Selfridges

I went to London yesterday which proved to be very helpful as it enabled me to view the Ultralounge at Selfridges where The Girls project the Paper Eaters will be held. It was a lot bigger then I had expected and showed how the space could be used in an interesting way. On show was M.O.S.T - Museum of Small Things. It was great to see how another team had used the space and will be interesting to look back on when its transformed for the Paper Eaters.

Jem

When Zoe came to show us her inspiration, she also mentioned Jem (a cartoon which was around in the 80's) What I like about it is the use of graphics, I think the writing is very typical 80's and would perhaps make my own video give this feel if it was inserted once edited.

Mood Board of The Girls influences

When Zoe Sinclair from The Girls came to show us her inspiration I was not expecting a huge amount of visual information. I have therefore taken the imagery that appealed to me and made a mood board. By doing this it has enabled me to get a good feel and starting point for my own project.

Synopsis combining the Girls

For this project I want to propose a magazine spread for duo Andrea Blood and Zoe Sinclair more commonly known as The Girls. Later this year they will be putting on a live project called The Paper Eaters which will be held at Selfridges in April. I hope to produce some interesting photography that merges both The Girls and my own ideas together. These images could later be shown in one of the three magazines they are publishing or on their website.

The Girls project is heavily influenced by the 1980’s, a decade of extravagance and over indulgence which saw the introduction of new technologies. One technology I am really interested in is the emergence of music videos, in particular the introduction of Pop music videos.

In my previous projects I have started to look into film in fashion, unlike paper this is something that has not died out but has in fact grown due to the internet, with websites such as YouTube and Vimeo embracing this development. I am very keen to continue my exploration and collaboration within film. I therefore would be interested in creating a film to go alongside with my photo spread which could be shown as an installation at Selfridges or on their website.

Although The Girls project is being influenced by the 1980’s they also want to give it a twist to give it a contemporary feel. Some of their influences are wigs, bustles and corsetry, which are pieces taken from a completely different era. I am particularly interested in eighteenth century dress and costume, where wigs, bustles and corsetry were a staple fashion garment of that century.

I hope to mix eighteenth century costume with the 1980s glamour to create a contemporary look that embraces The Girls style with my own. I effectively want to create an anachronism look.

I aim to collaborate with film, photography, make-up, fashion and costume students. For The Girls project a number of students from second year fashion are putting together outfits that will be worn by Zoe and Andrea during the duration of the Paper Project. I have very little budget for this project so I will try and collaborate with fashion and costume students which will enable me to have access to unique outfits and designs related to The Girls project. I think for this project collaboration is really important as it develops team skills with future contacts.

For a basis of research I want to combine first and secondary primary research. My research will also include visits to Selfridges, exhibitions and museums whilst incorporating a mixture of books, articles, magazines, internet and video study.

I will be using a PDP online blog to document and evaluate my findings alongside a tactile sketchbook to document texture and clippings whilst on visits. By having an online blog it will help me to communicate my work quickly and clearly with the people I will be collaborating with.

This unit will enable me to develop my understanding of historical references in relation to current trends and styling aiming for a live project. I also hope to develop my portfolio expanding on my styling and historical reference through research, photo shoots and the use of film.

The Paper Eaters

The Girls are putting together an live exhibition at Selfridges in April this year. They will convert the Ultralounge space on Selfridges lower ground floor to a bunker-like workspace/den, creating an environment reminiscent o a 1980's pop video and suggesting the innocence of a bygone era.

They will have different interactive areas where visitors can indulge themselves. These will include a drive-in style photo-story viewing booth, 1980's makeovers, a dance floor, manual typewriters to try out and photo opportunities.

The Girls

Zoe Sinclair and Andrea Blood more commonly known as The Girls are a re-emerging graphic come fine artists. They create a mixture of fun, tongue-in cheek art work that has featured in numerous publishes such as Amelia's Magazine, The Guardian, Marie Claire, Muse Magazine and many more.

Contacting Zoe Sinclair (The Girls)

I contacted Zoe from The Girls

Hi Zoe

I'm a 2nd year student from Fashion. I apologise that I wasn't at the meeting last night. I didn't think I would be looking into the girls project, however after my tutorial today Tammy suggested I emailed over some of my ideas to try and incorporate them to the project at Selfridges.

I do the communication side of fashion studies and my passion is film and photography. However a lot of my work is web and computer based.

My original idea which was not linked to any of the live projects, was to explore the Grand tour and the luxurious way aristocrats used to travel.

I have now moved away from this in the hope that I will be able to develop something alongside the Girls project as Selfridges.

Although it may be interesting to try and incorporate a glamorous way to travel alongside, but I am not sure.

One idea was to perhaps do a photo spread showing the clothes that have been made for the project, styling them to the designers theme. I really like Annie Leibovitz Alice in Wonderland photo spread showing the clothing made for characters out of the story with the designers photographed alongside.
I thought that I could perhaps do something similar?

I also like the use of over sized props and tongue in cheek vibe that could be incorporated with some of the designs for the Girls project. Very Tim Walker feel.
I had an idea to take forward my Grand Tour theme focusing on the Eighteenth Century Fashion and take elements from this era and the Girls project and merge the two together. I remember in the briefing you mentioned using wigs, corsetry and bustles which are all staple costume in the Eighteenth Century, I could then mix it up by adding elements from the 80's for example the colours, accessories etc. Also if I was to create a video it could be set historically with linkage to historical garments, buildings and architecture but incorporating 80's music, colours and modern props. Very similar to Marie Antoinette but with a grungy/darker feel.

