Write-up for our T-shirt Design

Our group was assigned to design a T-shirt based on the theme: Goth. From what we understand, Goths carry a very emotional and dark connotation. The color black and skulls were associated with such a theme. Because of this we decided to include a skull and dark colors as the basic design of our T-shirt.

We got our ideas for our T-shirt design from more than one source. For the skull, which is for what the basic shape and design it should be, we got the idea from Tim Burton’s movie – A nightmare before Christmas. From this basic idea, we modified the design, for instance, we changed the shape of the eyes so as to create a darker and more sinister feeling. 

As for the actual design of the shirt, we got inspiration from the late British fashion Designer, Alexander McQueen. We found that his wide range of gothic garments were able to capture the image and feel that we wanted.

The skeleton for our shirt design was mainly a shirt with black nettings attached to it to give help bring out the more eerie feeling.  We planned to use the black nettings to create a veil and a mini skirt, because it gives a shadowy effect. It creates silhouettes which we feel supports the dark, mysterious feel of goth.

This design somewhat resembled Gothic Lolita, which is a combination of Goth and Lolita – a fashion subculture originating in Japan, but it should be noted that the style has expanded greatly beyond Japan.

The decision to use black netting as the material to create the mini skirt as well as the sleeves and collar was because we felt that the way Alexander used this sort of material in some of his gothic designs was really able to bring out the effect of a spooky and shadowy silhouette.  Thus to bring out this effect as much as possible, we decided to shorten the sleeves.

However, as we planned to wear the shirt with a pair of blue jeans, we felt it necessary to shorten the T-shirt’s hemline. With this, the top half of the outfit would not appear too long and would not end up looking like more of a dress than a T-shirt. This is especially important since we planned to sew some of the black netting at the bottom of the T-shirt. Besides, to add on to the spooky concept of this outfit, we cut the back of the shirt, so that the layers drape or hang down. The boots which the model will be wearing will add a tinge of elegance to the general outfit.

Streetstyle Blogging

1st interviewee
   

1) Can you explain your choice of clothing and how does it portray your personality?

Ans: Actually, I choose my outfit based on my mood or the occasion on that day. However, I don’t really like solid colours, but prefer patterns and designs on my clothes. I find leopard prints very stylish and unique, so I wore a top and carried a folder with leopard prints on it. 

2) Do you think your outfit conveys something to the public?

Ans: Yes of course! Did you know that each and every spot on a leopard’s skin is uniquely different? So through this, I want to show the public that I am unique and special in my own way.  Also, I have a rather firm and stubborn character, so, as the saying goes “a leopard never changes its spots”, I guess it portrayed my stubborn personality as well! 

3) Do you see yourself as a conformist or a non-conformist?

Ans: Hmm.. Sometimes, I do follow trends, for example, clothes with leopard prints are quite trendy nowadays, and i wear them because i want to show people that I am updated with the trend. However, on special occasions like weddings, I might wear something that is more edgy and stands out from the rest.

Her clothing is reflective of the animal print style, as evident from her top and accessories which are decked with leopard spots. This may also show that her personality is akin to the wild and adventurous nature of the leopard. The predominantly gold colour of her top and accessory does contrast starkly with her black tights, hence drawing attention to the leopard prints and making her outfit stand out. Thus, this highlights her desire to be different and not stick to the status quo, which is to wear clothing with simpler designs and colours that are not as loud. Therefore, this is evidently a bold and unique choice of fashion style, and does bring out her strong personality. However, she has slightly overdone it by wearing a top and carrying a folder that both have leopard prints, hence creating a look that is a tad too garish and gaudy. Perhaps she could tone it down by replacing the folder with one with a plainer design.

