Austin Tootle

Hometown: Lancaster, Ohio
Collection name: Serene Queen
Collection in three words: Seductive. Vintage. Fierce.

Instagram: @austin_tootle
Email: atootle.1@go.ccad.edu

Seductive, vintage, and fierce, Austin Tootle’s collection Serene Queen hearkens back to the drama of the 1960s—with a twist. “The backstory of my collection is a cult where woman use men for money and sex before changing their identity,” he says. The collection is inspired by Lana Del Rey’s music, Priscilla Presley’s style, and the American Horror Story TV series. “I watched a lot of documentaries about the 1960s, concert films, and listened to Lana Del Rey’s music constantly to really analyze her lyrics.” Tootle says. The resulting collection tells of womens’ objectification and eventual empowerment beginning in the 1960s. “Certain aspects of the collection are the shoulder pads in the coat to show a strong backbone, but once the coat is revealed, the sexy lingerie shows a vulnerable side,” Tootle says. The pieces share a vintage Hollywood, cult aesthetic, with all the models wearing eight-inch heels and custom retro-styled wigs. The showstopper: A breathtaking catsuit made of Swarovski rhinestones.