Lidia Bavin
Manchester Metropolitan Fashion Art Direction Portfolio
For our first digital project we were asked to create a magazine cover. With research from my initial moodboards and knowledge of 60s fashion, I styled and photographed my model creating the desired outcome, accentuating the eyes and making the hair a main statement. Furthermore, this project solidified my enjoyment in communication and styling as I enjoyed the process to create the end product.
The Face of ‘67
Some other pictures from the shoot, it was good to take multiple shots with different poses and lighting. This enabled me to see what picture would be the most fitting for my concept, for example I wanted some pictures of the model looking down to show the graphic eyeliner, which makes the eyes the main focus.
This shows my research and final design for my ‘Structure’ project, my chosen theme focusing on the structure of factories, industrial towns and the working class. This project allowed me to gather inspiration from my own everyday surroundings by going out and taking my own pictures, which I then designed from. It was really interesting to go into depth about the history of industrial towns like my own and talked about the struggles North East towns faced during the Thatcher years, which gave my work more sincerity as I had the knowledge and information to fully explain my design choices.
Here shows my photography for my ‘Structure’ project taken around my town. I wanted to turn the England flag imagery I observed into something that would celebrate working class culture and stray away from the negative connotations of the flag.
Further structure project research, I gathered pictures of local punks from my area to see how they dressed and asked them what being a punk meant to them. This allowed me to design from these images and have a deeper understanding of the subculture.
Some collage experimentation for my structure project, which I then used to design from. I liked layering up the images and including different textures, this gave me a different way of generating ideas and shows my thought process clearly and visually.
Future fashion thinking
Fashion is facing the need to change and become more sustainable. One way is through modular fashion, where a garment can have more than one purpose. For example, a coat with removeable sleeves serves as both a coat and a bodywarmer, which can be worn throughout the seasons. Having more than one function is more sustainable as clothes can be worn more often and would decrease the amount of clothes the customer would buy as it functions as multiple garments in one. My sampling process reflects on the sustainability of my garment by including adjustable sleeve length.
For our live brief with TrendBible, we created trend predictions for Autumn Winter 23-24. This project helped develop my progress in digital software and also made me realise how much detail and research goes into trend predicting. For example, how social issues like the cost of living can influence what people wear (rise in second hand/DIY clothing to save money). I also explored how drivers such as music and film can make a trend or era of clothing resurface.
My second trend discussed how social media platforms can drive trends, such as TikTok with the ‘Elvis’ film last year. I researched for styling videos and makeup tutorials relating to the 60s delicate vintage vibe focusing on Pricilla Presley and Lana Del Ray as the main indicators.
My designs for this trend related to the soft colour pallet, featuring delicate lace and 60s shape block heels. I liked how I could physically draw and then scan them in on the computer to include on my boards.
My shoe illustrations, during my trend project, gave me a insight on the shape and proportions of different styles of shoe which allowed me to get familiar with the shaping before I designed my own. Adding the details such as zips, laces and fastenings was good for my observation and allowed me practice different ways of showing definition, for example going back over the studs with a fine liner.
Experimentation with different medias throughout my ‘Fashion As Art’ project helped my visual presentation as layering pictures and paints gave an experimental look to my sketchbook and allowed me then create samples which communicated my theme. I was inspired by Andy Warhol and the iconic Velvet Underground’s album cover which features the pop art banana design on the front. Layering up fabric and cutting each layer to reveal the colours underneath was a new technique for me but it proved quite fitting for the look I was trying to achieve.
During my research for my Fashion As Art project, I looked into two photographers who are very inspirational to me, Gavin Watson and Derek Ridgers. Their photography captured youth expression in a casual yet artistic way, finding beauty in the underground culture of Britain.
My Fashion As Art titled ‘Self Expression Through Clothing’ focused on the importance of clothing and feeling free to express your personality and opinions through self image. The project allowed me to think more conceptually and not be afraid to experiment with moulage and designs. Trying different methods to gather inspiration like collage really helped my design process and gave me new ways to present my ideas.
I created this sample by sewing acetate onto a picture of Walt Paper, one of the iconic faces of the ‘Club Kid’ scene in New York. Creating this sample allowed me to combine photography and a different element of sewing, which looks quite striking against the monotone image.
Drawing for my current FMP. Titled ‘Teenage Kicks’, this theme explores the importance of teenage years in your life, subculture, youth culture and the importance of self expression.
Photo recreation from ‘Creem’ magazine. Following the idea of self expression I discussed badges and how they are a prevalent feature on ways to make a statement within outfits. Using my own badge collection, I styled an outfit to show how I would personally interpret the shoot into an outfit I would wear. The handwritten extract is from a 1995 edition of ‘Q’ magazine which included perfectly explains how it feels to be a teenager experimenting with your look.