2nd interviewee    


3rd interviewee
1) Can you explain your choice of clothing and does it reflect your personality?
Ans: Hmm..Personally, I like pairing contrasting colours like black and white, as seen from my top. It gives people a strobe effect and I feel that it is quite cool and special. My necklace actually doesn’t symbolise anything, I’m not a Christian, but i wore it for decorative purposes. My belt is black again, with silver studs. I think it gives a little bit of texture to my whole appearance so i wore it too. Lastly, I wore this “Ali-Baba” pants to give a hip-hop feel, because you know street dancers usually wear baggy saggy pants.

2) Do you get your ideas from fashion magazines?
Ans: Not really, I don’t really read fashion magazines. But when i have time to go shopping, I will just but the clothes that appeal to me. At home, I will spend some time mix-matching the clothes.

3) Who is your favourite celebrity and what do you think of the way he/she dresses?
Ans: I like this Korean singer known as CL because everytime i see her, her dressing wows me! She could fit in any style, whether it is the tomboy look or the classy and chic womanly look, she looks gorgeous in everything. Also, she is very daring in her choice of clothes. She was spotted wearing heels with spikes on its sides. I guess you can call her Korea’s Lady Gaga, she’s avant garde!

Goth features heavily in her dressing, which can be seen in the two main colours of her outfit being black and white, as well as her use of accessories such as the cross. On the other hand, she has also incorporated elements of casual chic through her baggy pants. Besides her necklace, her other accessories are minimal, drawing attention to her top and pants. Her choice of wearing black and white instead of bright colours in her outfit as well as minimalist approach in her accessories could show that she has a more calm and mellow personality instead of one that is loud and extravagant. Her outfit draws our attention as she does take a balanced approach in her dressing, with the goth in her accessories being neutralised by the casual chic of her baggy pants and flats. While gothic elements could show pessimism, casual chic demonstrates a more laid-back character. Thus, she does not conform to fashion trends, but adapts different fashion styles to suit her own personality, which is not completely pessimistic and dark, but more relaxed, cool and composed.




1) Can you explain your choice of clothing and how does it portray your personality or style.
Ans: I dress according to my mood and according to what i feel is a nice design and style. Also, I don’t really dress according to the type of brands, I enjoy mixing and matching different clothes to get different styles. I think sticking to just one brand could be quite boring too.

2) Do you see yourself as a conformist who follows the trend or a non-conformist who wants to stand out from the rest in terms of fashion?
Ans: I feel that i am more of a non-conformist. I don’t really follow the latest fashion trends. I like to think out of the box but at the same time, borrow ideas that i have picked up from the fashion magazines that I have read. I like to stand out from the crowd and look confident in front of others and get people to recognise my personal taste and style.

3) What is your favourite brand? Do you wear clothes from the same brand or create your mix of brands?
Ans: I don’t really have a favourite brand but I guess if i had to choose, i prefer clothing from Topshop (Topman). Erm...i like to wear clothing from a variety of brands.

4) Do you often read fashion magazines?  Do you think it gives one inspiration?
Ans: Erm...yes i do often read fashion magazines. I find that it is interesting and that it gives me the inspiration to dress in certain ways. I find that it helps me learn how to experiment and mix clothes of certain colors and designs together to make the outfit look nice.


We think his style is smart casual, judging from his mid-length sleeves, skinny jeans and shiny shoes. His outfit appeals to me because of the colours of his clothes. It is known as colour blocking, whereby loud and proud colour combinations give off a confident, dynamic look. His shirt is rather eye-cathy due to its bright mix of cheerful colours like yellow and red. His shoes seems polished, giving off a confident sparkle. The  bright yellow and Blue really stand out from his brown shoes which also makes it attention-grabbing. Clashing and loud colours are what appeal to teenagers these days, and that is the main attraction of his outfit.
From his colourful outfit, we think that he is not a boring person but a teenager with a bubbly personality. He has a good sense of balance when he chose this outfit. His plain brown skinny pants helped to neutralise the vibrant and dynamic colours of his top and shoes. This could suggest that he does not have an extremist personality.
Although his outfit is quite attention-grabbing, it did not seem to break any fashion trend, because this is the typical outfit teenage boys wear on the streets-- shirt, skinny pants or jeans and canvas shoes. However, it is evident that he tries to stand out by his unique choice and mix of colours.




