Chanel Dagher Digital Portfolio PAGES FINAL

Chanel J DAGHER

Creative Biography

Beginning her formal studies at the Whitehouse Institute of Design in Melbourne marked the continuation of a lifelong creative journey for fashion designer Chanel Dagher. Guided by her grandmother, a professionally trained Italian tailor, Dagher first discovered her passion for fashion at nine years old, developing an early appreciation.

With Italian and Middle Eastern roots, Dagher’s work balances heritage and individuality. From a young age, she recognised that clothing held meaning, shaping how one carried themselves with care and intention. Throughout her studies at the Whitehouse Institute of Design, she honed her skills in illustrating, tailoring, draping, and couture techniques, earning the Designer of the Trimester Award in both Trimester 1 and 3. Her growing presence within the industry was further recognised when she was chosen as a finalist for Fashions on the Field, presented by Vogue Australia, presenting her designs to a panel of industry figures.

Her philosophy rejects the ephemerality of fast fashion, favouring intentional, enduring designs that are timeless yet contemporary.

Womenswear collection ‘PRIMA’ follows a narrative shaped by the designer’s ongoing study of duality and the quiet negotiations of womanhood, utilising couture techniques to bring four characters to life, each emerging from the tension between masculine tailoring and feminine form.

Drawing inspiration from historic menswear codes — crisp shirting, structured cummerbunds, and velvet bow-ties — the designer reinterprets these elements through softness, sensuality, and fluidity, ultimately creating silhouettes that explore strength, vulnerability, restraint, and allure.

The first two characters belong to the world of the Séduisant, where black becomes a language of confidence. A tuxedo-inspired gown with a pleated bib, tailored sleeves, and a full placket slit introduces ritual and discipline, while a bridal-mesh open back reveals the fragility beneath the structure. Her presence intensifies through a haltered silhouette traced with pleats, a satin bow-tie collar, and a cascading velvet bow that falls into a liquid silk skirt — embodying movement, seduction, and quiet power.

The demure counterpart emerges in deep mulberry and vino, embodying devotion and grace. A strapless column of liquid satin organdy, wrapped with a sculptural black bow, transforms traditional tailoring references into something intimate and emotive, echoing softness without surrendering strength.

The final character finds equilibrium: an asymmetrical satin top, structured cummerbund, and tailored silk velvet pants combine traditional menswear with feminine fluidity. Together, these silhouettes reflect the internal worlds women navigate — who they are, who they are expected to be, and who they choose to let the world see first.

STATEMENT DESIGN

LA RITUEL LA RITUEL

LOOK I

Le Rituel reimagines classic menswear into an evening silhouette. Cut in black silk acetate, it features a crisp white pleated bib, shirt collar, and a full placket that becomes a front slit. Tailored sleeves, mock cuffs, and contrast buttons sharpen its tuxedo influence. A sixpleat organdy cummerbund sculpts the waist, while a soft bridal-mesh open back introduces sensuality. Fully lined, the look balances structure, ritual, and modern seduction with refined restraint.

LA SÉDUCTION LA SÉDUCTION

LOOK II

La Séduction embodies peak confidence, merging masculine tailoring with feminine eveningwear. Three pleats frame a halter neckline that leads into a satin bow-tie collar and low open back. The doublebreasted waist with silk-covered buttons grounds the look in tradition, while a dramatic cascading velvet bow falls into a full silk skirt. Fully lined for fluidity, the interplay of deep black velvet and lustrous silk heightens movement, allure, and rich textural contrast.

LA DÉVOTION LA DÉVOTION

LOOK III

The strapless gown, cut in vino liquid satin organdy, follows the body with a smooth, fluid fall, forming a column of light and shadow. Fully lined for comfort and stability, it carries refinement inside and out. Inspired by the bow tie, a sculptural black organdy bow drapes across the body and wraps back into the hip, creating a silhouette that is both structured and simple — fashion-forward yet timeless.

L’ADORATION L’ADORATION

LOOK IV

This look bridges feminine allure with masculine strength — a study in quiet confidence. The liquid satin organdy top wraps asymmetrically across the body, catching light like poured wine. A structured cummerbund defines the waist, while tailored silk velvet pants introduce an androgynous edge. Together, they create balance: soft yet sharp, sensual yet composed.