Dark Feminine: Women empowerment through confidence and power
Dark feminine, feminism and a form of power and confidence in an alluring way of expression through clothing and aesthetic. Female power is shown through a hyper-feminine concept and women taking on a masculine role but disguised with a feminine aura. Inspiration forms from certain role models and filmography who portray dark feminine energy such as the film Jennifier’s Body which depicts a female who is considered to have an eye-catching look however has an intimidating type of power over men. Another source of inspiration comes from the film Lara Croft, yet again, an independent powerful woman with masculine powerful qualities is portrayed.
Desirable colours like wine reds, deep reds, smokey browns, greys, and black are essential to a Dark Feminine style. She will be dressed in fur coats, leather, tights, skirts, long coats, sunglasses, and boots or heels because these items of apparel are what emphasize the feminist movement’s hyperfeminine side. A dark feminine woman’s sense of style could even be seen as a spin-off of goth glam. This would be true given all the consistent and connecting factors, such as the colour palette and style of clothing, but the backstory of dark feminine is significantly different.
Different arrays of materials such as songs, quotes from movies/ books and poems portray feminism and fuel the Dark Feminine movement.
Outfit 1:
” My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me” Elizabeth Bennet From Pride and Prejudice
Authoritive tone and attitude which shows who’s in charge. This shows the independence of a female character who won’t be told what to do and won’t be challenged into doing so.
Dress – Model’s own
Sunglasses – Model’s own
Fluffy coat – New Look £22
Handbag – Model’s own
Heart bracelet – White Fox £15
Outfit 2:
“Rhiannon rings like a bell through the night
“And wouldn’t you love to love her.
“Woman taken by the wind
“Would you stay if she promised you heaven”.
A song called Rhiannon (1975) by Fleetwood Mac
The song suggests through its lyrics such as “bell through the night” and “taken by the wind” a woman going by her own rules and independence and not being reliant on anybody else. A woman going by her own rules and having power over herself.
Sunglasses – New Look £8.00
Trench coat – Debenhams £24.50
Tights – ASOS £9.00
Belt – Pretty Little Thing £ 6.00
Skirt – Pretty Little Thing £15.00
Top – Models own
Flat shoes – Models own
Knee High boots – Select £25.00
Outfit 3:
“Women, they have minds, And they have souls, as well as just hearts. And they’ve got ambition. and they’ve got talent, as well as just beauty. I’m so sick of people saying that love is just all a woman is fit for.”
From Little Women (book/film). There is a major side to “Dark Feminine” which is all about female power and other strong traits that makes a woman confident, powerful and herself. She is only led by herself.
Boots – Pretty Little Thing £25
Jeans – Urban Outfitters £40
Top – Models own
Outfit 4:
‘Does my haughtiness offend you?
‘Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
‘Diggin’ in my own backyard.’
A poem called Still I Rise by Maya Angelou 1978
This verse of the poem fits into my theme “Dark Feminine” perfectly as it portrays a confident attitude that emphasises a feminist attitude through self- love and power.
Jacket – New Look £22.00
Doc Martens – £170.00
Credits:
Styling – Melissa Smith
Production – Melissa Smith
Photography – Melissa Smith
Hair and makeup – Leyla Perek
Model – Leyla Perek
Location – Photography department, University of Sunderland, Sunderland