4th interviewee   

1) Can you explain your choice of clothing ?
Ans: I dress according to the occasion. However, the way I dress is also dependent on the way I am feeling and what i find would look nice on me.

2) Do you have a theme which you dress to?
Ans: Like i said earlier before, the way i dress would depend on the occasion. However, now that i come to think about it, i feel that i tend to veer towards the punk-rock and gothic style of fashion.

3) Do you see yourself as a conformist who follows the trend or a non-conformist who wants to stand out from the rest in terms of fashion?
Ans: Erm... i can’t really say. I feel that yes i do tend to follow the fashion trends, however i also find that i can’t really help but follow the latest trend. When i buy clothes during  any particular time of the year, i, in a way, would be purchasing the newest fashion styles featured in the shops that i go to.

4) What is your favourite brand? Do you wear clothes from the same brand or create your mix of brands? Also, who is your favorite celebrity and what do you like about the way he/she dresses?
Ans: i don’t really have a favourite brand. I tend to mix and match different brands and designs as i find that it is more fun.


Although her outfit is mostly black, her gothic lolita style caught out attention. The gothic feel was from the bold criss-crosses at the back of her dress, her black-coloured stockings and Hip-Hop shoes with a skull printed on it and blood-red outlines. It feels as if she is angsty and subversive on that day. Her shoes are the only things that added colour to her otherwise dark, shadowy and sinister look, but even so, the outline of her shoes are in blood red. The blood red colour added to the general gothic, gloomy feel of her outfit. I don’t really appreciate her style of dressing as i find it too dull and depressing for my jovial personality. If i were her, I would have worn a different coloured heel, probably Musell Red, so that it is outstanding against the black outfit, portraying my bubbly personality. Finally, in terms of breaking fashion trends, she did not create a new trend, but she did try to explore an interesting fashion subculture which had originated from the Victorian era, and mixed it with gothic style. Hence, it created a spooky yet unique feel.




5th interviewee
 


1) Can you explain your choice of clothing and how does it portray your personality or style.
Ans: Aah, i don’t dress according to anything in particular. I find that i just dress according to the way i feel during that period of time and what designs and colors i find go well together.

2) Do you see yourself as a conformist who follows the trend or a non-conformist who wants to stand out from the rest in terms of fashion?
Ans: Everyone follows fashion trends. I am definitely someone who follows the latest trends.

3) What is your favourite brand? Do you wear clothes from the same brand or create your mix of brands? Also, who is your favorite celebrity and what do you like about the way he/she dresses?
Ans: I like to shop at Topshop (Topman).

4) Do your clothes/ accessories have any symbolic meaning?
Ans: My accessories i wear are often there to compliment my clothes. I find that whatever matches goes. However certain items such as this earring i am wearing hold sentimental values - it was given by my girlfriend

4) Do you often read fashion magazines?  Do you think it gives one inspiration?
Ans: I don’t follow any sort of fashion magazine. I personally feel that fashion magazines are not really that much of an important aspect. However i must say that to certain people, such magazines are deemed important and inspirational.


His clothing and fashion style is very simple and casual. However we found that the accessories he wore and his choice of colors helped to bring out the uniqueness of his style. His style is a mixture of sorts. His combination of clothes suggest casualness and practicality while the addition of his hat and black earrings suggests that he is a little punk. All in all, his outfit suggests that he is one who dresses for himself but has not got a really outgoing personality - he does not veer that far from the basic and latest fashion trends. Yet he does portray a fun personality considering that his shoes are bright red in color instead of the usual darker colors often seen (for men’s shoes). I feel that his choice and style of fashion is simple and practical yet also hold it’s own personal uniqueness. I found that it was a good combination of the fashion trends that never seem to go out of season and his own personality.

