Based in Nottingham - the student city with endless amounts of fashion individualism - but a Norwich girl at heart!
Studying Fashion Communication and Promotion at NTU.... no it is NOT the same as Fashion Design! I don't design clothes, I engage in the advertising, print and digital side of fashion. This is my interactive journal.
A great example of combining artistic, traditional techniques of illustration with cosmetics. And who better than the queen of make up collabs, MAC.
I recommend subscribing to MAC's YouTube channel... they think of make up as art and present this through short fashion/art films. And no, their channel isn't about 'finding the perfect foundation shade'.... There's plenty of them out there already!
This was a collaboration that British Designer, William Tempest created with River Island's Design Forum.
It was a 2012 collection (so a bit dated now) but I was looking through my old seminar notes and I happened to stumble across this interesting and rather bazaar fashion film.
It takes references from 1920's glamour and Great Gatsby style lavish parties, but with an almost 60's Bob Fosse twist.... you'll know what I mean when you see the ballroom party scene (think 'Rich Man's Frug')
This is what River Island had to say about the film and the collaboration:
After launching earlier this year, River Island Design Forum returns for a second season with a collection of specially commissioned pieces created by William Tempest.
William’s range for River Island is filled with eveningwear separates in sumptuous black and nude fabrics. Exclusively designed textiles, which you’ll see running as a theme throughout the collection, include a tessellated design and a geometric art deco pattern.
William took inspiration from ancient Egyptian mythology, 1920s interiors and the work of the famed artist, M. C. Escher, for his designs. The scarab beetle, a symbol of wealth and power for ancient Egyptians, acts as a key motif which runs throughout the range via prints and intricate detailing.
This Design Forum collection made its debut via short film at London Fashion Week’s second biannual FASH/ON FILM festival . FASH/ON FILM, an initiative devised by the British Fashion Council in conjunction with River Island, aims to support and develop creative film in the industry.
You are immediately aware of his signature slices of lace inked
into the textural, floating gowns, teasing the audience with hints of bare skin
along the thigh and stomach.
The lace has an almost spidery, prickled quality adding a gothic twist to the usual pretty, feminine aesthetic associated with the brand.
Strappy gladiator stilettoes and booted heels with large silver
buckles at the ankle added a metallic gleam to the draped, whimsical fabrics.
Rich tones of slate, black, plum and mustard were an indulgence
to the usual pastel colour palette, with slight splashes of purple and teal as
a colour contrast to enhance the vibrancy of the mustard designs.
Pristine white suits strode between the arrays of floor-length
dresses adding a business sophistication to the collection. With chiffonshirts adding a feminine quality
underneath the oversized cape-like trench coats and angular cuts… strongly juxtaposing
the meticulous organic nature of his usual pieces.
However, one thing that will always remain constant
throughout his collections season after season are the body hugging silhouettes,
highlighting the femininely curved frames of the 6ft models.
So I know this post is overdue... I did this moodboard a good few weeks back! But I'm trying to update my blog with the tonnes of photos I have stored on my phone that I haven't got around to uploading. (On a side note, I can't believe the amount of photos I've been taking since starting uni! I swear I'm dreading the day when it says 'not enough memory')
Basically, it was a fairly open brief to get us familiarised with producing moodboards. We could chose any of our favourite designers/brands so I decided to go for Urban Outfitters, which coincidently seemed fitting since a new store is opening very soon here in Nottingham, not far from where I live actually.
I collected various magazine cut-outs, interesting typography and a lot (and I mean A LOT!) of flyers/promo cards from freshers week. I thought it might've been a challenge since there isn't a store in Nottingham nor in Norwich where I'm from, however I actually preferred taking on a more figurative interpretation of UO, instead focussing on creating the fun, loud and witty essence that I personally associate with the brand.
Here are a few of the photos I took in the process of finalising a composition. I played around with the idea of 'having fun with fashion' - a slogan I found in a magazine campaign that I believed summed up the brand's positioning well.
It took me a while to figure out which composition I liked the most, but after many photos on my phone (and a load of magazine cut-outs splayed across the kitchen floor, to the demise of my flatmates!) I finally decided on a mixture of illustrations, neon fabrics and vibrant spray-paint colours to depict this exciting brand.
Moodboards are such an easy, therapeutic way of expressing your favourite trends, colours and movements and the best part?... you can't really go wrong! It's all about creating an impression that you believe fits, there's no rules or restrictions. What's your favourite brand? Why not have a go yourself?
Top Left to Right: Hue/Saturation, Luminosity, Original image. Bottom left to right: Half tone pattern, Colour Replacement
In our Photoshop seminar, we experimented with ways in which you can manipulate an original image with certain special effects. In the top right corner is the original and as you can see some are more drastically changed than others!
In order from left to right we have hue and saturation (this was such a fun one to use purely because I enjoyed seeing the colours of her face, hair and body change through a rainbow spectrum just by moving the bar back and forth... something I'm sure everyone has done at some point in Photoshop, particularly when bored!)
Then there was luminosity, which is pretty straight forward - pick a colour from the original and change the entire image to that colour (in my case, it was the electric blue from the dress)
Directly below this was an effect called half tone pattern which was effective at creating a subtle grainy texture (probably not very noticeable in the picture) that is almost reminiscent of photos found in Newspapers.
And finally we have the colour replacement option, whereby you can depict certain hues of colour from an image and replace it with others. In my example, I subtly changed the tips of the ostrich feathers to compliment the electric blue found in the dress.... almost as if the feathers had a dip-dye!
I think the best thing to do when tackling Photoshop is to select an interesting image and just play around with it. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, and make sure you're ON THE RIGHT LAYER!
