Gauge81

Brainchild of Colombia-born designer Monika Silva, Gauge81 (pronounced GO-SH eight-one) articulates modern-day femininity through the study of proportion. Underpinned by a fascination with scale and a fluency in knitwear, the of-the-moment label takes its name from the density of stitches in its garments, suffixed by powerful numerology numbers 8 and 1 for good measure. Gauge81 showcases the strength of contrast in its display of exaggerated dimensions: uber-tiny miniskirts are offset by billowing oversized trench coats and sweaters. This experimentation with silhouette achieves an air of mystique salient in contemporary notions of sensuality; the label demonstrates a calculated application of innuendo in an enigma of sheer organza and shoulder-exposing styles. Gauge81’s au courant interpretation of the feminine is comprehensive, with the label’s Italian-sourced textiles enabling easy machine-washing for the time-pressed wearer. In an age where sexiness is measured by a seeming aloofness towards one’s appearance, Gauge81 provides a fitting uniform.