A Quick View of This Weekend's Projects

Dress number four/ graduation

Dress number 3 brainstorming

Fashion Journal #11

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/keyboard-jacket-keyboard-vest-high-tech-clothes,news-10611.html

So nerdy! This makes me think about how mens fashion hasn't really changed much - when would someone maybe actually wear this? Maybe on the runway in the '90s. Or at a party like anytime in recent history. This was designed and created by Julien David.

Fashion Journal #10

http://cdn.imnotobsessed.com/wp-content/uploads/Glamour_AprilCover.jpg

This Elie Tahari top reminds me of the Paco Rabanne metal outfits.

And this Lanvin dress makes me think of Madame Gres! Are the sixties back?

Fashion Journal #9

Rodarte!

Everyone loves Van Gogh, especially Starry Night! I love this skirt but obviously I wish it weren't a whopping $2295 for something so simple!

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLdrchbg47PwcTFuvwdpI-oHpA_WuU7a-sp59mjdURG4uukR6PJhizRUSMsPQrd0eAG5OzdU6X46GSSpUxrp7SKKUCY-cBTR4GBtvp87hLNEqhgo-RsD7391AqUvuKesSgUgMINDZ0-I/s640/RodarteStarryNight-540x477.jpg

http://www4.pictures.stylebistro.com/it/Rodarte+Spring+2012+4oDXqtb1L05x.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVL0Ut57znC38GjzRIDXELmGEepoTjqSamKo-3P7-YRxp3cG-IHELC5Ua_rCgMX4NPbS9z60wOBBRD3qb4zGSO1PEF2pjwweGmSDmT3OUcPpmEw3-wwb2X90yvH6dwz9KTXcudanKmgivu/s1600/army+of+dolls.jpg

These of course remind me of Yves Saint Laurent's "Mondrian" dress from the 1960s. I guess art and fashion will always be intertwined.

Fashion Journal #8

Fred Butler is pretty cool. And apparently did  the Lady Gaga "Telephone" headpiece, among others. (http://gagafashionland.com/category/fred-butler/)

http://changefashion.net/fashionshow/2012/03/10212909.html

I don't know how they managed to make this look edgy and juvenile at the same time, but that takes talent.

http://heelchorus.tumblr.com/post/18749729021/fred-butler-x-rosy-nicholas-aw-2012-knitted

(Fred Butler x Rosy Nicholas AW 2012 knitted shoes) These remind me of macrame (70s) and sailor's knots. I'm not sure how I feel about them.

http://trendland.com/fred-butler-aw11-fashion-film/#

(AW 2011) I love these origami-like pieces, especially as I watch my studio-mate attempt to make an origami dress. I used to do a lot of origami in high school, of course with crazy colors. 

Fashion Journal #7

Weapons and fashion!

http://style.icanhascheezburger.com/tag/sasha-gradiva/

This is Sasha Gradiva, apparently Russia's answer to Lady Gaga. She wore this ensemble to the Grammys and apparently was asked to take off the guns or leave, and she left so she could keep her outfit intact. I love the dichotomy of the beautiful soft pink dress and space-age armor/firearm on her shoulder.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/gallery/guns/2012/02/singers-gun-arm-accessory-grammy-awards?photo=3#node-1001464270

Leonid Gurevich and Gilding Primal Instinct designed the weapon piece on her arm, and Alfredo Flores designed the gown. "Leonid explained [to] me the concept behind the piece was 'to take ALL the weapons and firearms of the world and use them for artistic purposes only. Not for killing. Make couture. Not war'" says Music Fashionland. I just think it's a wonderful combination of girly pink and a fierce, industrial firearm.

I tried to find more examples of weaponry in fashion, but I was sadly disappointed.

The Awesomeness that is Nerd.

First when I was asked to bring in my thesis I misunderstood. I brought in my thesis idea for studio work, which was something to do with futuristic fashions drawing upon history to make an interesting statement on the circularity of fashion, and really just give me an excuse to make fun costumes. Then upon realizing this was not the “thesis” Janet had been asking for, I was given about thirty seconds to come up with a “proper” thesis statement to write ten pages about in art school, to accompany my current, or life’s rather, work. 


The answer seemed obvious. What is the most important thing to me in the world? What always peeks through when I’m attempting to be proper, or artsy, or normal? Nerd-dom. But as a rule, that’s not quite the proper thing to say, so I wrapped it up in a clever (imo), important sounding title: “The Influence of Popular Culture in My Work.” Sounded simple enough, but really I just wanted to geek about out about how all I can think about is connections to other people’s works, math and science puns, and rejections of all that is sane and popular. 


