My new found love for Pinterest

As part of my course, I was introduced to Pinterest. Prior to starting at Nottingham Trent I had a Pinterest account already but only used it to browse. However, after having a lecture on the website, I realised how inspiring it is, full of varied visual content. It ranges from photography, art, illustration, food, interiors, architecture, hairstyles and much more.

In one of my lectures focused on trends and how they can be put into categories (as you can see from below). I used Pinterest to create different moodboards on some of the categories. On each of the boards, I have pinned things that I believe have been classed as trends over the last ten years. Straight away I thought about current trends such as Military and Pop Art fruit but I wanted to look deeper into it and select other trends that aren’t as obvious.

My favourite board for location trend was fashion and forests, every art director and stylist loves a mystical theme that is generally shot in a forest. I found the motif trends really interesting to research because these are trends that are seen in any sector, not just fashion adverts.  The best motif trend that I found was reptiles, I found this pattern featured in interiors, buildings, garments and backgrounds. When looking at narrative trends, I focused on fairytales, almost all the editorial images that I found included an apple in the shot. This is inspired by Snow White, the apple can convey danger, beauty and risk.

I also had to include the cliché trend of composition where models are directed to jump because when flicking through magazines, this is common. Although this is a good use of composition and it looks visually appealing, it has been done many times before. When looking at editorials that used the jump, I came across a lot of advertisements that combined women and sport. I then began to create another board that was specific for sport and fashion.

If you haven't already, check out Pinterest!

Photo Credit - Pinterest

The Eye Has to Travel

From Harpers Bazaar to Vogue, Diana Vreeland is one of the most influential fashion editors of all time. Yesterday, we watched her documentary “The Eye Has to Travel” which gave me an insight into her life prior to success and how she became “the one and only fashion editor”. Initially, Vreeland comes across as a confident woman, however, from a young age she was very uncomfortable with her appearance and her mother regularly commented on her being the “ugly duckling” of the family which damaged her confidence. Despite this, she continued to keep her head up and focus on her ambitions. 

Whilst listening to the documentary, every time a new idea was mentioned for an editorial cover, I kept finding links between her work and previous insecurities that stemmed from childhood. For example, someone quoted in the documentary that Diana “didn’t edit herself” she embraced her beauty and loved being natural. This also links to her publication of Barbra Steisand’s nose on American Vogue. Barbra was very insecure about her nose but Diana wanted to celebrate the attributes that made people unique. She continued to do this with other women such as Twiggy who at the time was insecure about her skinny frame and Penelope Tree who didn’t like her unusual look. I admire professionals such as Diana Vreeland who go against the social norms, she doesn’t get rid of certain features that are not seen as beautiful, she embraces them. In my eyes, what is deemed to be “perfection” in todays media is not true beauty.

Imperfections create true beauty!

Quotations referenced from the documentary - "The Eye Has to Travel"
Photo Credit - Google Images

Is Fashion an anti-utopian world?

As part of this weeks reading, we were told to read “FASHION A Philosophy” By Lars Svendsen.

Whilst reading the book, the idea that fascinated me the most was a quote from Boris Groys. At first, I thought his concept was ridiculous but the more I thought about it, the more I started to agree with him.

Boris Groys describes fashion as anti-utopian – a world characterized by misery and oppression, but is it?

As a fashion lover, you would assume that I would disagree with this statement. However, I tend to agree with Boris Groys as recently (especially in Central London), certain nightclubs have told their bouncers to follow a set of requirements when it comes to club entry - allowing only one type of female to enter. As a woman, to hear this is disgraceful and a complete anti-utopia. Why should we follow a certain vision? Is this to attract males? Why do males not have certain requirements? What happened to individuality and the freedom to be who you want? Adhering to their “ideal image” is oppressing for those who have their own style and do not follow the crowd. Clubs are promoting the message that if you don’t fit their criteria of appearance then you cannot go out and enjoy yourself. I completely disagree with this concept because clothes are supposed to make you feel good and if you are not comfortable in what you are wearing, how can you have a good time? This is outrageous and as a fashion capital, there should be no rules on how to dress. Obviously clubs can give a dress code such as smart/casual or dressy but to pinpoint every part of the outfit should not be allowed. Women should not be forced into wearing 6 inch heels, short dresses or revealing tops, we do not have a uniform. 

So ladies, do not fall into the trap of feeling like you have to change your style to have a good time or to please others. Be yourself!