LFWSS25 - Gorey’s Retro Raver Prom Queens
Sinead Gorey’s Fall showcase this London Fashion Week transported us back to the pinnacle of ‘girlhood’: Prom Night. Considered the biggest event on the school social calendar, Gorey blended retro chic with an experimental avant-garde style to produce her unique, teenage-angst-inspired prom squad.
The girls rocked up sporting racy, embellished bodycon dresses, giant schoolgirl bows, smokey eye makeup and retro 80’s crimped hair. Looking to leave a long-lasting impression on their classmates at the final school event of the year, Gorey highlights these raver girls are too cool for the school ball and eager to reach the next late-night function. She elucidates the artistic vision behind her girls, explaining “She’s the outcast — ditching the typical prom dress, probably skipping prom entirely and going straight to the afterparty”.
The immersive school sports hall set placed us in the typical school dance scene with a glittering disco ball suspended from a basketball hoop, ribboned metallic pink and silver helium balloons and tacky cascading tinsel garlands: a flashback to this prime night of adolescence. This low-budget event with a high fashion twist reminds us of the simple reality such a key event holds in our hearts and how, at the ripe young age of sixteen, it feels like the most glamorous, extravagant function of our lives!
Most people associate prom girls with repetitive poofy gowns, bejewelled in rhinestones and enormous high-heel shoes, but Gorey incorporates rave fashion through the use of psychedelic prints and neon colours - an extreme violation of the school uniform policy. The mesh hoods, PVC dresses, and faux fur pieces embody the young girl coming-of-age who fearlessly pieces together her developing, edgy sense of self through her costume. The teenage girl is characterised by her desire to dress beyond her years as many of the looks feature revealing shapes and cuts which accentuate her newfound femininity and womanly assets.
In this collection, Gorey collaborates with brands Converse and Human Mobile Devices (HMD). She opts for flats over heels, specifically the iconic “Chuck Taylor All-Star” which are a classic teenager staple shoe, emphasising an overall look of young, girlish innocence. The display also featured the revival of the “XXHi”, a dramatic, punky knee-high version with extreme lacing up the leg, putting Converse back on the map. Gorey builds hype around the famous American sneakers by relaunching the casual shoe as runway-approved, effectively colliding two contrasting worlds.
Multiple looks were also accessorised by techy gadgets such as red string earbuds and phones in holds attached to belts or poking out of jean pockets. Gorey seeks to launch the ‘Phonecore’ aesthetic which creates a utilitarian, sci-fi look mirroring the phone-dependent teen girl of 21st century society. This completes the raver girl appearance as these prom queens are music, as well as fashion-obsessed, and their phones become a futuristic statement themselves. Gorey is ahead of her time as she predicts a future of technology-infused fashion. She seems to gain inspiration from the rising ‘Y3K’ fashion trend which is gaining mass popularity amongst celebrities. The unique craze fuses reality with virtual fantasies, acknowledging the ever-increasing presence of AI and gadgets in our everyday lives.
Gorey’s prom school-girl collection borrows fashion from across many recognisable eras, melding the nostalgic and futuristic to create an empowering female-populated show which embraces girlhood, and pays homage to the rebelliousness of teen years which are distinguished by the exploration of eccentric shapes, colours and patterns. Her playful exhibition is fun and quirky through the incorporation of technology, and the partnership with Converse reminds us that the collection is grounded in a radical sense of teen spirit. Gorey redefines Prom Night as a milestone, where the girl becomes the woman and breaks free from societal moulds and gender expectations which confine her to modest and dull pieces. Now, she can spread her wings and freely express herself.
Written by Emma Kemp
Edited by Holly Anderson, Fashion Editor
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