Photography: Defense Mechanisms by Vladimir Lyovin

Photographer: Vladimir Lyovin
Stylist: Evgenya Lyovina
Designer: Anna Mariengof
Model: Kristen Linn

The main idea of Defense Mechanisms is defense against cruel social invasions. Without explaining why, society makes women perform actions of certain character: getting married, having children, being successful, beautiful and so on. Do we want that? Is it our own desire? — every woman should be able to ask herself. 
The dress by Anna Mariengof was designed to create space around the person wearing it and makes it possible to think. Trespassing is doomed to fail. Thick military cloth and big brass spikes protect your body. The weight of the dress is over 30 lbs. It’s difficult to wear. It can hurt you. But such an aggressive defense is the only way for a woman to stand her ground.