Hannah Kittell

As a costume designer, my work always begins with a character. In Enfants Terribles, my first and only exploration into childrenswear, I wanted to create a collection that my rather macabre 3-year-old self would have wanted to wear. I found inspiration in memories of my childhood fondness for graveyards, insects, and playing dress-up, in photographs of morose-looking Victorian children, and in Edward Gorey's The Gashlycrumb Tinies. To achieve Gorey's tongue-in-cheek blend of the whimsical and creepy, I started with silhouettes derived from very traditional and proper children’s clothing, making subtle changes to proportion to add a more gothic look. Details such as miniature skull buttons and hand-embroidered bats provided an additional touch of spookiness. Fabric choices: tussah silks, linen and wool in shades of plum, crimson and pale green were the unexpected elements that added both luxury and wearability to an otherwise very outlandish collection.

Images courtesy RISD / mattfrancisphotos.com