Visual Essay - Mini Brief 4 - Bristol Fashion

INSPIRATION

INDIEGROUND BLOG

VOGUE, VOL. 188, NO. 6. 1998

SEVENTEEN MAGAZINESEPTEMBER 1998

‘THE GOODS’ FROM SASSY MAGAZINE - 1996

INTRODUCTION

I chose mini brief 4 to take forward for this module. I decided to focus on fashion in Bristol, as I have noticed since moving here, that it is a huge part of the culture.

The fashion in Bristol is heavily varied and broad. There is not one set style or one dominant style, as it is a very accepting place that has a great amount of freedom of expression.

I decided to create ten posters displaying the varying style spectrum here in Bristol, I want to capture different fashion trends in different demographics, such as age and gender. Through my research, I have found that many people have felt more accepted and free to be themselves and present themselves however they wish since living in Bristol. I interviewed a few people I met while drawing in public and creating reportage drawings.

I was inspired by 80s - early 2000s fashion magazines, which incorporate a collage style technique and feature lots of digital effects. I believe that magazines aren’t the same as they used to be in the 90s and this era was the prime era for fashion in my opinion. The 90s is known for the huge influence on fashion that still impacts trends today.

Vogue magazines from the 90s are extremely different to how they are today. It has become extremely modernised and simplified, which in my opinion, destroys the charm and graphic aspect of the magazines. For reference, below is a page from Vogue from a 2016 issue. Compared to the Vogue page on the left

from 1998, the difference is big. I believe this is linked to the theory by Macleod on Tumblr that “the world is loosing it’s colour”. This theory describes how many brands have altered their logos over the years to become simpler and less colourful. Buildings, clothes, photos, cars, furniture and many other materials and items have also gone through this change over the last 20 years. I want to bring back the colour that has been lost in modern magazines through my work.

This theory, along with evidence can be found here:

tumblr.com/ macleod/691054353059053568/colorhas-been-disappearing-from-the-world

VOGUE, MAY 2016

REPORTAGE

I spent sometime in Bristol town centre drawing people I saw using a reportage technique. I focussed on those whose outfits inspired me most. I took pictures of some people I was drawing to later work further into them using the picture as a reference, but all drawings were initially started from drawing from life.

While creating reportage drawings in public of people passing by with interesting outfits, I interviewed these two people I saw. They let me draw them and take pictures so I could later work into the drawings more. I asked them about their opinions on

fashion in Bristol, about their style, and how they believe living in Bristol has altered their fashion sense. They both expressed how they feel much more free to dress how they want since moving here. Read above for the interview.

Here are some more drawingfrom - life images I created while in Bristol town centre of outfits that interested me.

I sat in a coffee shop and drew people who passed by, as well as a few people in the cafe.

More live reportage drawings.

FINAL POSTERS

SEE NEXT PAGES FOR MORE

Using my favourite drawings, I created these 10 posters to represent the spectrum of different styles in Bristol. I wanted to capture different trends, patterns and sequences in styles. I used magazines and newspapers to collage the background. These were inspired by 90s fashion magazines. The pages below display the rest of the posters.

To conclude, I am really happy with this pieces and quite proud of myself. I don’t usually draw people and I have never drawn in public, so this was a little out of my comfort zone. I really enjoyed collaging these posters together and it has inspired me to create a fashion magazine for the rest of this module.

I don’t like when things look too clean and perfect, I love the rough, handmade, sketchy, unfinished look which is part of my style. The task to try reportage drawing has really encouraged me to draw quickly and not to worry about mistakes. Some of these sketches were drawn with pen so I had no chances of erasing mistakes, this made me more free and confident with each line I drew.