Ella Jones

Initially, in this styling project, we worked in groups of 6 but, quickly realising everyone had too many ideas, the groups needed breaking down into four and two.  I was in a group with another person, this made it significantly easier to discuss the idea phase and start dressing. The task was quick, and we weren’t given much time. We had to think rapidly and effectively about the desired outcome. I felt nervous and excited at the same time, this was mainly due to the unknown of the outcome and whether working with a peer who I had never worked with before would be successful. Normally, I am prepared for my shoots with a plan in mind.

At the beginning of the masterclass, I had a slightly negative attitude as I didn’t think the outcome would be anything special. Also, I was slightly confused regarding the main aim of the masterclass. Going back to the brief, I realised the styling aim was to deconstruct sportswear, body shapes and silhouettes. Working with what we had as a team really inspired us to collaborate and to think out of the box.

A learning outcome from this masterclass demonstrates how it is essential to be organised with the given brief. When asked to go for it and not be too precious about what you create, something special can come from it. 

Below is one of the masterclass outcomes. From this outcome, we tried to tell a fashion story through youth expression. Not taking sportswear literally, instead really harnessing the ‘sporty’ movement through specific body positions. A hat was added giving a juxtaposed idea of high fashion with sportswear. 

Being heavily inspired by social responsibility and reading Solidarity Shawls: strategic dress by the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, I was inspired to dress in a tactic, through protesting the state of non – violent action. White shawls draped around the mother’s heads protested the state of their disappeared children. The white headwrap provided intense imagery and power (Aguilar, Busch, Brewster and Petticord, 2012) 

Through styling, we decided to create our own white shawl, using metallic paper for a more contemporary feel. To create intense imagery and power, the clenched fist is suggestive of masculinity and empowerment. The model’s face is hidden, questioning is this a man or a woman? Strength can be shown in all. The arm’s shape and movement is something which I find fascinating. This imagery oozes strong empowerment, ‘can conquer all.’ 

Ultimately, our group achieved successful outcomes however, to improve our achievement, I would have liked to experiment with lighting. No lighting was used for this masterclass. It would have been interesting to vary the sporty mood depending on the lighting. The styling can be completely translated differently to onlookers if the lighting were harsher/softer. Below are the set of outcomes, for the first image, it would have been interesting to light up the arm area and see the outcome. 

Reflecting forward, it would be interesting to do another masterclass the following week. Working in the same groups but with planning; mood board creation, clothes and props could have been made and brought in. It would be interesting to see the comparison of outcomes from the masterclass with little prep and the masterclass with a week’s worth of preparation and discover if either are more successful and why. 

Reference:

Aguilar, G., Busch, O., Brewster, M. and Petticord, J., 2012. Just Fashion. New York: Selfpassage.  

Can Conquer All (2020) Imagery created by Ella Jones and Niamh Cubbidge.