Fashion Film / Photography Project, 2025

Prolonged

This project explores how people exist within states of uncertainty, inspired by the depictions of waiting in Cléo from 5 to 7 and Waiting for Godot. Often, what people truly experience is not the moment when the result finally arrives, but the long process of waiting beforehand. During this period, emotions and states of being are gradually shaped by uncertainty. Rather than focusing on the result itself, this project is more concerned with the different emotional states that emerge while waiting.

A symmetrical garden courtyard with trimmed bushes, a central circular water feature, and stairs leading to a building entrance in the background, with two blurred people walking.
A woman dressed in a white jacket and beige skirt walking on a gravel path in a formal garden with manicured lawns and shaped bushes, with trees in the background.
A woman wearing a cream blazer, black glove, and black dress, appears to be posing with her head tilted downward and one arm raised above a white window frame with peeling paint, standing outdoors with a blurred background.

Creative Director:

Haijia Gao

To prevent the project from relying solely on personal experience and subjective interpretation, I incorporated interviews with individuals from different age groups and professional backgrounds, attempting to identify shared experiences within uncertainty through real-life conversations. Visually, the project draws inspiration from 1960s French cinema and vintage feminine imagery, with styling that carries a sense of old-world texture and subtle theatricality. All garments used in the project were sourced from second-hand clothing and repurposed materials, with the intention of allowing gradually forgotten garments to be re-seen, appreciated, and worn again through styling and image-making.

Blurry image of an indoor space with ceiling lights, walls, and a dark figure or object in the foreground.
A woman with dark hair styled in a messy bun, wearing dark clothing, stands near a mirrored wall in a dimly lit room with ornate gold and patterned moldings. In the foreground, there are blurred candle flames, and the woman appears to be gazing downward.

The final project was presented through photography, moving image, and a self-published photo zine. Consisting of four looks, the work explores different psychological and emotional states that emerge within uncertainty. Ultimately, the project became a visual exploration of how people exist within waiting.

A woman with dark hair and a bun hairstyles, wearing a dark jacket and standing in a dimly lit corridor with ornate wallpaper and lamps in the background.

Styling & Stylist: Haijia Gao

A woman in a peach-colored dress and high heels is standing in a room with ornate furniture, a large bathtub, and a ceiling with a skylight. The room has a vintage aesthetic with a cream color palette.
A woman with short dark hair wearing a light pink lace dress sitting on a bed, resting her chin on her hand, in a bedroom with large windows, a white bedside table, and various decorative items.
A woman lying on a vintage-style sofa in a dimly lit room, wearing a light-colored, lacy dress and white shoes, with her legs raised and crossed over a small white table.
A woman sitting on the floor in front of a large ornate mirror, reflected in the mirror is her face and upper body, with a bed and window in the background.
A woman with black hair stands in a room, partially covered by an ornate, cream-colored dress that drapes over her shoulders and cascades down. She is holding a part of the dress with her left hand, exposing her left leg. She wears high heels and has accessories on her fingers. The room has vintage furniture, a window in the ceiling with snow outside, and a mirror reflecting parts of the room.

Director: Kavin Lee

A woman lying on a vintage wooden bed, resting her head on her arms with her eyes looking at the camera, wearing a white beret and white pants, in a room with a large window and greenery outside.
A woman lying on a plush beige carpet, looking at a camera through a clear plastic barrier. She wears a white t-shirt, black boots, and has dark hair. There are papers and a large green object on a wooden table nearby.
A woman with long dark hair wearing a white hat, white bathrobe, and large hoop earrings standing in a room with a vintage glass-fronted cabinet filled with glassware and dishes, and a bookshelf with books visible in the background.
A young woman with long dark hair, wearing a white dress, white beret, and black heels, standing inside a room with large windows showing green trees outside. There are various sculptures and art pieces around her, including a tall white abstract sculpture on a stool, a wooden sculpture of a cow, and a column with fabric wrapped around it.

Photographers: Kavin Lee & Zhong Feng

Model & Talent: Anna

Hair & Makeup: Haijia Gao

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