Kathryn Beker‘s 2012 collection can’t be pinned to one single inspiration. Instead a handful of complimentary influences swirl together like the blended notes of a fragrance: cultural, historical, environmental.
The collection is titled Eros & Thanatos after the Greek God of Love and demonic personification of Death respectively. It gets Freudian right about here: Freud’s belief that human behaviour is motivated by the instinctual drives of sex and death was playing on Beker’s mind while she sketched out the pieces. Perhaps that’s what caused her to flit, seamlessly, between intricately sensual gowns of raven black and sweeping frocks of virginal white.
Between the life and death, the sensuality and the innocence, are beds of pastel petals (inspired by gardens that surround Beker’s studio) and gilded details that recall the Golden Phase of Gustav Klimt. Like Klimt’s paintings, which were another direct inspiration to Beker, the gold details nod to the Art Nouveau movement.
Beker’s marble swirl of influences by no means lands itself in any kind of confused state. It comes together with an impeccable blend of femininity and artistic symbolism that makes every piece feel simultaneously vintage and current.
Photographed by SHE.IS.FRANK, you can view all of the Kathryn Beker 2012 campaign by clicking on the thumbnail above.
