Petals of Saturn

The passages about "Saturn" in the novel evoke a sense of cool colour tones and light-weight fabric. I used denim for the corset belt to signify the space travellers arriving, a heavy presence to the spirts of Saturn. The feathers I made from denim as well and are inspired by the foliage encroaching upon them as they explore: feathery, yet constantly looming over them. The overskirt is made of a synthetic white fabric, like a shroud of the "unnatural" spirits that inhabit the planet.

I decorated it with flower petals I originally obtained to decorate my cap for my college graduation. Within the pages, they represent the way the spirits slowly fall into place as they travel throughout their world; but the origin of the material is also representative of the time in my life whence first I read the novel.

My goal was for the silhouette to be a modern take on the fashion of the guilded age, when the book was published, including a mini bustle on the skirt to aid in this.

The biggest challenge for me this year was illness, unfortunately. Last year was a year of change, finally starting a healing journey in a newly-diagnosed chronic illness, and fighting burnout from working six days a week. As of the new year, my work schedule changed to give me much more time for myself and my hobbies; but before I could make much progress on this ensemble, I was struck down with a cold for a few weeks (that is still hanging around), as well as an injury that made it hard for me to work.

Never the less, I powered through and have once again completed something that I am proud of. It is not the full extent of what I had hoped to create, but it's more than I thought I'd be able to get done when I got sick at the beginning of February!