Letting Softness Speak
Mel Lamore, M.F.A. Fashion Design, didn’t plan to be in fashion. In fact, she spent years backstage—literally.
Growing up in Southern Oregon, Lamore’s creative world began in theatre: costuming, stage managing, and making things happen behind the scenes. But somewhere along the way, the structure of theatre started to feel more limiting than inspiring.
“I kind of realized it wasn’t really for me,” said Lamore. That realization led her into a small fashion seminar, where something clicked. “I’ve always wanted to go into fashion, but just kept putting it off,” she explained. “After that seminar, I was like, screw it. Let’s just go for it.”
Lamore’s debut collection isn’t flashy or trend-driven. It’s quiet, raw, and deeply personal. Built around her own experience with depression, the work is fragile and held together by a thread, draped with softness, and often on the edge of unraveling.
“It’s like it’s falling apart at the seams,” shared Lamore. Her designs feature hand-made thread mesh, delicate finishes, and a color palette of whites, slate grays, and washed periwinkle.
“It wasn’t about fabric quality, really,” she explained. “It was more about how it feels. Comfort is really important to me.”
Lamore doesn’t follow a clean, step-by-step process.
“I work intuitively but also as a planner, and it’s a very chaotic process,” she said. Lamore sketched loosely, draped with paper, built things up and tore them down again.
“I tried to just trust the process,” she said. “Every single step of the way, it was a surprise.”
Originally, Lamore thought of the project as an outlet. But the more time she spent with it, the more it transformed into something softer.
“It really has become a love letter—not just to myself—but to something so many people experience,” said Lamore.
If the collection were a person, Lamore isn’t sure who they’d be. “Oh gosh… I have no idea,” she laughed.
And maybe that’s okay. The work isn’t about conclusions. It’s about process, presence, and letting softness speak.
Words by River Smusz, A.A. Fashion Communication and Styling
Runway photography by Ed Jay.
Conceptual Makeup Lead: Chelsea Mari Heintzman. Hair & Makeup Team Produced by Brandi Moore Agency. Lead Hair: Brittany Jordan. Lead Makeup: Lilia Christo-Ferrigno . Makeup Product: Morphe.
