Gaga for Gaga

I've been looking into fashion icons who dress controversially. Artists with the shock factor with in their appearance.

Obviously I had to include Lady Gaga, one of the most controversial and out there style icons of this century who sees her whole life is a performance.

 

 

Her album comes out in November and is called ARTPOP. It's a combination of fashion, art and music. Though Lady Gaga can be considered as style icon, a lot of her recent looks have been extremely shocking.

There was the meat dress a couple of years back, and one I found most intriguing was this one I posted above... where she recreates her look based on herself from the ages of 18 to 21. A part of her life she says she found most difficult. Her image and the way she styles herself always has a meaning, there is always a reason or a message behind it. This particular one is of self reflection and her personal experience which is an art form within itself.

 

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20725323,00.html 

 

 

Steven Meisel Controversy

Here are a couple of videos I found of Steven Miesel's photoshoots, both for Vogue Italia, and both that have been controversial and have been considered 'too shocking'.

 

First is oil and water, a collection of images highlighting the disaster of the Oil Spill...

 

 

The second having girls covered in fatty foods and sweets, contrasting against the 'perfect figure' and how models should eat within the fashion indurty. Called Haute Mess...

 

Vivienne Westwood

A prime example of someone well respected within the fashion industry. All of her catwalks, collections and designs have a n underlying meaning whether that is pushing the boundaries against what is socially acceptable, climate change or government and political issues.

 

 

She uses her fashion and her brand to express how she feels about issues such as global warming and climate change. She has been incredibly influential since the start of her career by bringing new wave and modern punk into mainstream fashion. Ever since her work has been controversial yet highly appreciated. For example she creates printed t shirts saying words like TRUTH or I AM NOT A TERRORIST don't arrest me.  

 

She has started the CLIMATE REVOLUTION

Here is a video of her SS13 catwalk in London...

 

 

 

 

Storyteller

Tim Walker is British fashion photographer whose work is also a combination of fashion (e.g. Vogue editorials) and artwork (e.g. storyteller).

His work is inspired by old stories and myths, these concepts are recreated and transformed into fashion editorials and shown in exhibitions. He is named as a fashion photographer, though his work is artistic. Therefore when creates his work, controversial and beautiful through the styling, the lighting and the meaning behind it all, it is appreciated within the fashion industry.

The shock factor is always being used and pushed by people within the industry. But is this just completely to sell products. To use designer clothes to make an audience want to buy them or look like the models in the photographs.

 

One thing I question, or have been questioning a lot recently is how photography and fashion can be seen as too shocking. Some concepts are considered vulgar and out of taste. Though within art, such as paintings, drawings and visuals, most of these push the boundaries of what is socially and culturally acceptable to say or present.

I went to Tate Liverpool over summer and I remember there was a wall covered in images of an artists work, he had kept a man in a room for 48 hours. He gave him a strict diet and he was observed by the public through a hole in the wall. The concept was about minimal living. Living off the bare minimum and to explore how this man dealt with having to be in this room for such a long period of time without physical and human contact.

After looking at all the contracts which had to be signed before they went through with the project, seeing the images of this altogether one wall, it stuck out and had an impact on my brain because of it's obscurity.
However, if this was related to fashion in any way, would this have been classed as too far and unacceptable? I want to explore the ways in which fashion photography and editorials are perceived by the public, and why they can be seen as tasteless and unsympathetic in certain circumstances.
Is it because of the link between fashion editorials and consumerism, do people think the reason behind these photographs is to sell by using devastation or is it to put out someone's beliefs about particular world wide/social/cultural issues?...

My brain is full of these questions! I need to do some first hand research to get a bit of clarity because at the moment I'm still finding it hard to reach a particular path to explore to create my dissertation on...
 

Charlie Le Mindu

An absolute genius. His hair designs are insane but fabulous. He blurs the line between art and fashion, hair design and self expression. Though his catwalks are haute couture and high end fashion, the concepts and the appearance of his work is extremely controversial like an art exhibition.

 

His latest collection for July 2013 (on the main opening page) is stunning and uses both hair and makeup to create a whole concept and idea and portray it to an audience through a catwalk.

 

http://www.charlielemindu.com/

 

Well known for his collaborations and hair designs with Lady Gaga, one of his most controversial catwalk was in AW11. His designs consisted of the models walking almost dead looking,being completely naked covered in blood, wearing gas masks with a soundtrack of pigs squealing throughout. The combination of all of these things and some models wearing white lace was so shocking but brilliant.
At the end of the show Charlie himself came out onto the catwalk covered in blood dressed as if he'd butchered his models.

Surveying Makeup

I decided to create a survey to analyse how women/girls perceive makeup and to see their attachment to it. This will enable me to discover how important a particular audience (social media - facebook/twitter) views and cares about their appearance when using makeup.

 

Here are the questions asked...

