Faces in the Mirror: Haunted Introspection



A fresh, democratic, absurdly creative answer to fashion's most elite – and elitist – evening [year II: electric boogaloo]


Last year's Met Gala cancelled; this year's postponed until September. Our earlier selves may have despaired for the loss of such a monumental fashion dopamine hit, two years running. But no longer do we march to Anna's schedule; no, we throw our own gala. Who's 'we'? Only the young, overwhelmingly talented creatives who make up the High Fashion Twitter community. 

The 2021 theme was Faces in the Mirror: Fashion and the Horror of Identity, and the entries were phenomenal. Some wonderful pieces have already been written about the event, but I will be adding my own on Fashion Unfold sometime this month – so please do look out for that.

Naught but a collage-maker in the 2020 edition, this year I contributed my own concept [anxiously, but ecstatically, between final essays & exam prep]. I conceived of – and subsequently laid aside – many ideas, for various reasons [tragically, mainly relating to lack of resources and time]. I dearly wanted to explore gender presentation & dysphoria, but I want to be able to do that subject justice – and in all honesty, I'm not yet ready; but luckily an exceptionally talented designer covered that concept better than I ever could have.


Instead, my concept explores the fear and pain of exposing one's core – and how that pain often feels visceral, even physical. Exposed ribs and vertebrae become accessories, as do eyes, blood, and skin, in a couture take on being turned inside out. There are nods to Alexander McQueen and Schiaparelli, both of whom have used the inner workings of human bodies as inspiration for collections. This concept also draws heavily on cabaret, drag, and sideshows, all of which are genres that famously find beauty in the grotesque.


Styling, makeup, & creative direction by Annika Jordan


And of course, what kind of creative direction would this be without heavy reliance on mirrors & a phone camera? I did miss out on the obvious pull – the infamous Met bathroom selfie – but alas, my bathroom is not the most photogenic of spaces. My living room floor will have to suffice.




Even with this grand concept, I'm not one to shy away from my roots – for the sake of 13-year-old me, I created a photoset as well. This one does explore gender presentation a bit – as the accompanying tweet notes:

painted faces on parade [we're all born naked & the rest is drag]

ie. a double whammy for queer references, and an insight into my brainscape when getting dressed every morning. After all, when your gender exists outside the binary, every day is a drag performance. Also: gods, do I ever wish to be Marlene Dietrich and/or Sasha Velour. I think this thought at least 14 times a day.


Collage by Annika Jordan

Scandalous indeed that my last post was this time last year, about the same event – but what a year it's been, no? Stay tuned for an actual article on the 2021 HF Met Gala over on Fashion Unfold, and I'll see you sometime in the next 12 months – well, I hope.

Mille tendresses.