Weird (& not so) Wonderful

Spotted at London Fashion. Yes this is a someone wearing inflatable hair with an inflatable bag and a small inflatable dog- who is wearing a dress make entirely latex. The weirdest thing i saw at London Fashion week, not so wonderful in mu opinion, but this character got a fair amount of attention and was something to talk about.

Maybe next time leave all your latex at home.

Street Style Spotted at LFW

The idyllic Somerset house was the location of London Fashion week once again, situated along the Thames, near Strand! Around the back of Somerset house is beautiful seating that overlooks onto a beautiful view of the Thames River and all the tourists hotspots that build the skyline; with the sun shining on Tuesday it was a lovely place to relax, juxtaposing the hectic rush that is amongst the classic white walls of Somerset House, along with various other locations around London, where designer shows were being held over the week!

Whist i was extremely lucky enough to attend the event and view the showcased collections in Somerset house, i took full advantage of all the luxury treatments they has to offer. It would have been ludicrous not to snap a few street style photos whilst wondering and exploring.  Fashionistas were in full force in the courtyard of somerset house- here a few from the day!

#warmsophistication #fur #teddybearwarmers #redlipclassic #streetstyle

#purplevelvet  #fur #pinkhair #seventiespastels #flaredfun #streetstyle

#doubledenim #blackonblack #trainerclassic #manbag #streetstyle

#ombrefur #ornateacessories #indianfeathers #sandytones #leatherthrousers #streetstyle

Street Style is defiantly something i want to document more continuously whenever i am out and about,  who knows the images collected might come useful in the future or over the next three years of my course! 

With Love, DOAFSDO, x

Fragrance Trend Booklet

Creating a fragrance trend booklet was this weeks brief! After a Indesign tutorial on Tuesday, i knew this wasn't going to be an easy task to turn around in just under two weeks! After my experience with Photoshop, i now understand that with practise using these crazy clever programmes,  you will slowly progress and learn your own style of creating. Playing around with various tools and settings, after time i did find your feet; also after pestering my course friend for several hours, i got there. I find its the minimal basics that i struggle, searching YouTube, 'How to Crop an image' has never been a highlight!


Fragrance Trend Booklet Feedback

What went well?
 The Feedback i received from fellow students on things that went well were the fact that they liked the cohesive design throughout my trend booklet and in particular the trends that i had chosen, were unusual to other trends noticed within the seminar. Especially the way in which the front and back covers correspond and work as a pair opening and closing the collections of images. Trend prediction was also something to mention, highlighting the 'Out of this World' trend showed examples of something that has been noticed in recent campaigns, but there is not an explicit overload on the trend, considering this a trend forecast, meaning it is something to look out for!

Even better if?
Feedback in which i received in regards to my booklet and what i could consider for next time was the numbering of pages at the top and bottom margin space; the spaces do not correspond with the working guidelines within the page, as they are outside of the guide. Make sure numbers are within margin or reconsider layout.

I think these are fair comments and I'm happy that the trends in which i picked were considered good choices and different to other trends that were evaluated. Now i understand Indeisgn a little better as a programme i will reconsider my layout for next time, but overall i am pleased with my final outcome for a first time! Im sure it will be a great comparison for Indesign creations come third year! :)

Here are some final images of my trend booklet...

VIEW MY TREND BOOKLET ON ISSUU

Above is a link of my final trend booklet on Issuu so you can appreciate the text and layout using the online portfolio publication software! Avoiding pixelated areas and text is much clearer to read!

Who run the world? Photoshop.

I've heard on various radio stations today the 'news' that some images of the phenomenon Queen B that is Beyonce have been leaked online earlier today. Images were posted online that were prior to a photoshop touch up; images from a Loreal campaign revealed Beyonce with blemished skin and dare I admit.. Wrinkles! How can this be? The Queen of pop at the age of 33 daren't have a single wrinkle- i meen have we been lied to this whole time? No. In fact we haven't. A bit of bad lighting has revealed that her skin isn't immaculate, but is this really something to kick up a fuss about, personally I think not. She is human. I think the people in question here should be Loreal and the editing team behind their promotional campaigns. Which leads to the following debate as to who owns the rights to this image and the truth behind the product in which it's promoting to sell. In this case a lipstick- not a facial skincare product, foundation or moisturiser. 

