The Lady of the Lake is an enchantress whose power lingers in every version of the Arthurian legend. Sometimes a fairy, sometimes a sorceress, she is the one who bestows Excalibur upon Arthur, raises Lancelot in secret, and seals Merlin’s fate. Though often tied to the men of legend, she is not defined by them. She is the hand that offers, the shadow that watches, the force that remains long after kings have fallen, a timeless feminine presence within mythic storytelling.
One of the biggest inspirations for this piece was King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017). I initially disliked its inaccuracies, but over time, it became a comfort movie. Its Lady of the Lake (otherworldly, powerful, but bound to the lake) stayed with me, particularly its visual language and dark fantasy tone. I wanted to take that imagery and push it further, beyond cinematic fantasy into a more symbolic, autonomous figure.
The location reminded me of Stonehenge, a site of ancient power and mystery. Some see it as an observatory, others as a place of healing or unity. It felt like the perfect setting for a figure who has shaped the fate of kings to finally step forward and claim her own, rooting the character in ancient ritual and mythic geography. To reinforce this connection, I edited the image to place a lake within the stone circle, blending myth with reality, and merging water symbolism with sacred stone.
Nimue has always been an ambiguous figure, sometimes a benevolent guide, other times selfish, ruthless, or even defiant against patriarchal power. I wanted to capture that duality: ethereal yet strong, blending into the water but wrapped in armor, balancing vulnerability and authority. She is neither savior nor servant. This time, the Lady of the Lake is not offering a sword, she is wielding it, reclaiming agency, power, and authorship over her own legend.
The fashion for this piece draws inspiration from the Givenchy Couture Spring/Summer 1997 show, designed by Alexander McQueen, a collection that revealed what couture could become when tradition was confronted rather than preserved. While at the helm of the French brand, McQueen deliberately wielded his favorite tool, shock, unsettling expectations while redefining strength and femininity through silhouette and construction. He created a new sense of elegance shaped by references and a strong desire to transgress, since, in his own words, he had “no respect for Hubert de Givenchy”. And while some reacted defensively, others immediately understood what McQueen was moving towards.
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