Mixed-media late night splurge of colour, spread across my desk like an ink explosion. I love this. The spontaneity of painting: no planning, no pencil construction lines and (most importantly) no rubbing out mistakes!
Just grabbed a piece of charcoal and marinated it to my page. Then grabbed some ink and water to blend. And then I thought it was such a shame to miss out the model's blood red lips... it worked so well against the porcelain of her skin and black turtle neck. The splattered ink just came out of pure enjoyment from using such punchy, bold colour.
Ink has to be my favourite medium... It's so uncompromising, so unapologetic when it splats on a page. You can't tiptoe lightly with the stuff, you need to go with full conviction or not at all. Charcoal is also a favourite. It's so raw and textural when you use it, perfect for adding an edgy, expressive mood to a composition. Again, either use it properly or not at all. I have no patience for pencil lines and scaling. I'll worry about that another time when I'm being paid to do an exact still-life replica of a person.
It’s as if Pugh took inspiration from the Romantic Movement, and then threw in sharp slices of futurism through his surprising and refreshing colour palette.
It’s interesting because in our lecture and seminar today, we were focussing on the importance of colour schemes and palettes to enhance an image or brand, and when observing collection again after my lectures, it’s as if I see it through fresh eyes.
When I glance away or envision the collection in my mind, I am instantly drawn to the juxtaposing colours of dusty mauve (accentuated perfectly with the soft, delicate nature of the ostrich feather – WGSN also picked up on this) and the electric, almostacidic aqua blue that really goes hand-in-hand with one another. I think that is the most integral part of his collection this season – colour. It really goes beyond his previous work with the trademark hardened, monochrome colour scheme, reminiscent of computer game special effects. It shows that he likes to keep things fresh, keeps the audience on their toes. Makes you think, “I know this is Gareth Pugh, but there’s something different that is making me less certain of myself” – and that’s what fashion should do! It should always keep you on your toes.
On a side note, you shouldn’t go to a fashion show expecting to know the designer’s creations. They’re not your designs to know. They’re there to be discovered. You are, after all (as much as you might want to think of yourself as a fashion know-it-all) a spectator. And in that role, you’re there to be absorbed by the new, the exciting and the unexpected. The stuff that makes you go, “Well, I didn’t expect that”. Even if you think you hate the collection, at least you feel something towards it! Perhaps at a later date you will reflect on it and think, “Actually, they were keeping things fresh and just because I wasn’t expecting it, doesn’t mean it’s terrible”
Fashion isn’t some preconceived idea, it’s a Movement – so let’s keep it flowing.
For our first Fashion Promotion task, we were set the brief to explore Nottingham's street style for a new fashion brand that is planning on setting up a store in Nottingham. This was definitely a creative and exhilarating task, dashing around the fashion hot-spots of Notts, but also ultimately terrifying having to ask strangers to take their photo!
Here are some of the final shots... it's interesting to see the collective personal styles that subtly present themselves through not only the garments, but through unique hairstyles, accessories, colour palette...etc.
I always listen to music when I'm working out what to blog.... or whenever to be honest! Getting ready for a night out is my favourite time to blast out the drum and bass or hip hop, and the flat usually comes alive at 11pm onwards when every flatmate's room is thumping with the clashing sounds of different beats, but there's nothing quite like music to get you feeling that euphoric buzz... even more so than alcohol (and that's a lot coming from a fresher!)
But what I've noticed recently is how much music is used through adverts.... I feel like most of the music I've been downloading hasn't been through the mainstream radio play of generic pop songs, but through adverts like John Lewis, TalkTalk, ITV Dramas etc.
Here are a few songs that I always make sure to write the lyrics down to quickly during the short advert clips so I don't forget to look them up later:
1. Take a Walk - Passion Pit (From the ITV Iplayer Advert)
I couldn't download the advert clip, but here's the link if you wanted to watch it:
2. Ben Pearce - What I might do (Tesco F&F fashion campaign)
This ad has been sooooo successful in my opinion with marketing Tesco's new A/W range. I mean come on, Tesco doesn't exactly scream 'fashion's latest trends', but whoever thought of making the campaign into a mini music video had such a good idea.... the urban tunnel backdrop, dingy lighting and a strong-beated song definitely proves how much Tesco wants to appeal to the younger, trendier consumer..... and now Ben Pearce must be rolling in it!
3. Ellie Goulding - Explosions (ITV New Dramas 2012)
I know this isn't recent, but I remember seeing this advert and falling in love with this song (and all of the dramas might I add)
4. Etta James - Good Rockin' Daddy (HSBC Advert)
I love this song... and anything by Etta really. There's also the song below by her from another ITV Drama advert about a programme called Breathless:
5. Etta James - Trust in me
Clearly adverts love a good blues/soul singer at the moment and I can't really complain.... I just hope it doesn't get overplayed like At Last (or I'd rather go Blind come to think of it since it was chosen so often by X Factor auditionees this year!)
So there's just a few, but there are so many (I haven't even looked at the John Lewis ones, but we all know the sort... remember how Gabrielle Aplin went from Youtube to mainstream?)
Next time, pay attention to the advert music, it might make you feel inspired for your new playlist ;)
After attempting and re-attempting several different blog posts, I decided to keep it simple and just say.... Hi! Welcome to my new fashion/lifestyle/culture blog. I will *hopefully* keep you up-to-date on anything that inspires me on my Fashion Communication and Promotion course and anything else along the side that captures my attention enough to talk about.
Please bare with me, I've never had a blog before so I'm still learning the ropes, and with time I'd love to put my own personal spin on the layout and design of it (once I work out how to do it!) so it feels a lot more like me, but I'm hoping you enjoy it enough to stick with me haha!
