Market Visual Awareness Project

So for those of whom are interested, before we broke up from University we were given a summative task (this will get marked) which I will explain within this post. 

This will be a brand/retail promotion and visual analysis report which will be presented in a magazine form. I have never used inDesign before so this task will be a challenge for me! I have chosen the subject matter to be Shearling, as this is one of the trends my formative group and I researched prior this task. 

The first task (1A) that we were given was to compare two adverts from brands of two different market levels that feature my subject matter. I chose to compare these two adverts- Lanvin Paris and Mango. 

I had to provide a visual analysis of both adverts, discussing the message of them. How they overlap or differ. This had to be done in 500 words. I found this a little challenging to start with, but as I got into it, it was much easier to look into the image and pick out pieces to write about. 

I will write posts every time I do bits of this project to show you guys, hopefully the final piece will look fab! 

Saskia x 

Berlin Body Love

 On Saturday, plus size model Silvana Denker and a bunch of people all shapes and sizes to march the streets of Berlin to promote her new project BodyLove. Women wrote 'Body Love' over their bodies, wearing nothing but their underwear to prove to people that you can be beautiful any size. We are exposed to so many skinny sized models on social media and in the press, seeing something completely different should open up peoples minds - you don't have to be a size 6 to be beautiful. You don't have to have perfect skin, perfect hair, wear makeup to be socially accepted. 

"Nobody's perfect and that's what makes us special. Love yourself"

In my post 'Fashion Hurts' I touch upon bigger sized models. I think it is so important to teach people that just because you are a size 12+, you're not unaccepted. I love how Silvana Denker has broken the barriers of the fashion world and allowed bigger sized models to become more accepted in the industry, even if it is frowned upon. Denker is hoping that this project will eventually go global, and I am excited to see if it does. 

Saskia x 

Precious (Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire) - Film Review

When I have my lazy days I tend to flick through Netflix for about an hour trying to find something that I want to watch, and eventually I will find something! Today I came across this film Precious (Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire) which is about a 16 year old girl in Harlem, U.S called Claireece 'Precious' Jones who is illiterate and overweight. Claireece was constantly raped by her biological father since she was a little girl, ending up with two children at only 16. Her mother, well, you can hardly call her a mother. She beat Claireece verbally and physically and believes that education is a waste of time. 

Claireece finds a safe haven within an alternative school where she learns to read and write, and also makes her a much stronger person throughout the film. How can a 16 year old go through so much and still manage to go to school and learn, look after a baby, and try to live as normal a life as possible? 

''I'm gonna break through or somebody gonna break through to me.''

Every 2 minutes in the U.S someone is sexually assaulted, 1 out of 6 American women have been the victim of attempted or complete rape in her lifetime. 29% of rape in the U.S are 12-17 years old, these girls are 3 times more likely to suffer from depression, 6 times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress and 26 times more likely to abuse drugs. (If you want to know more facts please visit this website http://www.rccmsc.org/resources/get-the-facts.aspx) 

I truly believe that the women who survive this are unbelievably brave. To go through such a traumatic experience and still manage to go on with their lives like Claireece, its incredible. I 100% recommend this amazing film, it will bring you to tears and open up your mind.

Saskia x 

Apps Galore

What apps am I currently using day to day?

Instagram - This app is my number one. I am constantly on this, looking at what people have bought, where they have been. I love exploring and finding new brands to look up. There are always such beautiful images to look at.

Pinterest - I started to use this app when I attended sixth form, gathering images to inspire my projects. Now at University, I find this app so useful to create your own board of ideas.

Tumblr - Like Pinterest, Tumblr has become more apart of my life since being at University. I love adding images to my page, making a sort of photo blog.

Evernote - LIFESAVER APP. If you haven't got Evernote I totally recommend it. If you like making notes, but find the note app on your phone a bore, use this. You can change the colour of your text, create lists, check lists and a notebook also. It's incredibly handy!

Blogger - If I am ever out and about and find something which I want to write about on my blog, this is perfect to have

Adobe Capture - I was introduced to this app by one of my lecturers at University a couple of weeks ago. This app allows you to take and image, and then create it into your own colour palette, its brilliant!

KNOMI - I discovered this app a few days a go and I love it already! It's a mixture of Instagram, Tumblr and Pinterest. You can create boards of your favourite products, see what other people are loving and what products are currently on sale for a bunch of different brands

Trendstop - For a quick up-to-date read on current and up-coming trends, Trendstop is a brilliant app

Afterlight - Finally, Afterlight is my go-to app for editing images to post on my blog or Instagram. There are different filters you can use (you can even make your own), its like a mini photoshop on your phone!

So those are my favourite apps at the moment. If I find any more I love, I will make another blog post of my findings

Saskia x 

Iconic Sunday's - Lee Alexander McQueen

Lee Alexander McQueen. One of the biggest icons in the Fashion Industry. During his time, he created over 50 collections, some if his most memorable collections include Savage Beauty, Dante and The McQueensbury Rules. McQueen was born on the 17th March 1969 in Lewisham, London. He left school at the age of 16 with one O-Level in Art, and then went on to work as an apprentice for Savile Row Tailoring. At the age of 20 he decided to join Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design to work as a pattern cutter tutor.

(Savage Beauty exhibition) 

  

Only until 1992 was the brand Alexander McQueen established, Isabella Blow (an English magazine editor) prompted McQueen to use Alexander instead of Lee for the brand. McQueen was known for his theatrical runway shows and out of the ordinary designs. Despite of the horrible ending that McQueen had, I truly believe he was an extraordinary designer, always thinking outside of the box, making people want to see more.

(The last collection that McQueen designed was only 80% finished) 

Sarah Burton was McQueen's right hand designer since 1996, and since May 2010 became the new creative director for Alexander McQueen.  Although McQueen passed away, his legacy still reins on and his brand is still continues to be one of the most respected high fashion brands in our time.  

Saskia x 

Ruins Magazine

I was browsing one of the fashion websites which I regularly read through- SHOW studio (if you've not heard of this website please go have a look!) and came across a new magazine which released it's first issue called ''Growth Euphoria Crisis''. This magazine mixes fashion with politics and culture from different parts of the world. 

The editor of the magazine is called Christos Petritzis. Born in Athens, he works and currently lives in London. I am really drawn in to the idea of this magazine, that its not just about fashion, it's the politics behind it all. Here is the launching video for Ruins Magazine, I will certainly be getting the first issue! 

Saskia x 

Trend Loving Thursday - Lurex

One of the current trends which I am LOVING at the moment is Lurex. Lurex is a yearn which includes metallic fibres which gives the fabric a metallic and shimmery appearance. This trend comes around every year, especially near to Christmas. Lurex has been around for over 60 years; created in 1947 (origin unknown).

Every shop that I enter, there is always products which follow the Lurex trend, recently I have been helping myself to a few of those products (not helping my bank balance at all) which I adore. Here are a few of my favourite products:

URBAN OUTFITTERS

MISSGUIDED

ASOS

ARK clothing

H&M

Saskia x