I would look into working with film, photography and make-up students.

This image if work from one of the make-up artisit's I have worked alongside with looking into the wig's

and this is a video I put together on my previous project

These are just a few of the ideas I've had at the moment, I would be very grateful if you could give your opinion on what you think would work and be beneficial for The Girls.

Many Thanks

Vicky

Tutorial Feedback

I had my tutorial feedback today and it was discussed that whilst my ideas where there, I was missing out on a great opportunity to work on a live project which could get my work displayed.

The two live projects are The River Island Event and The Girls.

The River Island Event is for the winning team from the River Island Project to set up their event, this event would be where students could help out and produce work or set up a stall.

The Girls project is a live project which will be held in Selfridge's (London) during the month of April. The project is called the Paper Eaters which is about the decline of paper due to technology.

Although I am very pro towards technology, I think The Girls project is something which could get my work displayed to a huge variety of people from different areas. I will therefore try and combine my previous ideas so that I can produce something that can benefit The Girls and my own work.

Kevin McCloud - The Grand Tour

I watched Kevin McCloud's documentary on the Grand Tour which was aired in October last year on channel 4. I found it really inspiring as he travelled in the footsteps that the aristocrats made across Europe, looking into the experiences they had and what influenced them. I Particularly liked the fashion experiences he had in France and Venice where like the British of that period, he also experienced new fashions and taste.

'When the Englishman comes to Pasris he cannot appear until he has had a total metamorphosis. On his first arrival he sends for the tailor, wig maker, hatter, shoemaker. He must even change his buckles and the form of his ruffels.'

Tobias Smollet

They effectively dressed to be accepted by a foreign court.

'Parents were worried their men would turn into feminised fops...and for most of them they weren't wrong.'

Synopsis for the Grand Tour Travel Project

I would like to look into the Grand Tour as a starting point and explore the luxurious way the aristocrats used to travel. Looking into the 17^th right up to the 19^th century British fashion and the outfits they wore whilst travelling, in particular women’s style.

I also want to introduce the Great Exhibition and how museums were set up to show artefacts gathered from afar. I am particularly interested in how the wealthy used their newly travelled knowledge and paraded gathered items throughout their houses, dedicating rooms and in some cases using their whole houses as museums to show off collections from their travels. Bringing together my love of old estates and travelling.

On this starting point I hope to develop a photo spread showing a stylish way to travel which I feel the British nation has lost. I want to explore the luxurious and exotic notions travelling used to inspire and to bring this back to life. Whilst combining period references but in keeping with a contemporary outcome. I also want to develop my fondness of film collaborating with film students and photography students incorporating this theme.

For a basis of research I want to combine first and secondary primary research. My research will also include visits to exhibitions, museums and stately homes whilst incorporating a mixture of books, articles, magazines, internet and video study.

I will be using a PDP online blog to document and evaluate my findings alongside a tactile sketchbook to document texture and clippings whilst on visits. By having an online blog it will help me to show my work quickly and clearly with the people I will be collaborating with.

This unit will enable me to develop my understanding of historical references in relation to current trends and styling. I also hope to develop my portfolio expanding on my styling through photo shoots and the use of film.

I want to expand my photo shoot knowledge and portfolio and take advantage of the spring period to shoot on location.

Using the Grand Tour I hope to create a stylish look ideal for travelling. Ideally suited for a magazine or look book as a photo spread type format. I also want to consider the film as an advertisement type of media to present or coincide with my photo spread online or through television production. I hope to encourage a British Style movement that makes the viewer want to travel in a original and stylish way.

Channel No 5 Advert

Because I want to combine film with my project, I have started to look into film that could relate to my project. I really like this recent advertisement for Channel No5. I think it links historical and contemporary references together giving it a modern feel but keeping the romance of travel alive.

Collaborating with Film Student Alex Gardiner

I worked with Alex for my last project and was really pleased with the final outcome. For this project I want to develop a fashion film and create something more exciting and commercial. I was thinking of taking the Grand Tour idea and developing it into a travel commercial or something similar.

The Grand Tour

For this project I wrote a list of things that I like to give me a basis of ideas to start my project from.

These are a few of the words I wrote down:

Travelling

Collecting Arifacts

Historical Reference

Museums

Antiques

Period Houses

Cruise Liners

Taking these words I then looked into what would combine them all together and felt that the Grand Tour would be an interesting way to combine my interests.

For my negotiated studies I would like to look into the Grand Tour as a starting point and explore the luxurious way the aristocrats used to travel. I also want to bring in the Great Exhibition and how museums were set up to show artefacts gathered from afar. On this starting point I hope to develop a photo spread showing a stylish way to travel which I feel the British nation has lost. I also want to develop film again collaborating with film students and photography students incorporating this theme.

As a separate project alongside the Negotiated studies brief I would still like to help the winning River Island team and help out with the dressing up box as planned in our previous communication meeting.

As a way of combining the two projects I could have a screen installed showing the film I had created as a ‘look’ for style.

Negotiated Studies - First ideas

For my negotiated studies project I've thought about what I liked about my previous projects and what I would like to improve on.

In my last project (Ornithology and Entomology) I really enjoyed working with a team. In particular I liked the use of film as a subject and final outcome.

For this project I want to develop my styling skills for a fashion spread and a fashion film.

As it will be spring time I hope to strengthen my skills from studio work to a location which will hopefully push my boundaries.