Blog Post Two: ‘How the Better Lives Themes Will Change How I Work in the Future’
Throughout the Better Lives unit, I was introduced to the three core themes of the course: sustainability, diversity and social responsibility. Such themes were deeply explored within the Better Lives lectures and my chosen unit, ‘Fashion Styling and Production’. The styling course enabled me to explore the three mains themes using an element of creativity that would not be possible elsewhere in my work; styling allows one to understand the fashion industry through the following/ creation of new trends.
A current trend more prevalent than ever is the use of sustainability in fashion. ‘Sustainable fashion’ could be anything from using vintage garments, borrowing/ renting clothes, or purchasing from sustainable brands; all with the desire to reduce production of new garments using new materials. The styling course introduced me to ‘sustainable’ stylists (Lucy Harvard, Penny Lovel for Anne Hathaway etc.), an element of the profession which I didn’t think possible as a stylist’s job is often to promote the latest products. Through learning about such stylists, I was able to understand that themes of sustainability can always be a factor in how I work in the future; journalism focuses on current affairs and what’s new- there’s always new ways to be sustainable and support our planet.
In regards to the theme of diversity, the ‘Fashion Styling and Production’ unit provided examples of an array of methods/ trends of styling (such as use of the body in the 90s/2000s when styled campaigns were sexual and seductive) and eras/ subcultures of fashion (like the ‘Casual’ movement of the late 70s). However, the course focused on the diversity of products rather than human diversity, most likely as a result of a stylist’s job being to create a specific narrative through a styled look. In my future work in the creative sphere, I will ensure to combine the notions of diversity and inclusion to represent the people that make up our society- stylists rarely use the same item of clothing twice, so why should we see a lack of diversity in the media?
Stylists have a primary social responsibility to project/ create the latest trends, promote upcoming collections and to create a narrative through means of clothing and accessories. Traditionally, the social responsibilities involved with styling are adequately surface level, though arguably have the potential to create a narrative focused around a significant message (political messages, environmental messages etc.). This is something that I learned about during the two sportswear workshops, and a factor that I will continue to embrace in my future work; when a task seems primarily surface level it can always have potential to portray a secondary, deeper meaning.
7th May 2020 @ 2:27 pm
BLOG FOUR.
Unlike prior assessments in other modules, I found it really refreshing and actually quite interesting that for Better Lives we have to peer review someone else’s blogs and reflect on their learning rather than just our own. I chose Faye Meehan’s second blog post to peer review as I also chose sportswear styling as well for better lives and I wanted to see if we had taken similar things from this unit.
Faye starts her second paragraph with a strong opening that sustainability is a trend more prevalent than ever which I completely agree with! Apps like Depop has allowed us to be as sustainable as ever and purchase high quality second-hand items without rummaging through rails and rails in thrift stores. I agree that sustainability is definitely a trend at the moment which I do think is going to stay around, perhaps it is more of a shift in fashion than a trend. She has also mentioned how the course has introduced her to new aspects of styling where stylists can be sustainable. I too have never heard of sustainable stylists as I believed stylists used the latest products however trends are cyclical, meaning trends always come back. Faye has then thought about how this relates to her work towards her degree in Fashion Journalism.
She has then reflected on the theme diversity and how we looked through different subcultures and how images of the body were styled to be more sexual and seductive in the 90s and 2000s. However, some images of that time were seen as very controversial such as Steven Meisel for Gucci SS03 campaign. In the image the woman’s face was not shown and it’s as if the woman has been branded in her pubic region. I think it was very objectifying towards women and I’m not surprised that it was banned in 2003.
Faye then shares how the course focused on diversity of products from the stylist creating a specific narrative through a look. I really liked her statement on stylists rarely use the same item of clothing twice so why should we lack diversity in the media. I think this idea could spark up a lot of ideas on how diversity should not be lacked in the media as we have a diversity of clothing items…surely if the media can achieve diversity in clothing then they can achieve diversity completely!
Faye has understood the main social responsibilities of a stylist like creating trends and so forth. However, she’s understood they actually have the potential to create significant messages through styling such as political and environmental messages which she learnt in the workshops.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this blog which was really well written. I think it’s really clear that Faye has understood the themes of Better Lives and the themes will definitely be present in her future work as she seems really motivated by them.