Decked in leather and gold, this young designer’s collection breathes new life into a legendary femme fatale
More than just a figure of lore, Medusa has evolved into a powerful muse in fashion. Inspired by her untamed strength and resilience, young designer Kristine Ordinario conjured an entire collection that exuded exactly that at this year’s BYS Fashion Week. Yet this isn’t the same monster who turned men to stone, but rather a modern-day symbol of power clad in an equally powerful ensemble to match. Strong, sultry, and utterly sophisticated, this is Medusa.
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In the eyes of many, Medusa was the perfect oxymoron: she was hauntingly beautiful and alluring, a blend of beauty and danger. Ordinario leaned into this duality through crafting pieces that are as much about power as they are about style.
Finding a piece that wasn’t in leather was nearly impossible—and for good reason, as it’s the designer’s signature material. Ordinario dressed the models in hues of terracotta brown, blacks, greys, and dark moss, echoing both the earthiness of the serpent’s origins and her elegant allure.
“I want the audience to see how I interpreted my concept into the details I applied to each piece,” the designer told MEGA.
Almost every piece was accented with gold chains and metal details, which not only added a touch of luxe but also reflected the strength and weight of Medusa’s narrative. If not chains, the designs featured lace-up accents, crisscrossing like serpentine scales, another stylish take on the theme.
This collection brings Medusa back to life in a way that feels both fresh and familiar. Kristine has always had that boundary-pushing edge, and her love affair with leather runs deep. So taking inspiration from this figure from Greek mythology only underscored both her skill as a designer and her voice as a creative (anyone else glued to that one look with hair wrapped around the neck like a choker?). In the end, she took a legend, reimagined it, and made it her own.
Photographed by GRANT BABIA
