A Look Into My Senior Collection Femme Fatal.

La Femme Fatale, " is my four-piece senior collection, representing  power, rebellion, and the raw beauty of self-expression. The entire line is inspired by the one and only Vivienne Westwood, the designer who made me fall in love with fashion in the first place.

For those unfamiliar, Westwood began her career by screen-printing provocative, often political or even pornographic messages on T-shirts. She wasn’t just designing clothes, she was challenging the system. She later opened a boutique where her punk-inspired creations took center stage. People couldn’t take their eyes off the postmodern, avant-garde energy of her designs. In 1993, she debuted her iconic tartan in the Anglomania collection, a collision of French couture and rustic tartan patterns that cemented her place as a fashion icon. Her legacy stretched beyond the runway and into music, art, and culture, collaborating with bands like the Sex Pistols and constantly blurring the lines between chaos and couture.

Vivienne Westwood taught me that fashion is not just about what you wear, it's about who you are. She lived unapologetically, spoke fearlessly, and created endlessly. Her quote, “You can’t copy the past – even when you try to copy, you discover things from today,” captures everything I admire about her. I didn’t pursue design academically, but Westwood is the reason I picked up a needle in the first place. She showed me that passion and individuality can break through any mold. Her recent passing was heartbreaking, but I believe legends like hers don’t die. They just live on in the people they’ve inspired.

The name La Femme Fatale, or “the fatal woman,” partly comes from the classic archetype seen in film, a mysterious, seductive woman who’s both powerful and misunderstood. But for me, it means something more personal. It’s the idea that a woman who knows what she wants, who moves through the world with certainty and style, is often seen as a threat. Growing up, I didn’t always fit neatly into expectations placed on me. I liked clothes that made a statement. I spoke up when it was easier to stay quiet. I’ve been labeled “too much” more times than I can count. Confidence in women tends to make people uncomfortable. We’re encouraged to love ourselves, but the moment we do, we’re called narcissists. We’re shamed for embracing our sexuality or showing ambition. La Femme Fatale is my rebellion against that. It’s a love letter to the women who choose to take up space, who are unapologetically strong, successful, stylish, and sexy. However, the true heart of La Femme Fatale came to life when I saw my models, Kat Hardin, Sara Bowers, Calli Udstad, and Caroline Wilcox, try on their pieces. Watching my close friends hype each other up, beam with confidence, and truly feel themselves in my designs, it hit me: this is what La Femme Fatale means. Women owning their power, together. These four carried the essence of this collection not just on the runway, but in their everyday lives. I’ve never been prouder. It was so special to be able to walk the runway with them by my side.

Each of my four looks is deeply personal, a blend of punk-chic Vivienne Westwood inspiration and my own style. I wanted to stay true to myself while paying homage to the bold silhouettes and tartan patterns Westwood was known for.

Look One opens the show with a sheath dress featuring a boat neckline and mini hemline in red tartan with green, white, and black accents. It’s simple, but thoughtfully structured, tailored to hug the body. Styled with black patterned tights, chunky Mary Janes, and layered chain necklaces, it’s quietly rebellious.

Model Sara Bowers

Look Two is a two-piece set with a bubble mini skirt and a one-shoulder, wrap-neck top. There are no closures, just stretch, thanks to a shirring technique in the bodice and waistband. The top was constructed from a single piece of fabric, wrapped and tied into place. It’s paired with red lace tights, gold-detailed double belts, and large gold cross earrings with black enamel. 

Model Kat Hardin

Look Three features a drop-waist A-line dress with puff sleeves and a Peter Pan collar. It’s modest in coverage but loud in statement with a short hemline and striking tartan. I added a black tie, loosely fastened and adorned with chains and safety pins. It’s accessorized with patterned tights, platform boots, and silver jewelry.

Model Calli Udstad

Look Four is the finale: a three-piece ensemble. The base is a cropped white button-up blouse with puffed sleeves, lace detailing, and a Peter Pan collar. On top is a seven-panel corset lined with interfacing and laced in the back with ribbon through grommets, bows perched at the top of the straps. The skirt is a tiered mini with knife pleats, each tier a fabric from the previous looks. The waist is made with the same shirred material from Look Two, bringing it all full circle. It’s styled with a pearl necklace, a vintage red watch from Kenzie’s Trendz, patterned tights, knee-high boots, and a leather baker boy hat. This look ties the entire collection together.

Model Kierce Fitzpatrick

Being part of the FALSU Fashion Show has meant everything to me. Serving on the executive team gave me a home at LSU, a place to grow, lead, and find my people. I want to thank the show chairs, especially Amelia Morgan and JTPrincess Nguyen, for their tireless work and leadership. This show would not have been possible without you. To my incredible models—Kat, Sara, Calli, and Caroline, thank you for consistently showing up for, fittings, photoshoots, and rehearsals. Watching you walk my pieces was surreal. I feel like I got to witness the birth of four runway stars. To my parents, Anne and John, friends, and family, thank you for believing in me, and for every penny you donated to my GoFundMe. To Good Choices Co., thank you for sponsoring me as my line would not have been possible without your support. To my roommates Veronica and Mic, thank you for letting me turn the apartment into a sewing cave, for being human dress forms, and for not losing your minds when I cut patterns on the rug leaving large rips in it (oops). To my professors and student peers, thank you for giving me the tools to do this. For pushing me, supporting me, and believing in my voice. And finally, to anyone who’s ever felt “too much”: too bold, too bossy, too confident, too loud—La Femme Fatale is for you. Thank you for letting me leave a little piece of my heart on this runway. I’m proud of every stitch.

all images captured by @persickepic

xoxo,

Amelia’s Closet