After studying photography for a few years, I know more than anyone that with the right lighting and equipment you can shoot portrait images in an accurate way that reduces the editing and touch up process. With Beyoncé in front of the camera I'm sure she's not a challenging portrait to work with! Its a bad angle from one of the most talented and beautiful women around; let's face it the images arnt even that bad..

#prayforbeyonce 

.. Or so that too far? With love, DOAFSDO, x

KANYE X ADIDAS

As New York Fashion week has commenced, i feel its crucial to mention one of the most talked about catwalk shows over the last week; we are currently looking into celebrity endorsements within seminars and lectures so i am considering this as very good timing. Exploring the way in which celebrity endorsements work within a brand, but on the other end of the spectrum how they sometimes fail and are a massive no go! Of course, the recent endorsement I'm referring to is 'Yeezy'- as he's parading back into the fashion industry. A considerable amount of time has passed since the 'leather sweatpants were my thing' fiasco! But this time around i think Kanye Wests collaboration with Adidas, has been accepted and positive reactions have steamed since the show; its been everywhere! Some have said 'Genius' in reviews since the show. Personally, I'm honestly quite impressed since watching the 12 minute video- (which is available on various internet search engines!) The tone is very compelling.

A dialogue from Kanye opens the show expressing how he appreciates Adidas as it 'Enables creators to  create' - i suppose unlike Nike, where there is still speculation that they dropped Kanye West last year just before the Red October 2 sneaks were due to drop in Nike stores! Oppps. Kanye says otherwise, something regarding money? I suppose even Kayne has to watch the weekly shop…

In regards to the collection being X Adidas there was no  obvious Adidas logos featured on the garments; various 3 lines were featured to bring in waistlines here and there, but nothing that would scream Adidas to me. I believe there was so much media attention for this collaboration before and defiantly since, that although logos aren't obvious throughout the collections, this is going to flash dollar signs for both partners, due to the pure fact Kanyes name is embellished onto those labels!

Now, theres a bunch of people you wouldn't want to kick out of their seats..

Back to the show. Kayne speaks out of his views that, 'he and others are constantly growing, making mistakes, constantly trying to express ourselves and actualise our dreams', his tone was believable and i actually appreciated what he was saying. His dialogue faded into crying from North West that brought things back around to the fact Kanye is a father now, this might have something to do with his respectful and some might say, sublime words. After 9 minutes of visuals and music, 'Wolves' the first track taken from Kaynes album starts playing. Fading into the last minute of the show Kanye appears walking down the centre of the models wearing his collection. Sia the crazy beautiful vocalist features on the track and starts singing in perfect timing of Kanye approaching to discreetly bow. Cool and Composed he was dressed all in black. It was completely different to anything I've seen before and yes, i loved. Fairplay Kanye. Just leave leather sweatpants alone. This can be your new thing. 

If your a fashion student its 12 minutes well spent. Otherwise if you have a spare 5 minutes? Catch the first & last few minutes of the show; i think its worth it! 

With Love, DOAFSDO, x

Ruby Rose

A conversation in a seminar today reminded me of this beautiful video from model and DJ Ruby Rose. Ruby says she is inspired by her struggle with gender presentation and fluidity. This video presents her with long blonde locks, that she later cuts, then scrubs down her skin to reveal her arms covered in sleeve tattoos. A truly beautiful representation of people who struggle with gender presentation on a daily basis. A beautiful & brave short video that really opened my eyes on the subject. 

Fairplay Ruby Rose, With love, DOAFSDO, x

Valentines Venture!

Sharing my Love yesterday..Take note of these loveable stamps. 

Valentines day was yesterday and i spent the day with one of my Uni loves! I think its a lovely day for all the lovers out there, and i think the only people who complain about the date are people who are not maybe 100% happy or content with themselves! Its a day of sharing the love and letting people close to you - males, females, best friends, family and all the oh, so special people you have in your life on a Whatsapp group! Its' about letting those people know you are thankful and love them dearly. Ive received Valentines gifts and flowers when i was what.. 16? But I've never had a Valentines day that has meant a great deal to me, so its that approach that you can't miss what you've never had! Could i saw lots of moaning on Social Media yesterday.. i think embrace it. Anyway, we took the day of PINK in our stride; so it was Pink lips from me, and pink and glittery cake decorating later- a lovely little day venturing around Nottingham and trying out another coffee shop along the way!

