The Hidden Elephant

This is a photo essay for my Media Arts Class. Please scroll down to the bottom, read my introduction, and read upwards. A big thanks to all those that posed for these pictures, and shared their hidden elephants.

-Antoinette

Sadie

Sadie is my final model. This is because I absolutely fell in love with her special touch to her uniform. So much so that (after recognizing it as a reoccurring theme) this essay was named after it. Stemming from boredom, Sadie has stitched an elephant on the inside of her blazer. It is a detail that will not be seen by many, but shows her creativity and skill. I love it so much, I am planning on begging her to stitch something inside mine. It just goes to show you that you have to look closely to see the truth behind any enforced uniform. There is an underground world of embellishments that you will not know about until you search for them.

Antoinette

I don't think it is easy to judge your own style. In fact, I think it is almost impossible. I was not even sure if I should add myself to this photo essay, but I did because of my piercings. I have a total of seven, all in my ears. The standard pair, and then my doubles. Industrial on my right ear (the barbell) and my rook on my left ear. A lot of people are surprised to see them, and ask if they were painful. I didn't find them to be, and I love the way the look. They aren't traditional which is why I like them. They are not technically allowed, but no teacher has told me to take them out (yet). The boxers are not meant to be racy, but just to show the thought that goes into putting on a uniform. I usually wear lulus or boxers, and these ones just happen to have elephants on them. The bracelets shown I would not normally wear together, as they're a little too much at once. My watch is a man's watch that I got for Christmas and adore. I wear it with my camp bracelets which are sailing ropes burned together. I guess I would say my style is a mix of edgy and girly elements.

Vanessa

Style can be influenced by a number of things. Vanessa subscribes to youtube videos and blogs to fuel her passion of painting her nails. Each week, she spends about an hour perfecting the art. They are always finely detailed and vibrant. It just so happened that they even matched her pins this week. She shows her Portuguese pride with a sweetly designed rooster pin, as well as her love of music and all things fashion. I loved the way she mixed Silly Bandz with Pandora bracelets. It is a very quirky finish to her uniform. Her favourite charm? One surrounded with purple hearts that her mom brought back from Portugal.

Olivia

Olivia's uniform is all about colours and breaking the rules. She wears a boys blazer - her little brother's in fact - as seen by the slit in the back. She happened to rip that slit more, and to fix it stitched pink thread which has given her uniform an edge. She used white out and markers to change the texture of her blazer buttons as well as give a splash of colour. Nothing about her uniform is dull, and it matches her bold personality. She has also coloured in the Del crest, so her blazer has become anything but traditional. Instead, it expresses her love of all things bright and her rebellious tendencies.

Katya

Katya has literally revamped her entire uniform. She wears a boys shirt, and tucks it into her kilt. She has de-threaded her tie so much that even the school crest is black. As for the crest on her blazer? She has coloured it in with her favourite colours. My favourite part of her changes are her blazer cuffs. What started out as a few pulled lines of thread has turned into a checkered pattern that is only seen when you look closely. The final touch are her silver rings, which add a dash of whimsy to her look. She is a trendsetter even in a uniform.

Erica

Erica has something that very few people still have at Del. The old uniform. Her kilt is light grey, passed down from her sisters that went here before her. She has managed to make it her own however, by sewing on a brass key with teal thread next to her pin. She has pulled thread out of her tie to give it a cool striped design, and added dots to the cuffs of her blazer. Her entire look is a blend of old and new, and distinguishes her from the rest of the girls.

Emily

Emily is an art student. She is an avid fashionista and enjoys painting as well as dancing. It comes as no surprise then that she never leaves the house without a few key elements. Her style matches her personality: preppy, sweet and fun. Your eye is drawn to her sparkly bow headband, and her charming flower earrings. She wears a beaded charm bracelet which is unique and adds a pop of colour. She has a classic look which she completes with a Chanel watch. Pieces that you may not expect to go together mesh among the uniform. A keen eye for brands and a whimsical touch influence her accessories and help her to stand out.

Keara

This is Keara. Her favourite accessory are her rings. Her hands are always filled with one of a kind looks. In this photo, you can see the many influences on her style. She has both a bohemian and rock look. Her rings include a beer bottle opener, a classic wooden style, flexible metal, and a bejewelled elephant. She is bold and eclectic, and stands out. Bright nail polish completes her look as it draws attention to her adorned hands. Rope bracelets add to her hippie vibe and add another punch of colour. Once again we see the stitching detailing in this student. Where a rip once was is now filled with bright thread. What adds to her rebel reputation? She sewed it in detention.

Christine

Meet Christine. She is sarcastic, witty and a dedicated debater. This is her uniform. The details are ones that might slip by unnoticed unless you look closely. Practical shoes allow her to run away from Belli, or slip into class just in time. She has pins showing her loyalty to the Debate Society, buffalos, and ascesis. She caries around an extra clip just in case, showing her logical mind. My personal favourite part of her uniform is the rip in her tights. Instead of layering on the clear nail polish and praying administration leaves her alone, she has hand-sewn the tear, and created a cool effect and focal point for her outfit. It also shows an underground trend happening at Del currently. Stitching holes and pockets has become more than just a mom's job. It is now an art. As you will see through multiple models, there has been an uprising with different colours, places, and even meanings. Her look is completed with a dainty silver watch. This ensemble although fitting regulations, expresses herself to a tee. She shows that you're able to be yourself even in a uniform.

A Photo Essay

It is a series of photographs with writing. A story is told with the photographs taking precedence, and the words acting as fillers. This one in particular is about the little things girls have done to make their uniforms distinct. In a sea of green blazers, these uniforms stand out for details that an administrator may overlook, but make them unmistakable. This includes pins, earrings, bracelets, rings, watches, shoes and stitching. I chose to place them in a blog format because of The Sartorialist, a fashion blog where a photographer takes pictures of savvy dressers on the street. He pays attention to the little pieces of an outfit that make them truly unique.

While discovering the small things each girl has done differently with her uniform, I've witnessed creativity and ingenuity. But most of all, it has reminded me that accessories are a girl's best friend.