Written by Dominic Pitts

The Rococo fashion expansion era began in the 1730s with the aid of King
Louis XIV and court member Madame de Pompadour. This fashion
expansion started as an innovation of the French aristocracy wanting to
shift their presence to the new elite class from the previous generations of
the Baroque era. Before, the Baroque era set the standard that stiffer and
darker fabrics represented elegance. However, Madame de Pompadour
wanted to break those previous barriers of what was defined as elegance by
incorporating softer pastel colors into the everyday wardrobe and utilizing
corsets and dramatized silhouettes that dramatized the bodice in an
intricate way never seen before in their society. This new, refined color
palette scheme and different aspects of elegance also inspired King Louis.
He translated this color palette and relaxedness into men’s garments.
These innovative ways to break away from traditions and shift fashion
trends still remarkably impact many today.

Meet SCAD’s 2024 Fashion Designer Alumna, Olivia Reuter.

Olivia Reuter grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, as a creative child who
decided to expand her outlet of creativity at the Savannah College of Art
and Design, at the Atlanta campus. Growing up, Olivia had a strong interest
in different aspects of the evolution of fashion and watching films. She also
started sewing at a young age. At SCAD, she was a fashion design student
who enjoyed the creative process of constructing garments and utilizing the
resourceful fashion technicians who helped her bring her ideas and sewing
skills to life. As her senior project, she created her first collection called “A
Chronicle of Womanhood,” which was inspired by a modernized view of
rococo femininity themes; her muse was Marilyn Monroe, who had
progressive fashion expression, and her ability to speak up even when
society advises one not to have a voice. But more than that, her collection
was a translation of the strength of her mother and aunt in her family, who
were diagnosed with cancer in the same week. Olivia grew up seeing the
strength of women in her life by constantly advocating for themselves and
other women, so this was a pivotal point in her life and the drive for her
inspiration in the idea process of this collection. This personal connection to
her family is a thread that runs through her collection, making it not just a
fashion statement but a personal tribute. Creating this collection was emotional, as Olivia underwent the pressures of hard deadlines and embraced the strength she had to overcome adversity as a woman.

Ultimately, A Chronicle of Womanhood showcases many elements of the
Rococo era with its pastels, corsets, and soft fabrics like chiffon, lace, silks, and hard materials such as cotton canvas, hand-dyed hooks and eyes
for the corsets, with a twist of lingerie and lounge pieces. “I wanted to have
aspects of the soft feminine and the strength of women, so that is why I
wanted to have the soft and hard materials that symbolize the strength and
vagility of women,” stated Olivia. Fast forward, Olivia was granted the
opportunity to showcase this collection at FACES of Fashion: A Celestial
Experience, a fashion show produced by Posh Production. This was an
excellent experience as she was able to showcase her senior collection, and the opportunity to connect with other fashion designers and fashion gurus from all over the world at this event.

Since graduation, Olivia has had the opportunity to be sworn in with the
IATSE, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees film industry, hoping to work in the costume department. She foresees herself expanding her life and career in Los Angeles one day, a testament to her ambition and determination. This vision of the future is not just a personal goal for Olivia but a testament to the endless possibilities in the film costume industry. It is beautiful to see the full circle moment of Olivia embarking on her childhood interest in film and fashion, and how those interests intertwine. Most importantly, seeing how her creativity and life experiences translated to a beautiful design that helps women feel comfortable in their femininity and even feel confident using their experiences to break those inherent barriers.