But First Coffee… 

JUNKYARD NOTTINGHAM

Briddlesmith Walk was the home to the coffee shop we visited today! It reminded me of a little bar you would find off of Bricklane, Shoreditch. Located near the LaceMarket and Nottingham Contemporary its in the middle of one of the more artsy areas of Nottingham; the coffee was divine! The beans are sourced from 200degreees another coffee shop in Notts that we are yet to try, I'm a big fan and might even bring my girlfriends from home here for lunch next week!

To Cobden Chambers?

Half and half today. Black on the bottom and pastels on top. These boots are my newest favourite thing from LaModa and they are the comfiest thing ever. They are knee high but I'm wearing them with tights here as i thought with a shorts skirt they might be a bit revealing for a cold February afternoon. Tied with metallic skirt, my skull embossed pastel pink and studded back, which i discovered in a charity shop from home for £7.99 and then of course this multicoloured pastel fuzz ball from Boohoo.

Then these are the cute little cupcakes Mellie and I made in the evening! Whatever romantic things you've been doing, whether its swanning over Mr Grey or dressing Pink, i hope its been lovely!

Happy PINK day! <3 

Fragrance Analysis

There is a lot more to fragrance advertising than i thought! Our next Module is focused entirely on Fragrance and this promotional section within Fashion Promotion and Communication. When i started thinking about the concept behind fragrance advertising it really intrigued me. The way in which as consumers we can be persuaded to purchase a product that we appreciate through our sense of smell. But in actual fact the product might already have been 90% sold to the consumer by brands who engage our attention through promotional content- sight, making the consumer want to buy into particular brands. Perhaps without even smelling the product? Now i think that is crazy clever! It is our job in this next module to create our own brand and explore and generate ideas to sell a fragrance product to consumers.

Firstly, What is out there?

Today we brought around 20 images of fragrance advertisements that we have been collecting and in groups of three we categorised and analysed these images. What we liked. Images we didn't like. Considering colour. Existing or reoccurring popular trends. 

Here we consider colour and arranged the adverts from romantic blush tones, into luxury golds, then cool blues and neutrals then into monochrome images. The colour and tone of the overall image in a really important aspect to consider when selling to a costumer. Through the generations we connate colours and associate colours with different things and hierarchies instantly generating an opinion on something considering something such as colour is something we do automatically and are very good at.

Figurative is a popular theme within image for fragrance adverts, often exposing lots of skin often falling into the 'Sensuality and Indulgence' Category, revealing the models to being very seductive and passionate. Particular brands such as Tom Ford who often refer to the theme of sex as a selling point will often use the figurative objective to advertise. 

When considering Image, Photographic was also particularly popular running theme, focusing mainly on the face and upper portrait. Photographic was particularly popular for Fragrance themes such as 'Trust and Honesty' and 'Sensuality and Indulgence' often within skin showing, or expressions that grab your attention.

Abstract was a theme that wasn't as poplar when considering perfume advertisements, and the bottle in particular. Enlarging the actual bottle is a popular theme when referring to abstract images; connoting idea that these fragrances are a grand and powerful possession which works as a good selling point within abstraction. Below we only have two image from our collected 60 images that were product shots of just the bottle, which is interesting to consider, is there a gap in the market for this? Or is this style of advertising not as effective today? 

We categorised all these adverts below together, as these brands have all superimposed the bottles into the advertisement. The product/bottle has not featured in the photoshoot physically at all. So these adverts focus more on the tone and concept within the images. Advertising the kind of people who used this products, people who the consumer will find appealing and possibly aspire to live like, this could be projecting themselves in a luxury lifestyle to sell the product. 

In regards again to the product and bottle these are the adverts we identified where in which the bottles are used as a function in the adverts; whether the bottle is being held or is placed within the shoot as a prop, this seems to be a popular theme within current fragrance trend, many of then comine the theme of abstract for this theme.

