In my Winter 2013 semester at the College for Creative Studies, I was enrolled in a sponsored course with the Somerset Collection entitled Explorative Fashion. The Somerset Collection is an epicenter for luxury retail, featuring iconic brands such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Gucci, and Ralph Lauren. The sponsored course allowed students an opportunity to research and expand upon existing brands and their influence in the fashion industry. The concept that I explored was taking the traditional trench coat design that Burberry has perfected and create garments that the everyday women could wear, from desk to dinner. In the past, Burberry has constructed dresses and beautiful evening gowns, but none of which that still retain the integrity of their classic coat. My designs merge the panels and collar of the trench coat with a sophisticated wine red dress. By using pieces of the traditional form, I deconstructed two garments from a local thrift store and combined them together.