Ranelle Gee

“Living Archives” was born from my personal style. I documented my way of dress through a photographic series titled “8 View," where I would style clothes in ways they weren’t intended: a simple long sleeve turns into a cowl neck dress with the tying of the arms as a halter, a modest maxi dress transforms as its worn backwards with the zipper pulled all the way past the belly button. At the core of this practice I was creating the feminine ideal out of my physical reality, transforming not only the intent of the garment but my own silhouette in the process. While universally, fashion re-contextualizes the physical form, for trans individuals, fashion can create a manifestation of the body that we desire but do not possess.

Throughout this project, I have made an effort to work with trans models ― I still remember seeing my model’s face light up when she said “I have never seen my body look like this before,” sheer confidence radiating from her presence. Seeing that spark of euphoria was life changing; only now do I understand how my unconventional way of dress is actually an act of radical affirmation. I used to always say that I like to wear clothes wrong … but now I realize that I adapt these garments because they were never designed to be worn by someone like me.

“Living Archives” is about the creation of self, achieving the fantasy that felt out of reach, claiming the life that was once denied.

I feel so grateful to have worked with so many amazing collaboraters throughout this project

Jac Clayton @jacclaytonn ― production coordinator
Sarah Abdellatif-Chaves @sarah.abdellatif.ch ― metal hardware fabricator
Jaison Lin @jaisonlin ― photographer
Dori Walker @dori.walker ― director of photography
Jonathan Logan @jonathanlogan_ ― makeup artist
Shiori Sato @shiorisatomua ― makeup artist
Mari Carreno @mari4l3jandra―hair stylist
Eileen Daniels @bloomingtoday ― floral artist

Thank you to my amazing muses ―
Lunetta Green @kcabeb
Chloe Marceline @chloemarcelinex
Anjali Lama @anjalilama_official
Jules Santiago @the_family.jules

I also want to thank my professors Liliana Sanguino and Francesca Sammaritano for their guidance and support throughout these past couple of months

― Ranelle