Within brands you can see the correlation between advertisements that run at the same time in order to make them recognisable as a brand, resulting in brand awareness. For example when i see that exact pastel aqua shade of turquoise i automatically thing of Tiffany&CO, this is extremely good brand awareness that a brand has successfully created. It is important for brands to have a correlation when ads run at the same time to build this awareness. You can see evidence of two brands Chloe and Jean Paul Gaultier doing this successfully with their current ads.

Current Chloe 2015

Current John Paul Gaultier 2015 

Plant your own Garden..

In my spare time i should be reading, i have so so many great magazines and books that have arrived and i need to invest my time into making my way through them. But at the moment i just keep finding time to mess around a little on Photoshop, Polyvore or making PomPoms! But things could be worse and these creations are cuteeeeeeeeee as. Mumsy sent me this page from last weeks 'LOOK' magazine, raving about furry clutches, which have been in the shops for a fair few months now. But it was the next big thing featured that caught her attention, PomPom earrings! You saw it here first. I want a rainbow array of PomPom earrings for every occasion! 

With love, DOAFSO, x

Future Fresh from Asos

Asos March 2015 Magazine

The ASOS magazine come through today and one particular page stood out like a sore thumb to me! Featuring the Richard Nicoll, Tinkerbell dress that i only wrote about a few days ago the editorial was divided up into upcoming trends and how to wear them. Combing metallics or holographic pieces with big chunky knits is something I'm a big fan of. Part of the Bestival line up has been announced today and all i am thinking is festival fashion, the more glitter the better and these looks will work perfect with my metallic Hunters i recently purchased.. I'm still feeling bait guilty about this hence why i haven't actually posted anything about them. Opppssss.

This Futuristic trend is something i am going to continue wearing into the future. One thing I'm pretty happy about is considering my previous module work. I had the task of creating a mood board expressing my trend forecast and chosen colour palette selection, which i focused on 'Futuristic Placid Pastels' - i was so right! According to ASOS this is the next trend to take note of, Extra points there!

Metallic Trend Moodboard

Manish Arora

Brand Moodboard Reflecting Color Palette 

Happy Thursday! With love, DOAFSDO, x

New to me

Markus Lupfer SS15

Can i take one in every colour for festival season please? A friend tagged me in a picture suggesting i would like the holographic buckled raincoat (Which of course,  i did!) so Lupfer is a new discovery for me. Crazy colourful with added detailing that makes the pieces have an extra edge. Ive had a look at the campaign and i have to be honest, i am not a massive fan. I think the garments speak for themselves so i don't think an overcomplicated editorial is always necessary. A VW camper featured in the images which are of course beautiful, but i don't see an explicit concept or correlation between garment and this specific prop. Its fashion i know its all made to look pretty, connecting the dots, what is the story and what is the art director trying to tell us? I'm not quite sure. But garments on point. I want to see more!

DOAFSDO,x 

Richard Nicoll

We will hopefully soon see an improvement on collections from Jacks Wills; Richard Nicoll has taken over being JW new creative art director, whilst contenting with his own successful brand based in London. So from now on what he says goes. Sticking to Jack Wills routes of english heritage, Nicolls explained that he plans to bring back the youthfulness in the clothes, whilst making pieces fun, quirky and individual at the same time. Quirky, not tacky. So I'm excited to see how he gets on working with the brand.

Now, it was actually Nicolls SS15 collection thats caught my attention and gave me something to write about. Holographic. Tinkerbell dress. Were talking a horizontal a-lien dress, that of course lights up. Im still loving anything glittery and holographic and i would say by now that i am very familiar with the current product available for consumers, after looking at shiny stuff for my Visual Awareness module this last semester, and I'm not complaining. This dress is crazy. Would you brave it and bust this out at the next family affair? Perhaps not, but its defiantly something that will get people talking and heads turning! 

'Tinkerbell'

Now I've got a feeling Nicolls Jack Wills collection won't be quite as sparkly and won't glow down the runway, but I'm sure he will take a few risks on this one, and I'm wondering for the first time in many years if there will be something from the brand that might take my fancy! The Preppy days are done.

DOAFSDO, x