Frock Stars

This week my friend and I checked out Sydney Powerhouse Museum for some inspiration and to see what all the fuss was about, around the Frock Stars exhibition.

The exhibition is celebrating 15 years of Rosemount Australian Fashion Week, taking you on a walk through a fashion show, front row and back stage and some 'behind the scenes' info on the fashion industry. An impressive amount of Australian Designers lent their pieces to the exhibition, which was creatively and interestingly designed. I recommend a visit, not just for the fashion enthusiast but for anyone who would like to have a look at what the industry is like, its quite accurate and fun to walk through.

Too fast to live, too young to die

"I am very, very sad that, unbelievably, Malcolm is dead, and I just wanted to say on this cruel, cruel day : get a life, do something with it!" - Vivienne Westwood

The Guardian

lace + fence

In my search for lace images, I came across Dutch Design House Demakersvan and their amazing design work on wire fences. I love the way the fences merge industrial and decorative, the fences are fully functioning, security fences but show that just because something requires function, it does not need to lack decorative design.

Images from: http://coolboom.net/products/lace-fence-by-demakersvan/ and http://www.demakersvan.com/

knots...

Today I've been researching some more on restriction for my design inspiration. I have branched off from traditional restrictive corsets and clothing to bondage, straight jackets, knots and ropes and plaiting. Here are a few images that caught my eye.

http://i219.photobucket.com

www.acmarine.com.au

Rococo...

These images are one of my sources of inspiration for my major work. I'm interested in the contrast of textures within the paintings; the soft nudes, voluminous fabrics and tight, restricted waists.

Social Media Revolution...

history lesson...

"A bikini is not a bikini unless it can be pulled through a wedding ring." Louis Réard

Louis Réard, was the 'inventor' of the bikini which he called the 'atom' and marketed it as 'the worlds smallest bathing suit'. He couldn't find a model who was prepared to wear the first bikini (above) so exotic dancer Michèle Bernadini was the first to wear it.

Pleasure State...

Pleasure State

I love this campaign by Pleasure State. Beautiful lingerie and interesting styling reminiscent of the female empowerment images I've been researching for my major work inspiration.

Goddess...

http://www.marilynmonroe.com/

polkadotrainbows.wordpress.com/

This week I’ve been looking at women in 1950-60’s film whilst writing my dissertation, particularly their approach to female empowerment. I’ve been reading ‘The Sex Goddess in American Film, 1930-1965: Jean Harlow, Mae West, Lana Turner, and Jayne Mansfield’ by Jessica Hope Jordan who suggests that these women used their understanding of sexual empowerment to manipulate their male characters to their own devices. By enhancing their sexuality and femininity, these women became powerful and much loved women.

It also reminds me of the Marilyn Monroe biography, Goddess: The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe by Anthony Summers I read last year which was a fascinating look into her life and the mystery that surrounded her death.

Not only was she beautiful and talented, I've always love the fashion in these photographs, her style and interestingly, her connection with my paper on Female Empowerment.

INHALE/EXHALE...

Poster and abstract of my final year project.

Inhale/Exhale looks at the conflicting and contrasting elements of women’s lingerie and corsetry in a swim – street collection. Taking inspiration from Rococo painting and portraiture of the late 1800s and lingerie, Inhale/Exhale is derived from the accompanying paper discussing the concept of female empowerment from the perspective of recontextualising symbols of oppression into symbols of empowerment and liberation.

Inhale/ Exhale looks at the push and pull of fabrics on the body; corsetry, tying and wrapping as well as layering and free flowing fabrics symbolising liberation. The collection will develop contrasting elements of restriction and volume and textures, and will consist of layered swim and outerwear consisting of silks, leathers, mesh, knitting and swim fabrics as well as rope and non-woven materials to create modern, sexy and powerful pieces. The collection will look at binding and other forms of body distortion used historically which symbolise oppression and reinterpret them into powerful pieces for the modern woman.

Fierce…Inspiration

Speaking of Fierce, I can’t not mention Vivienne Westwood, it’s no secret I’m a little bit obsessed with the British Fashion Designer.

Westwood is largely responsible for Punk Fashion and is known for her massive influence in everything Fashion, and she is a major influence of mine.

Westwood has once again teamed up with photographer Jurgen Teller for the SS2010 Campaign. Westwood once more features in the campaign with husband Andreas Kronthaler, Pamela Anderson, and new addition, Model Tati Cotliar.

Images from Zimbio

Musings…Alter Ego (and RIP Sasha Fierce)

Before

After

I love the idea of the Alter Ego for a muse, particularly Sasha Fierce, Beyonce’s alter ego and I think it embodies my design concept of female empowerment and enhancing your sexuality to feel empowered.

Beyonce say’s ‘When I'm onstage I'm aggressive and strong and not afraid of my sexuality. The tone of my voice gets different, and I'm fearless. I'm just a different person.’

Sadly, Beyonce revealed she’s killed Sasha Fierce now (!!) because she has leant to represent those characteristics on her own but the concept is really interesting in that it creates a channel for women to become who they want to be and to feel empowered.

Images: http://www.beyonceonline.com/au/home

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1087448/Beyonc-unveils-racy-alter-ego-Sasha-Fierce-didnt-mind-old-model-much.html#ixzz0jbzJY9JC

Manifesto…

My design philosophy is about the body. I’m interested in designing for women and enhancing her natural body so she feels sexy, confident, comfortable and empowered.

Feeling empowered is about being in control of yourself and feeling confident and independent.

I’m particularly interested in swimwear and lingerie and my current project will be a six look collection of Swim/Streetwear and a paper on Female Empowerment.

I believe fashion needs to have a conscience and a message to be successful and this is why I love Vivienne Westwood's work so much. Westwood pushes boundaries, never plays it safe and always has a strong purpose behind her work.

dere-lict...

I first came across these images on smokeandmirrorsblog.com. The images, by Julia Chesky are a bit old but none the less – awesome.

Images and more from http://www.julia-chesky.com/portfolio.html

Inspiration…

Today, guest industry lecturer, Renato Termenini
 gave my class a lecture on his design process and career.

Renato is a fashion, accessory and print designer and he talked through his amazing portfolio and gave us some interesting techniques for designing, like combining a few designs and images together and sketching them to form shapes and silhouettes in our own designs.

Renato also talked about photography of found objects, like hair, to manipulate in Photoshop or trace by hand to work into prints and experimenting with different fabrics and materials, he showed us a jacket he had made from an old leather lounge… genius!

Here’s an image from Renato’s website, www.termenini.com of a dress he designed and dyed using shibori.

He has left me feeling inspired and keen to start designing my major work!