Collection: AW22/23 Boardwalk Bride

At almost the end of the Wildwood boardwalk, is the "Boardwalk Chapel". Small, and unpretentious; it has a metal storefront gate which highlights the unique charm of its' beachfront locale. As a queer youth, I always fantasized about the glamour of an ocean view wedding in this deranged space. 

For my first full collection, I looked to the heritage of my life, my family, and my brand. "Boardwalk Bride" is a culmination of so many memories, and references I have squirreled away from my pre-teen years until now. I decided it was necessary to take another deep dive into my anthology of the town of Wildwood, arguably the most quintessential "Jersey Shore" site in existence. It's personal significance to me can not be overstated. It's where my grandfather grew up, where my father spent his summers, where my mother and her family went on vacation, and where I spent much of my childhood. In grad school I wrote about it as a mythical site where one could manifest queer paradise. This collection is a love story to my weird, campy, dramatic, flamboyant past. 

Each of the 13 chronologically ordered looks represent members of the wedding party, or guests in attendance. The style of dress indicates a date set in early autumn, or the very last drop of summer, the absolute best time of year to visit the Jersey Cape!