Blog Post 2 (Themes)

The project I chose was Make-up Break Down which provides an introduction to the content of Hair and Make-up for Fashion. I have a great passion for make-up and felt like this would be the perfect course to explore the themes of sustainability, social responsibility and diversity. I think as there can be extensive meaning, history and process behind this creative, these themes could be investigated deeply. With this project there is a big focus on experimental design and research that will be utilised to show process and implementing concepts in a physical look. Our project aim is to develop a look that is original, compelling and discusses the themes of better lives and social change. Our first session we had a very quick introduction into the practice and what a makeup artist kit should include, health and safety with the proper hygiene standard that absolutely have to be executed, skin types and colour theory which is the basis for all make-up practice. Colour theory is helpful knowledge when determining what kind of skin tone someone has, complimentary foundation shades and colours that compliment those particular skin tones. Along with correct foundation matching there is eye colour and what eyeshadow shades that flatter each one. Determining what kind of skin someone has by asking a lot of questions, feeling the skin and picking out what it needs is important in starting with a great base. It is important that when dealing with someone’s face you don’t upset their skin, cause irritations, spread infection etc. I think that this basic fundamental was so important because once you have an understanding of the products, how they work and how to use the correct shades you can then start to experiment. One of the main topics we were introduced to in the sessions was the concept of the ‘fashion mistake’. This comes into play when we think about experimentation and doing things ‘wrong’ on purpose or learning to accept imperfections. We then explored the idea of ‘imperfection’ and how the idea of this concept can be used in a practical demonstration and inform a further response in our designs. Behind the idea of the fashion mistake you can see moments in history influencing distinct pieces of work. For example Naomi Campbells shoot with coke can hair rollers taken in 1991, taken by Ellen Von Unwerth represents how popular culture has taken classic references and used it within styling as a statement. For me this does tap into the idea of diversity as it is a look through past moments in time and where we are now. Something as small as heated rollers represent a particular time in history. When heated rollers were at the hight of their popularity it suggested the women was always prepared to be beautiful for the man. They represent a conformity to an expectation and a beauty standard that woman were supposed to uphold. This lead me to use these ideas during my experimentation within this project.