Your average person might say that this is not normal. But many of my friends are nerds, but in different, and sometimes secret, ways. Some are always quoting Arrested Development, Disney films, or YouTube videos. Some are always LARPing, dressing up to go to movie premieres, or secretly analyzing a situation in a scientific way. But not all of these people openly advertise or even admit to themselves that they are actually nerdy. That may be for lack of realization, companionship, or popularity of such views.

One might argue, like Felicia Day, for example, that nerds are really cool right now. We're on the rise. The "revenge of the nerd" is at hand. With all this amazing new technology in our hands most people can't help being at least a bit nerdy as they rave about their new "iBerry" or whatever. 

But there is no denying that we're definitely weird. Like John Green says:

...nerds like us are allowed to be unironically enthusiastic about stuff… Nerds are allowed to love stuff, like jump-up-and-down-in-the-chair-can’t-control-yourself love it. Hank, when people call people nerds, mostly what they’re saying is ‘you like stuff.’ Which is just not a good insult at all. Like, ‘you are too enthusiastic about the miracle of human consciousness’.

I totally have to agree. The weird thing is, that shouldn't be weird. I am super enthusiastic about so many things that my peers haven't even heard of here at art school. Cosplaying excites me. Stupid t-shirts excite me. Doctor Who, Sherlock, Beauty and the Beast and Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure references on the bathroom stall walls excite me (except for the spoilers which are just infuriating and unnecessary). It reminds me that there is a secret cache of nerds at art school, I do have a community to turn to here, if I can only find it.

When I decided to have a "nerd" art show this semester, I got a disappointing number of entries when I put out a call. Afterwards people explained to me that there are so many interpretations of the term "nerd" that they were afraid they were not the right kind. I suppose they also did not want to be labeled a nerd, as it has a certain stigma to it, perhaps because at art school it often pops up associated with horrendous anime fan art. But really what I wanted to do with this show was to meet new people, and bring all of these secret nerds out of the art school closet. Sometimes it seems like there is only a certain type of hipster nerd that is cool here. But I'm happy to say that the show got a great response and at least one exhibitor hoping to repeat it next year! 

Ngan Vo's work from the show!

Any commentary on the awesomeness that is nerd-dom? Suggestions for more topics? Please leave a comment! Thanks! :)

 

Fashion Journal #6

Needlepoint in fashion!

(http://style.icanhascheezburger.com/2012/03/04/cool-accessories-balmain-is-your-secret-admirer/)
(Balmain)

It's an interesting approach to incorporating old-fashioned fibers techniques into fashion.

It also reminds me of the Victorian era, when they would needlepoint shoes.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7190/6802127130_1937cf121f_b.jpg)

Dolce and Gabbana's pieces are prettier in my opinion, and it's almost shocking how they used such an outdated technique and managed to make it look edgy. 

Fashion Journal #5

Stumbled upon this today while on ifstylecouldkill.com, and then decided to look at more of her work! This first one is a wonderful combination of menswear and art- pop art?

Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, http://www.trealamode.com/2010/09/under-my-umbrella.html


This one reminds me of the huge kimono-like jackets from the 1910s

Agatha Ruiz De La Prada: Milan Fashion Week Womenswear A/W 2009 - Runway  http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/trkLicgY14M/Agatha+Ruiz+De+La+Prada+Milan+Fashion+Week/6Kcq0TRqSFF

This reminds me of the "New Look," and also the Victorian era, from the silhouette and hat.

http://www.fashionwindows.net/2010/04/agatha-ruiz-de-la-prada-fall-2010/agatha_ruiz_dela_pradaf1029/

Her work definitely seems all over the place, but I really love the references, childish colors, and wacky playfulness. It's so quirky and I love Agatha Ruiz de la Prada! :)

Fashion Journal #4

This weekend I went to Philadelphia with the Fibers department for Fibers Philadelphia! We saw so much amazing work, and some sites too, as this was my first time to the city. I have to say that my favorite piece of the entire weekend was a set of six conceptual corsets.

They were beautiful and white, and all their shapes relayed a certain kind of longing. Of course immediately I began to think of historical corsets, bustles and hoop skirts from the Victorian Era. The series was titled "Exposed: An Armory of Physical Longings" from 2011 by April Dauscha.

They bring in the idea of feminity as power, and control of one's life, instead of as a constricting social construct.

Her website is aprildauscha.com .