Mirror Palais Celebrates "Coquette-Core"
Mirror Palais Celebrates "Coquette-Core"
By: Ellis Farese
Founded in 2019 by Marcelo Gaia, Mirror Palais creates classic, lasting pieces for every woman. The principles of celebrating femininity, sustainability, and inclusivity guide Mirror Palais’s ethos, and their thoughtful designs and contemporary take on “coquette-core” have resulted in its emergence as a highly sought-after brand.
“Coquette-core” is a style that blends elements of flirtatiousness, playfulness, and youthful exuberance. This fashion subgenre has gained popularity among today's youth, and Mirror Palais embodies this trend in a mature manner. Mirror Palais captures the essence of coquette-core by infusing nostalgia into contemporary fashion. Their designs strike a perfect balance between the old and the new, creating an irresistible allure for women of all ages. Although “coquette-core” for some is simply a fad and does not reflect one’s personal style, Mirror Palais exemplifies the aesthetic in a timeless manner, echoing styles of eras past.
Paralleling coquette-core, “traditional” femininity, characterized by grace, elegance, and sophistication, has experienced a renaissance in today’s fashion landscape. Societal pressures placed upon women can be identified through time and clothing. Gaia, however, has reclaimed what lace, ruffles, and frills can mean to women. By curating pieces that draw inspiration from the Baroque period of the 1700s along with the Victorian era of the 19th century, Gaia is drawing from moments in time when women were forced to be feminine and submissive. By doing so, Gaia offers a new perspective on how a woman’s clothes dictate her place in society. Delicate crochet, wispy silk, and figure-fitting silhouettes abound in Gaia’s collections; these details are carefully placed, meant to compliment female bodies and empower the wearer. By infusing his ethereal designs with vintage charm, Gaia has reshaped who decides what makes womenswear sexy or feminine. While wearing Mirror Palais, a woman can do and be whatever she pleases.
Since it has become apparent that sustainable fashion is imperative for the health of consumers and the world, prioritizing brands that focus on sustainable and ethical practices should be at the forefront of consumers’ minds. Mirror Palais’s innovative approach could serve as a blueprint for the future of fashion. The brand follows a pre-order only model under which collections are dropped on the website and buyers have the option to pre-order the piece, reducing fabric waste and overproduction. By embracing these values, the brand not only appeals to current needs within the realm of sustainable fashion but also helps shape expectations.
Inherently feminine designs often only attempt to honor a certain kind of woman. Think supermodel-esque, with long lean legs and a thin waist. Mirror Palais is dedicated to inspiring confidence in women of all shapes and sizes, which is another aspect of the brand that has made them relevant in the fashion landscape today. The brand offers a variety of sizes in addition to displaying their pieces on a diverse cast of models. All women can embrace their femininity, and Mirror Palais is actively encouraging that fact.
Mirror Palais has been able to succeed amidst the strange 21st-century fashion landscape fiasco that is bred around fast fashion, trend cycles, and overconsumption. Gaia and his team not only reject what modernity has done to fashion, but they are pursuing a new way for brands and consumers to connect. Mirror Palais is a brand that embraces the values we need more of today, such as sustainability and inclusivity, all without compromising the character that each piece holds.
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