 

1. Do you feel more confident when wearing makeup?

Yes No

2. Does your makeup routine change depending on your mood?

Yes No

3. Do you have a specific makeup routine?

Yes No

4. Would you feel confident being in a social situation (e.g. clubbing) without makeup on?

Yes No

5. What is your age?

16-18 19-25 26-40 41+

6. If you could only keep one of your items of makeup what would it be?

Foundation/Concealer Eyebrow Pencil Eyeliner Mascara Bronzer/Blusher Lipstick/Gloss   Depending on the answers I can see a correlation between the age of people who answered and how they rate the importance of makeup to themselves. The answers I receive from 'which product...' and 'does your makeup change on your mood' will be the ones that can indicate whether this particular market are more creative with their makeup and how it is used by them. E.g. if there is a correlation between your mood and your makeup. The product chosen by those who answered could also suggest whether they use makeup to cover up (using concealer or foundation) or enhance (mascara)...   https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LXXSCLS     Results will be published at a later date.

Makeup everyday

In everyday society makeup is used to help boost confidence, enhance your image and for most women and girls, including myself, the process of applying makeup (whether that be a full face or just some mascara) is a part of my daily routine.

Though everyone has their own way of doing their face, an idea of mine would to be explore the ways in which the application and use for makeup could be in a completely opposite world...

Where makeup was applied to the body/face/hair to project emotions, situations and views of each individual.

 

Fashion editorials can be and are by some, perceived as an ideology of the 'perfect' life and the 'perfect' image. I personally believe this is why controversial and imperfect fashion editorials are frowned upon due to society being used to the polished beauty which sell products.

Though fashion has such a huge impact on society, culture and politics. The concepts and ideas behind fashion editorials, the artistic and creative minds which collaborate to create these editorials.

 

Could I flip this view upside down, and imagine a world where controversial editorials were idolised and used as an inspiration for our own personal presentation?

 

Involving delving into the thoughts and theories behind hyper reality, sexism, domestic violence to name a few of thousands... could we style ourselves on raising awareness of personal and political issues?

Video Inspiration

Strip it back

For the past few weeks I have been pulling my hair out on finding the perfect angle to approach my dissertation. I'm so in love with controversial fashion editorials like the ones I previously posted, however I wanted to explore the nature of why and how these editorials have such an effect on culture and society as apposed to a piece of controversial art work...

Then again, I love the appearance of the images, the thought process and the passion and thought that has gone into the styling and makeup/hair. The way the images were shot and the message that is being put out there. This is the kind of makeup and hair I love. I style I want in my portfolio, a depth and indifferent take on fashion makeup. A contrast on perfection. Blurring the line between art and fashion.

 

 

Then I listened to this song, and the video is clips from the film factory girl. A film about the American 1960's model Edie Sedgwick and her life. I remembered watching an interview with her where she explained why she did her makeup and dressed the way she did. It was to create a mask. To create her own personality to hide behind all that she was going through.

 

Then it clicked in my mind that this is the perfect way to go about creating my dissertation!

How makeup has changed from to covering up imperfections, creating the perfect complexion. To sculpt the face and enhance your appearance for the better. Makeup generally, just specifically within editorials, artists have taken a different direction and delved under the skin for deeper concepts… using makeup to highlight pain and emotion. To shed light onto devastation such as political, social and even personal issues through the art of fashion editorials.

 

 

An example from Vice, an editorial shoot about hoarders.

 

 

 

Disseration Explosion

After starting my trend forecasting blog earlier last week, I realised the best place to put all my ideas, information and research for my dissertation would be in another blog!

 I've been having idea overload and writing it all down on random pieces of paper, napkins and in notes on my phone. Here is a place I can put it all together in order to create some clear direction of where I really want my dissertation to lead. What kind of work do I want to put out into the industry, something I feel really strongly about and hopefully something that will inspire and change others...

 

That's one of the reasons I first got into makeup artistry. I started off working as a Saturday girl in a hairdressers and it all developed from there. Self expression through your appearance.

If I posted of picture of me 9 years ago (when I first started really experimenting with my hair/makeup) and compared it to a picture of me now you wouldn't even think it was the same person.

 

 

But because of this, I became completely fascinating with makeup, fashion and hair due to the impact it has on how others perceive you and how it changes the way you act and think about yourself.

I basically have the same makeup routine of concealing, foundation and contouring my eyes and cheekbones. EYEBROWS most definitely and I always have liquid eyeliner on the top of my lash line. But without a second thought, this is something I do most days if not everyday (with the occasional acceptance of hangover/lazy days during the weekend).

 

 

I think the impact that appearance and fashion has on society and culture is one so intense it is almost overlooked and sometimes maybe underestimated?... Until I came across this photographer. Steven Meisel. His work has changed the way I think about fashion editorials and how they are an artistic and inspirational way of communication.

A part from being something most people look up to and strive for the 'perfection' within editorials, Meisel creates beauty and shed lights upon history, society, the world around us, and creates photographs so controversial you cannot help but stare.

Some take offense, others see his work as a work of art...

 

 

The combination of Pat MCGrath and Steven Meisel has inspired me to go down this particular root for my dissertation. I want to explore the future of fashion editorials. The future of fashion as a whole and how it can be used as a way to project political statements. Though I haven't decided exactly on what my question will be, this blog will help direct me to the perfect question...

Like I always say at the end of my first post on every blog, wish me luck.