Kaylee-Rose Payne

About Kaylee-Rose Payne

Posts by Kaylee-Rose Payne:

BLOG THREE.

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Better Lives unit gave us all the chance to be creative in a completely different subject and learn something different than what we are used to. I chose In and outside of fashion: sportswear fashion language and sub-cultures. Prior to better lives, I have never done any styling other than putting my own outfits together and I was really interested in how much there is and thought that goes into styling.

One of the main things that I have learnt through my classes is how to read an image and what message the stylist is trying to convey. For instance, if the model is looking down to the camera it could portray ideas on power and in control compared to images of a model looking up at the camera. Styling of the body and body language can be a way of communicating feelings and intentions which can be globally read. The lessons also made me conscious of cultural and class appropriation which could come across controversial and I think this knowledge will be so useful as a fashion journalist.

We also looked into a lot sustainable styling and the idea that trends are cyclical, so keeping items of clothes from previous seasons can be re-used and kept for future styling when that trend returns. I was so interested by the work of Sheena Matheikin’s ‘Uniform Project’ where she wore the same dress every day for a year but styled it differently every day and made it look different! She really pushed the boundaries and I think it’s important that people see her work which could change people who buy an outfit, wear it once to post on Instagram and then dispose it. I do think that the idea of re-wearing an outfit is becoming a lot more socially acceptable, especially if the Duchess of Cambridge can do it then surely, we all can? 

I really enjoyed the styling workshops and it was my first experience of styling someone… In the image below, we played around with body shapes, giving the female model large biceps and put in shoulder pads which is quite a “man-ly body shape”. We chose rave, 80’s subculture with the bright colours and shoulder-pads which were a big thing in 80’s womenswear. The skirt is actually made out of some scrap paper that I found, and I scribbled onto it words like “recycle”, “save the planet” and “reuse” as I quite literally recycled the used paper into a skirt. She’s posed like an athlete, Greek god or a superhero. The cape and comic body suit also portray ideas of her being a hero. We wanted the image to empower women which I think we definitely achieved!

Here’s a link to the Uniform Project for anyone who’s interested…

1 dress 365 days
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  1. Chloe Fennell: For the peer review, I am discussing Kaylee-Rose Payne’s third blog post where she reflects on her project and better…

  2. Tanvi Dass: Peer Review For our final blog post we were asked write a peer review, stating wether the chosen blog reflects…

BLOG TWO.

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My knowledge, prior to starting LCF in September, was rather slim when it came to the world that we live in. Coming from a fairly small town, my secondary school was hardly diverse, and the term ‘sustainability’ just meant recycling and using a tote bag. LCF and Better Lives has really widened and fulfilled me with knowledge on important topics that has really restored my thinking towards my work.

Especially at the moment, I think social responsibility is so relevant during lockdown which has haltered peoples’ everyday routines, businesses, schools, universities and pretty much every aspect of life. Social responsibility has become present everywhere by staying at home to save lives and working from home. It does make me question if it wasn’t labelled a “pandemic”, would everyone be as socially responsible as they currently are by staying at home to stop the spread of COVID-19 or would they turn a blind eye to the situation? I found adapting to online university a quick transition and I do not think it has affected my work ethic, even if I am watching a lecture in my pyjamas!

Regarding the other themes, sustainability and diversity, it has without a doubt changed how I think about my work, in particular wanting it to always be inclusive and sustainable as much as possible. It has broadened my knowledge on different subcultures and the world around us. As a fashion journalist student, I now understand the importance to write about topics such as women’s rights, the welfare of workers in the fashion industry, mental health, minorities and sustainability in fashion. For instance, my assessment in fashion journalism is to come up with a prototype magazine, so I have come up with the idea of a unisex magazine on sustainable sportswear. I do think that better lives and in & out of fashion: sportswear styling has had a great influence on this decision. 

The themes of better lives have made me realise that I do have a voice and should write about topics that should be heard about. Perhaps it has brought out an activist side of me! I have also looked into different movements, such as the PussyHat Project and I think fashion is such a good way to convey political messages and as symbols of support. The PussyHat Project has, also, currently started knitting PPE masks, for those who need them, to help with the mask shortages.

Overall, better lives have made me research a lot more into brands, companies and organisations that are sustainable, diverse and socially responsible which is influencing my work and the way I now think. I do think it is important for people to educate themselves on these topics and understand how important they are especially for future generations.

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  1. Faye Meehan: Peer Review Kaylee-Rose Payne’s blog post regarding her reflection on the Better Lives themes is an active exploration of her…

BLOG ONE.

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Throughout all of the Better Lives lectures, the one that had the greatest impact and I found most engaging was the lecture on Power by Julia Crew. The lecture looked into power relating to topics of fashion, money, media, consumers and protests and the effects of power of each topic. 

As a fashion journalist student, power in media has crossed my mind several times since starting the course in September… in particular the power of social media including the rise of the influencer. Prior the internet, traditional journalists were the gatekeepers of fashion to the public and were the informers of trends and tips. However, nowadays the power lies in the hands of social influencers and anyone can become an influencer. According to the lecture, the influencer economy is worth $1 billion. Influencers are seen as an effective campaign and marketing strategy because of the ads that they post. So, it got me thinking. Are the ads and media that we see ultimately control what we buy? Missguided reported sales increase by 40% every evening Love Island is on, so it shows how effective using ad’s for popular shows really is. Also, there is more pressure to not wear the same thing twice and that “Instagram-able perfect life” which just deteriorates mental health! There is a greater demand for new clothes more than ever before and I do think media does play a huge part towards fast fashion. 

Something I particularly like about Better Lives is the focus on sustainability. Currently, we are buying 400% more clothing than 20 years ago and out of the 100 billion garments that are produced annually, 75% end up in landfills or incinerated. Fast Fashion has increased so much and the demand of clothes Is greater than before. Therefore, factories are being pushed for greater quantity of clothing of a faster and cheaper rate. The lecturer also spoke about welfare of workers which I haven’t really heard too much of. These workers are probably working unpaid over-time, being harassed by those in charge and for what? To earn what a CEO of a top fashion brand makes in 4 days but in a lifetime. I found that quote so crazy! However, because of low minimum wages and falling short, these workers are stuck in a cycle of poverty which is really sad, and it did make me think how could I help?

Thinking after the lecture, I came to the realisation that I think consumers are the ones who have the most power, not the ads or social influencers or the large CEO’s. Consumers are driver of trends and if we didn’t want to spend money on something and/or protested, then chances are the business will stop selling it. After the lecture I looked into some of the organisations including “Love Not Landfill” and began making conscious efforts of shopping more sustainable through thrift shops, Depop or just repairing/revamping what I’ve already got. I’m looking forward to starting the Better Lives classes. 

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  1. Phoebe Nickolls: I chose your blog to focus on because I too was fascinated by Julia Crew’s ‘Power’ lecture and wanted to…