I am Ava Rooney, a graduate in Visual Merchandising with a great love for fashion, styling and creative expression. I use clothing to tell stories, treating each garment as a brushstroke in a larger visual narrative. I want to style to communicate mood, identity and emotion in a way that feels both engaging and authentic. Fashion has always been the easiest place for my ideas to evolve. It has always been what felt most comfortable to me, to be able to explore and express my creativity in a meaningful way. I like developing ideas and translating them into visual outcomes like styling, display or imagery. Fashion isn’t just about clothes to me; it’s a powerful way of storytelling and self-expression.
Wear Your Shape
Wear Your Shape’ is a personal exploration of shapewear and its relationship to the female body. Shapewear is often hidden under clothes, but it shapes, smooths and controls, subtly changing the experience of confidence and form. This installation puts shapewear front and centre, bringing shapewear into focus. A single mannequin wearing shapewear is posed in front of a backdrop. By focusing on one figure, the body and its shaping are engaged with in a more intimate and direct way.
The use of neutral tones such as nudes, browns, and black reflects a range of skin tones while maintaining a minimal aesthetic. Draped fabric across the panel introduces softness and movement, contrasting with the structure of the garment and enhancing the overall visual impact. ‘Wear Your Shape’ transforms shapewear into something to be shown off, rather than something to be hidden and turns it into a form of control and self-expression.
“Threads Photoshoot”
The Threads photoshoot was a particularly meaningful project. It began as an idea I initially proposed and chose as the theme for our group’s pop-up shop. It was surreal and rewarding to see it grow from an idea in my head to a fully realised visual outcome, especially with the collaborative effort of the whole group. I was named Head of Styling for the shoot, responsible for establishing the visual identity using clothing. I wanted to style looks that reflected the concept of Threads, but also be bold and eye-catching for our social media and posters. Every outfit was carefully selected to contribute to a cohesive aesthetic while still standing out on its own.
The experience highlighted the importance of teamwork and creative direction, showing how a shared vision can evolve into something so impactful. The final images came together and felt like a full-circle moment, bringing the original idea to life in a way that exceeded my expectations.
