Photo Shoot

I have arranged my first photo shoot! Woo! I found my photographer on the website Model Mayhem - website where you can find people you need to work with like photographers, make up artists, models..etc. I looked at some peoples work to see how experienced they were and messaged photographer Ina Halsor, who’s work I was impressed with and who also goes to AUCB. She said she'd be interesting in helping and that she liked my concept and that because I want different styles to be shown through the photos it would be good for her portfolio too. I also found make up artist Jade Emery who said the same. My Model will be my housemate Jenna Marshal who's also on the make up and special effects course. I have arranged for it to be on Monday 21st March so  I have enough time to get all my outfits together and work arranged. We're starting at 9.30 as early as possible so we can try and fit all looks in on one day as Ina has to travel far away so one day would be best if its possible.
I have talked to Jade and Ina about what I want from the photos and what the concepts are and the make up and arranged which style will come after one another so the hair wont be ruined for the next shoot and can flow into place. We're starting with one of the most natural make up looks also so the next style we can build on that and wont take long amounts of time to remove.

Nicole Richie Style & her brands House of Harlow & WInter Kate!

I absolutely adore Nicole Richie's style which is usually inspired by the 60's and 70's, bohemian and vintage style. She really inspires me with her look and how she styles herself for my own style and for my work. She has bought out her own label called Winter Kate and also a Jewellery Line called House of Harlow 1960. Im doing one of my photo shoots based on Bohemian style and I have been looking at her modern take on it for some of my research.
I love her use of floaty and printed materials and layered jewellery. Her photo shoots of the outdoors show the freeness of the bohemian style and lifestyle. I want to capture this freeness in my photo shoot.

Ethical Fashion

This much debated about issue is aimed to discuss the problems with the way the fashion industry currently operates. For example,exploitative labour, environmental damage, the use of hazardous chemicals, waste, and animal cruelty.


Voices such as Caryn Franklin are bringing the issue to debate and on 3rd March 2011 Crossbencher Baroness Young of Hornsey led a debate on supporting the ethical and sustainable fashion and clothing industry. She put forward the argument that if UK citizens can get tax breaks on energy efficient cars and other sustainable products why cant they use tax breaks on ethical fashion? This would make high street stores much more willing to become ethical and sustainable as materials can prove expensive. It is an issue increasingly talked about and becoming a bigger problem with time.


This will most probably effect the fashion world as we go into it so I need to research into the subject as much as possible and keep up to date with news and issues, worldly and fashion. Also need to keep aware and up to date with changes in companies and look out for fair-trade and ethical clothing within shops and industry. This is so if companies I want to apply for jobs at become ethical or have ethical views I can relate and understand them fully and be ready to work with this as an ethic.

Size 0 Models

Another debate much on the end of peoples tongues right now is that of size 0 models. Is this promoting an unhealthy image to people especially young girls?... should they really be used in media and in fashion wearing glamourous, expensive clothes and the newest trends making it look like a glam lavish life that young girls would wish to be a part of. Models are reportedly starving themselves to death to be the right size for catwalk shows.
Caryn Franklin came to talk at our uni and claimed this whilst stating that "young people say more unachievable beautiful women in magazines than elderly people did in their whole lifetime." I think this makes young people think this is normal and the admired desired look. By women and by men for women. Its dangerous mentally and physically. Caryn has set up an exhibition in London called 'All Walks Beyond the Catwalk' It's promoting individuality and models of different sizes, nationalities, and looks.
They launched at London Fashion Week in Sept 2009 where eight emerging designers were paired with 8 diverse models most notably creating the ‘plus size,’ model Harley Morley and Mark Fast partnership.
Magazines such as Look are starting to use plus size models in their fashion sections and few have been used on the catwalk. The issue has been taken to government and is looking like changes are starting to be made. There is such demand for this change that by the time i'm working in industry a lot more sizes may be being used. I don't think this would affect my career to much especially as I think it is an important issue which I believe it. I'd be happy for this change for different size models and would love to work with them - even though if i'm styling this could prove tougher as previous fittings may be needed. With different shaped bodies it means you cannot just expect everything to fit in the right areas, it may prove tougher to find clothes that suit and fit everywhere but i'm more than happy to take on this task!'Plus size' model Hayley Morley on the catwalk for Mark Fast

Tutorial

My tutorial today I bought my sketch book in. I'd filled it with research i decided to start off with which was my research into the 'evolution of fashion' how and why it changed due to political/worldly issues. The tutors thought I did not delve deep enough into the past which were massive historical moments. I wrote quite a lot on each and was a bit upset at first, I though i could show main points, looks and why they came to be like that so I could reach a place where I could say look how far we've come and changed but most outfits people worn on the streets these days came from some of these decades and are here for more of a reason than just someone simply designing them.

I initially did not want to write so much on each decade so that it not would outweigh the project and go off my subject. I wanted to give an overview of major changes in clothes that were linked to changes in history. However now I think I should have possibly concentrated on about 2-3 decades (instead of 10) and researched, evaluated and written about them thoroughly so they were done properly and well instead of having to write less for 10. This would've still shown my point that things were changing and developing so much due to what was going on in the world.

Job Roles

I have been looking at jobs roles and descriptions. Here is one i found on Fashion Monitor for Tea and Cake.

AE-SAE – Tea&Cake PR

added: 08 March 2011

(PR/Marketing)

Tea&Cake PR are looking for an enthusiastic, down to earth, hard working AE-SAE to join our growing team.
The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 1 year’s PR experience along with some experience/working knowledge of social media and social media campaigns.

