In this project, I was tasked with reimagining a concept and designing stage costumes for a character from a play of my choice.
I chose Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 play A Doll’s House, which centers on Nora Helmer, a young wife and mother who begins to question the foundations of her seemingly happy marriage.
The play is considered a landmark in modern drama and explores themes of gender roles, marriage, and individual autonomy in 19th-century society.

The concept I chose for this project was inspired by mannequins — specifically the iconic 1930s display mannequin created by Lester Gaba. I was drawn to the lifeless perfection and performative femininity embodied in Gaba’s design, which parallels the metaphor of Nora as a “doll” in A Doll’s House. Just like a mannequin, Nora is placed on display, expected to look perfect and behave according to the expectations of others, specifically the men in her life.

The silhouette is based on the Natural Form era, which reflects the fashion typical of the late 1870s — the period in which the play was written and originally staged. To this historically accurate base, I added subtle corset lacing elements that suggest tension and the beginning of possible rupture. This costume was designed for Nora at the very start of the play, capturing the outward appearance of composure and doll-like perfection while hinting at the internal cracks that will soon emerge.
the unique materials for the project included nude-colored vinyl fabrics and upholstery-like faux leather chosen for their artificial, glossy textures that evoke the look and feel of plastic display mannequins. The base of the skirt was made from a mixed linen fabric featuring fine scratches that resemble a bandage, reinforcing the sense of surface-level perfection starting to wear down.