By now, I’m sure we’ve all seen and judged the numerous looks from the 2026 Met Gala. The theme this year was “Costume Art,” with the wider message that fashion is art. From Vogue, “Objects in ‘Costume Art’ are divided into a ‘series of thematic body types,’ ranging from the ‘Naked Body’ and the ‘Classical Body’—both of which are well represented within the museum’s collection—to those, like the “Pregnant Body” and the “Aging Body,” that have more often been overlooked.” This description helped make sense of the wide range of looks, from classic outfits that could be worn anywhere, to beautiful homages to real art pieces, and latex designs that made people almost unrecognizable!
I truly loved the theme this year because it bridges the gap some might feel between fashion and art. I believe that what we wear is an artistic expression of who we are, and that is always something to be celebrated. I also personally connected to the theme because recently, I’ve been doing some DIY fashion projects of my own, and I want to talk about it, so let’s get started!
This is my first-ever paint project. It was so exciting, which honestly surprised me because I hate painting. Or, at least, I hate how bad I am at it. I wasn’t even planning to do this art project, either. I was just walking around on a random day and saw the most interesting streaks of clouds in the sky. It made me feel like someone up there was sketching, outlining something that would become a part of our world one day soon. So, naturally, I was inspired to do something artsy. My converse shoes had died at that point, but they turned out to be the perfect canvas. When starting the piece, I rifled through all of my blue paint because I knew I was going to make a wave, as I love the ocean. Personally, I think it’s too gracious and lively to be defined as “nonliving.” But I also love the moon and the stars, the bringing of light to the dark of it all, so I painted stars on the other side of the shoe.
I had no idea what to paint on the other shoe, but since fire is usually the opposite of water, I thought it’d work out as a cool contrast. On one side, I made a terrifying and consuming fire. Both water and fire have the power to devour anything in their path, so I wanted to make sure they matched in size and intensity. The side with the converse logo has a gentle river of fire to mirror the water shoe, and I added some swirls at the top to make it interesting. I think the fireside turned out well, but I definitely like the waterside more. Let me know what your favorite is!
Ever since I accidentally got bleach on my sister’s favorite hoodie from the African American History Museum, I’ve wanted to do my own bleach project, especially after seeing countless amazing bleach DIYs on Instagram and TikTok. They both intrigued and intimidated me. While I am an artist in the general sense, I’m a writer and singer, not a visual artist. I love all types of art, but trying out things I’m not good at is nerve-wracking. Nevertheless, I persevered because I wanted a cool bleached shirt to go with my new fire and water shoes. I bleached an old shirt and a pair of shorts, and guys, bleaching is so much harder than it looks! I couldn’t see what I was painting until it had started drying, and it took multiple layers of bleach. The whole process took much longer than I had anticipated. But I like how they both turned out, and I’m looking forward to ruining more of my old clothes!
So, why did I just go on a whole spiel on the fashion art I’ve done this year? Over the past four years I’ve spent at ACC, I’ve discovered my fashion style over and over again. Such as eras we don’t talk about, like the time of skinny jeans, or style choices I still stand by, such as my obsession with combat boots. I’ve grown comfortable in my skin and strong enough to be expressive with clothes. However, this wouldn’t have been possible without witnessing the fashion of my fellow Archers. They probably don’t know this, but students Chloe Blair and Blen Fisseha have made major impacts on my style because I’m always inspired by their amazing fashion sense! I plan to keep being as fearless and creative as they are with my fashion.
As I continue my education at American University with a major in Music and a minor in Business, I plan to take an art class or two as well. Hopefully, one day, my love of visual arts will be tied to bravery instead of insecurity. I wish that for anyone who is reading this article, too. Life is a series of moments, and with all of its ups and downs, it’s worth fighting through. So please, consume the world in your crimson fire, or overtake it with your abyssal waves, and do it all while looking as amazing as you are!