The Wedding Dress - 200 Years of Wedding Fashion

National Museum Learning Journey

1)  Find a particular wedding dress that you find interesting. What do you think is the identity of the bride wearing this dress? Elaborate on and explain your answer. Substantiate your ideas with analysis of the dress.


The identity of the bride, Sarah Maria Wright, wearing the wedding dress above is most likely that of a commoner. This is because firstly, the dress is made of cotton, which is a readily available material and hence is cheaper than other more exquisite types of fabric such as silk. Therefore, the fact that she was only able to afford a cotton wedding dress shows that she was not wealthy and probably of the working class. As compared to the other dresses shown in the exhibition, this dress was a simple one that does not have any embroidery added on, but only designs printed on it. This further suggests that the couple could only afford and make use of the available and cheap resources around them, like block printing which was modern in 1841 and manufactured at their area, the countryside. 

In addition, it was found that the seams on the back of the dress had been loosened by a few inches, suggesting that the bride had worn the dress several times after her wedding, and even when she was pregnant. Therefore, this implies that the bride could have had limited clothing due to her lack of wealth, thus causing her to have to re-wear her wedding dress many times. Also, the bride was most likely a farmer or one who did manual labour due to the colourful prints and cutting of the dress. The bride’s reason for choosing a colourful wedding dress could have been that it would be more practical as compared to a white one, which would become dirty more easily when she worked. In addition, the ill-fitting cutting of the dress allowed for greater ease of movement, which would hence enable her to work more efficiently, as opposed to a figure-hugging wedding dress which would restrict her movement if she re-wore the dress during work. 

Moreover, the print’s on the bride’s dress consisted of pearls and ribbons. The fact that such jewellery was printed onto the dress suggested that the bride might have been unable to afford wearing such accessories during her wedding and hence, had them printed onto her wedding dress as a representation instead. The patterns on her dress were also printed and not embroidered by hand onto her dress, which would have been more expensive, showing that she may not have had been able to afford it. Therefore, it can be seen that because the bride had most likely not been wealthy and was probably a farmer or labourer, her identity was that of a commoner. 

     





2)  Find a dress whose style is very much reflective of the times when it is created. Explain clearly your ideas.  

       

This dress was made in 1941, during World War Two. At that time, fabric rationing was practised, so there was a shortage of fabric. This resulted in wedding dresses, such as the one above, being made using cheaper alternative upholstery material. Hence, upon closer look, one can identify with a change in texture of the dress compared to dresses made with fabric.

The maker of this dress added in some buttercup flowers as design to this otherwise dull dress. It was most probably added to brighten up the mood of this wedding, especially when it was held during times of crisis. Moreover, perhaps due to military influence during the war, the shoulder seemed to be more stiff and broad, resembling a typical military uniform.

The flowers seen on the bride’s head are Orange Blossoms which signify fertility, because the orange tree is the only tree which is able to bear fruits and flowers simultaneously. The bride’s veil helped to cover up her expressions of sadness and anxiety on her wedding day.

In addition, the hemline of the dress dropped, which is characteristic of dresses made during wartimes when the economy was poor. The cutting , designs and color of this dress were much simpler and less flamboyant as compared to other dresses worn during the pre-war period. this helped to bring out the more conservative and watchful side of these women which suited the solemn atmosphere brought out by the war. Lastly, many women were needed to help out during the times of war, and they needed comfortable clothing which allowed movement. Hence, this dress was a ready-made one, which the bride could wear ‘off the rack’ whenever she wants, even after her wedding.

All in all, these are the main details on the dress, shown in the pictures above, which helped to reflect the times at which this dress was created.

