UNDRESS muses through the lens of analog | Alvydė Pikturnaitė

We came up with an adventure
Without any expectations - how long it will last, where it will take us, what it will reveal, what we’ll learn, how it will surprise us, or what anyone will take from it. After all, it’s summer-thighs unveiled by the wind, laughter, the taste of berries stuck between teeth, and watermelon juice trickling from the corners of lips.
Right now, all we want is to flow. To slip into a dress and snap photos like in childhood-free from obligation. Just because girls just wanna have fun.

What’s the adventure about?

Of course, dresses. Although, to be honest, we all know a dress is often just a pretext, a provocation, a prelude - a reason for what we’ve envisioned in our minds…

We’re inviting the interesting, talented, charming, elegant, strong, brave, creative women of the UNDRESS clan to allow themselves to fall into that feeling of “not knowing how this will end.” That’s exactly what analog photography is about: capturing a moment, posing, playing, or being snapped unexpectedly, jokingly or seriously - but never quite knowing what it’s about until someone, someday, develops the whole roll. And then…

That “and then” is what the whole adventure is about - premiered in the hands of the charming and talented theater and film actress, screenwriter, and creative mind Alvydė Pikturnaitė.

Why analog photography?

Because, just like UNDRESS, it’s unique in its soft imperfections (light, textures, colors), in its special grain feeling, the accidental contrasts that give an image - or a dress - emotional depth. It captivates with its slow process, its attention to every detail, and of course, its lasting impact. No photoshoot is complete without dialogue, right? So we came up with a set of questions which, standing in front of the analog camera wearing a different self - chosen UNDRESS dress each time, Alvydė asked herself:

Why a dress?

A dress is one of my favorite garments. It’s important to me that what I wear doesn’t interfere - that it’s comfortable both physically and psychologically. Often, when choosing what to wear, my hand naturally reaches for a dress, simply because it helps shape the image of the day. A dress is a clear design decision, combining aesthetics and functionality.

The dress that feels most like me, or the me I want to be

A dress isn’t a neutral object-it conveys a lot: mood, posture, sometimes even character or intention. I choose based on how I feel that day - intuitively, without overthinking it. I feel most like myself in a dress that is subtle - when I don’t have to shout to be noticed.

A dress as a personal statement, a manifesto

To me, a dress as a manifesto carries a clear message: “I know who I am and what I’m expressing.” It can highlight a current state or allow transformation. On stage, it’s important to consciously understand what you symbolize and how you appear as part of the bigger picture.

Most memorable stage dress?

One of the most memorable dresses for me was from the play “Neištikimoji” (“The Unfaithful”). It had a deep color, a defined but not overloaded silhouette. There was a lot of drama in it, but no artificiality. Lighting played a big part too - it was lit in a way that created a painterly impression: the body becomes an image, the image - a thought. It was a vital part of the stage atmosphere.

The dress that brings the most memories?

I often don’t stay attached to clothes for long: they serve their purpose during a life phase, and then become mere symbols of that time. Especially dresses - they tend to be seasonal, tied to certain periods of life, eventually turning into sentiment.

In my mind, I’ve designed my dream dress…

I’ve worn wedding dresses countless times - in plays, film shoots, always slipping into the bride’s role, and with it, a variety of dresses. While trying them on, I often drift into thoughts of my own future wedding dress. I’m quite sentimental, so if that day ever comes, I believe that dress will be the most important one of all - definitely more than just threads and fabric. It will be a strong and meaningful symbol.

The dress that feels like my armor - what I wear when I need to be strong

I wouldn’t want to think of a dress as a weapon, but I do believe that certain combinations of color and fabric can be powerful symbols - sometimes of defense, dignity. Colors hold special power. For example, deep red on stage can symbolize strength, provocation, even danger - you’re not just seen, you’re unavoidable. It’s not entirely comfortable, and that’s what makes it powerful.
Last year, I felt drawn to surround myself with green, mossy tones - perhaps a need for renewal, a longing for nature. This year I’m more often choosing yellow - a playful and open color. It speaks of inner states and marks stages of my life.

If you ever find yourself with seven free minutes, ask yourself these questions and see where they take you.
The adventure is just beginning - because sometimes, all it takes is that one dress (and a contagious example).