ALEXANDRA SIPA SPRING SUMMER 2023 - "Episode 2: Uncertain Kings" At London Fashion

The Nobility of the Eastern European Spirit.

Shot at Sala Radio, I first came here frequently with my dad when I was 5-6 years old.

It is an opulent, grand, historical monument, but to 5-year-old me, it was my playground, a maze, a safe, comfortable place. When I was 10, I started school right next door, graduating in 2015. Now, a few friends from high school started a gallery on the same street. The Magnificence of Familiar Feelings. Placing myself in physically comfortable spaces. Ballroom attire. Life as a Spectacle. The need to be seen, grand, dramatic, taken to the extreme. The toxicity of unattainable status. Theatrical loungewear. Corporate World Disintegrating. Decaying Workforce. Abused by a Corporation then Let Go.*

*Towel Coat: Towels bought from the side of the road during our mountain trip to Cabana Bucin, Transylvania. The seller gave us two shots of homemade palinka (very strong liquor) and warned us about the bear coming tohis house every night. Silhouette inspired by Queen Marie of Romania’s Fur Coat.

*Eastern European “Chanel” Suit: Remnants from Beatrice Sangster’s Graduate CSM collection 2019. She gave them to me in 2019 and I’ve been carrying them with me around since. “Chanel” Two Piece Suit (Skirt and Jacket) and 90’s Bucharest Windbreaker Jacket

*Skirts, Bow Bra, Floral Dress: Recycled Discarded Electrical Wires from local electricians in Bucharest

*Denim Jacket w/Train: Thrifted Black Denim Jeans and Deadstock Selvedge Black Denim from the Netherlands.

*Lace Painting Dress: What would my recycled wire pieces look like translated into fabric garments?

*Scarf Shirt Short: Romanian Thrift Store Scarves + Thrifted Corduroy Pants Fabric and Lace

*Scarf Shirt Long: Romanian Thrift Store Scarves + Gloves and Tights embroidered with Scarf Flowers from the remaining scarf cut outs

*Distressed suit: A close friend lost her job after years being loyal thusto a large corporation, she was so depressed and disappointed after this. I felt like she lost a part of herself and didn’t know herself outside of this job. She was treated horribly when she left after all this time being the perfect employee. It got me thinking about the current culture of exploiting employees as much as possible in the short term, then tossing them away and quickly replacing them and restarting the abuse process.