Bibliography for Essay on Hillary Clinton

References and Pictures from:

National First Ladies Library, First Lady Bibliography: Hillary Clinton
http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=43 

The Orange County register, Fashion of the First Ladies: Hillary Clinton, 2010
http://stylebinge.ocregister.com/2010/01/18/fashion-of-the-first-ladies-hillary-clinton/16433/

U.S. Department of State, Secretary of State: Hillary Rodham Clinton
http://www.state.gov/secretary/

Wikipedia, Hillary Rodham Clinton
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillary_Rodham_Clinton

Essay on Hillary Clinton

Write a 500-word Group Essay on how Hillary Clinton uses fashion for [poor/ no/ good] effect.
Do survey a range of online images of the political figure chosen  and analyze whether these images change or have remained consistent over time.


Hillary Clinton once said to a group of Yale graduates, “your hair will send very important messages to those around you. It will tell people who you are and what you stand for.” As First Lady, she exacerbated public distrust by changing her hairstyle constantly. This could have indicated stylistic cluelessness and that her authentic self was hidden. On the other hand, when Hillary Clinton ran for the Senate, she adopted a consistent look with a neat, flattering hairstyle favored by most female executives. This change ended the constant swirl of criticism around her stylistic persona. Thus, this evolvement in Clinton’s fashion style is indicative of the different image, as well as message, she is attempting to portray and bring out as a public figure.


                                         
Before running for Senate, Hilary Clinton adopted different hairstyles. After which, she seemed to have chosen the ‘right hairstyle’ and since then, did not try any new hairstyle other than her neat, short hair.

As First Lady, Hillary Clinton experimented with different outfits and hairstyles in an attempt to project the image of an independent working woman. Although her outfits and hairstyles constantly changed, they reflected the typical attire of women who held office jobs, which usually was a suit jacket or blouse paired with a knee-length skirt. Her clothing style resembled elegance and sophistication, the choice of colors for her outfits constantly changed but were more often than not a solid color - nothing flamboyant.The reason for her fashion style was because she wanted to be viewed as an typical working woman. Being the only First Lady at that time to have held a postgraduate degree and to have continued with her own professional career up to the time of entering the White House, Clinton therefore wanted to be seen as self-reliant and not dependent on her husband Bill Clinton to gain recognition and boost her career. Therefore, she chose to portray herself as an independent working woman so as to be able to connect with the typical working women in America.
 

(Left) Hillary in a plaid skirt and wide-brimmed hat during her husband’s inauguration in 1993.
(Middle) Clinton wearing a turquoise jacket during a speech in 1993.
(Right) Clinton decked in a short-sleeved blouse while meeting Romanian President in 1996.



However, Clinton’s fashion style changed since she was elected as Secretary of State in 2009. Her outfit typically consists of suit pants with minimal accessories, and she has kept a consistent and simple hairstyle. This is because as a Secretary, Clinton is representing her country and therefore has to appear more professional. In addition, her outfits and hairstyle have become more consistent as this would allow her to be more recognizable and relatable, especially to foreign diplomats.



(left) Hillary in her inaugural gown in 1993.
(right) Clinton with her Salvatore Ferragamo bag

One would see that Hillary Clinton defines her own style of fashion, instead of letting the latest fashion trends define her. Changing her style over the years, it is also inevitable due to the change of her position in the United States of America, leading in the change of the image that she aims to send across through her dressing. She is seen to be an elegant, and confident First Lady in 1993, showing her status but still appearing to be approachable to the people. However, as Clinton moves on to run for Presidency in 2008 and became the current Secretary of State, she is often adorned in a suit jacket, keeping her hair to the back and a branded bag with her, looking professional, committed to and serious in her work. Her constant change of fashion attracts news media to scrutinise her, to the point that “If I want to knock a story off the front page, I just change my hairstyle.”

Word Count: 545 words

Bibliography for Essay

References:

Rene Konig, A La Mode: On the Social Psychology of Fashion, trans, F. Fradley (New York: Seabury Press, 1973)

Virginia Postrel, The Substance of Style: How the Rise of Aesthetic Value Is Remaking Commerce, Culture, and Consciousness (HarperCollins, 2004)

Pictures taken from:

Hanneli Mustaparta,
www.hanneli.com