The role will be across some of our lifestyle and fashion accounts - and we would therefore take preference over candidates with experience that is varied and not too specialized.

You will be passionate about fashion, lifestyle and sport brands, have strong media skills, be self-motivated and have a high degree of initiative. Experience of events and regional media would also be an advantage

Tea&Cake PR is a consumer agency, specialising in fashion, sport and lifestyle brands. We are small-medium size and based in Shoreditch, east London. Please visit our website www.teaandcakepr.com for more information.

To apply please send your CV to lucy@teaandcakepr.com

Please mention Fashion Monitor when applying for this position.

I like how it describes the person they are looking for as enthusiastic and down to earth first of all. This shows the company is looking for someone normal but passionate who really believes in what they do and this company, almost like personal requirements over straight in on what you have to do.

Its explains a variety of experience is good as there will be a bit of variety in the job role - showing that not every job is completely specific and different types of work experience is good also rather than always just searching for one type. Also shows again that experience is very important as it's required and preferred to get the job.

Below i am going to create my own job description for my ideal first job....

Look Fashion Stylist

Look Magazine are looking for an enthusiastic, down to earth and hardworking fashion stylist to join our team.

The ideal candidate will have an ideal of 1 years experience in stylist or magazine experience and experience or awareness of social media.

The role will be across some of our lifestyle, beauty, styling and fashion pages. Sourcing clothes and returning them. Keeping blogs and social networking pages up to date. It will consist of arranging photo shoots and working with others to create appropriate concepts and style themes. Celebrity news, pages and interviews. and knowledge of high street and high catwalk fashion is needed.

You will have to be passionate about fashion, beauty and lifestyle. Have good media, promotion and styling skills. Be self-motivated and have a high degree of initiative.  Experience of media, promotion, styling and magazine work would be a great advantage.

PP Tutorial

Okayy... so I had a tutorial on my ideas for this project. It was pretty tough and I realise I need a stronger argument as when i was under fire with questions and gaps in my theory were found it was hard for me to answer with strong enough points. I need to research some more to make my argument stronger , more effective and backed up. I think another thing I should do is put together a questionnaire to get peoples views and if they agree and support my idea.
I realise this is a hard industry to get into where I need to be confident and strong and know as much as possible so i need to practice with my communication and how I explain myself so it will help me as much as the person questioning me to understand where i'm coming from.

Sources of fashion info and jobs

Fashion Monitor and career websites are promoting new jobs, contacts within the fashion and beauty industry, fashion & beauty news and events. It covers lots of information within all these titles so you can look into what you're interested in more. It can help me keep up to date with fashion news like product launches, new campaigns and staff staff moves in industry. Up to date with events like launches and catwalk shows and provide me with contacts in the industry so I can apply for a job or work experience. Most importantly I can see what jobs are available and even give insight to ones I may not have thought about so much before. In the future I can use them to look for job vacancies and they'd also help give me an idea of what kind of jobs are available, where they are, what the responsibilities would be for the job and what skills and requirements i'd need for it. I can then see if the job suits me and if i fit the requirements then I have the details to apply!


Fashion career agencies promote themselves and good jobs to help you sign up to them and then they promote you to employees and help you find a good job to fit what you're looking for. They call you and notify you if something new comes up they think may be of interest which would be helpful especially if you have another job on the go and don't have as much time to search for jobs.
It could really benefit me in the future signing up to them so they could help me on my way to finding an appropriate job in fashion.

Style spotting, Carnaby Street

I went trend spotting down Carnaby Street and here are some people I found. I think each person is showing different styles and see vintage if not vintage inspired pieces there and think the style of most items can defiantly be linked back to history when they originated and when they were popular. Ill be doing this in my professional project research sketch book.  I think this is a good hands on way of learning and gathering information from talking and photographing people on the street to prove my point and see what people are actually wearing.  I wish I had more time to get more photos and go other places in London as this would make my argument stronger, but i defiantly want to get more photos to fit in with the project.

Will online shopping and new media one day result in the end of real shops

With new media technology developing constantly and online sales thriving, there is debate to whether this could mean the end of real original shops. Though ASOS.com only sells online, they are doing extremely well with a reportedly sales increase by 59% in the fourth quarter last year reaching £100million whilst international sales soared by 156% to £43.7 million. This gives an idea of the vast amount of people who are using online shopping instead of going shopping in stores. Some online shopping websites also offer exclusive clothing thats not available in shops such as Topshop.com and Beyond retro, vintage store. So if you want these clothes you HAVE to buy them online alone meaning if people think they can get more and exclusive things online they may chose this over the effort of going out and travelling to a store.

Online stores are now even using systems where you can put outfits together virtually so you can see what goes together well.

Despite all this I think there is a satisfaction and leisurely enjoyment that a lot of people get out of shopping in a real built, decorated store. Clothes can be tried on and put back if they're not right, whereas a lot of people find it a hassle to order clothes online and post them back if they do not fit. Going into town shopping many people (mainly women) see as an activity and exciting day out and enjoy browsing in different shops, being able to feel materials and see everything in reality instead of on a screen where a piece of clothing could look slightly different or misleading.

Companies like Asos and online stores are driving this however, I think there will still be many people that will keep giving the real stores enough business to keep them in business!

I think this could affect my career decisions as many things are becoming online and seen via the internet. Such as online shopping and online magazines. I want to work for a magazine so this could affect the way i'd be required to display work, instead of just a magazine spread/ layout, it will be something completely new and look different from the magazines i'm used to reading.