrying comfort with high fashion aesthetics.
As the runway’s final looks unveil, the traditional prom protocol is cheerfully disregarded. UV-reactive leatherette sets, exposed fly skater jeans with “I Love SG” barbell piercings, and military-inspired micro skirts and admiral jackets replace the conventional prom attire.
Transforming prom into a playground for high-fashion rebellion, Gorey’s collection sets new standards for youthfulness and audacious style, celebrating the renegade and nonconformist.
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