Project Ocean

Continuing with the Water themed fashion (simply because this is one of my key themes for next year) I did some more research into the deeper issues regarding water and how this links in with fashion. In May and June 2011, Selfridges was home to a special campaign called 'Project Ocean'. This was all in aid of helping to prevent issues such as over fishing and unethical fishing practices. To do this, the store wanted to make the public aware of the true greatness of the ocean and teamed up with different charities to put on the exhibition. In order for the public to understand the issues, they wanted to do it in an interesting way. Part of this was an ocean inspired fashion exhibition called 'Washed Up'  curated by Judith Clark.

Designers donated pieces that were separated into categories depending on what they were inspired by and incredible set designs were built.

Hussein Chalayan donated his famous bubble dress from A/W 07/08 and his LED skirt (made of 15 000 LED lights under fabric to present a moving image of a shark) from February 2009

Left, is Martin Margielas coral inspired dresses from A/W 11/12 and John Rochas reef dress from A/W 10/11.

Sea life textures were the inspiration for left fish scale dress by Gareth Pugh SS11 and Iris van Herpens design, right. 

Alexanders McQueens Atlantis designs were in this section as well as right, Andrea Cammarosano. 

Iris Van Herpens very literal Octopus dress for her Escapism couture line. 

The exhibition contained Vintage beach wear from the 1820s-1850s

Taking influence from sea structures, Iris Van Herpen created this shell inspired piece from her crystallization collection 

Sea structures interpreted by Junya Watanabe, left  and Sandra Backlund, right. 

Jean Charles Le Castelbajacs SS10 collection - Shark Dress

Mariel Manuel dresses from 'Keep your eye on the doughnut' collection 2010.

There were also many sea inspired accessories in this exhibition worth looking at. Its great to see a theme expressed amongst many designers in different ways and being pulled together in one cohesive exhibition. 

Subaquatic Beauty

Shot by Alix Malka for Numero Tokyo 15, Subaquatic beauty is an underwater shoot you fall in love with. Seemingly inspired by the tropical life and structures you see underwater, a dream like scene is created. The model is like a modern Ophelia except when she drowned, she became a water goddess. Gowns included in the shoot show aquatic colours and stunning water themed prints. It takes on a different theme to the other designers I have blogged about with an emphasis on the underwater grace and elegance.

Jean- Paul Gautier 

Roberto Cavalli

Alexander McQueen

The rest of the looks are by McQueen, Roberto Cavalli  and Lanvin but I'm finding it hard to find a source to tell me exactly which dress is by which designer.

Water and Oil

When thinking about a fashion concept, we are always required to look at the bigger picture. This means looking into social, political and most importantly, the environmental issues that surround a topic. Water comes up in the debate about fashion ethics and the environment in terms of its mass usage and pollution. But fashion designers use their work to interpret issues in the world also. In Vogue Italia, a famous spread was produced named 'Water and Oil' relating to the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Shot by Steven Meisel, Karl Templer was in charge of styling and used designers including McQueen, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Alexander Wang, Dolce and Gabbanna, Miu Miu, Hussein Chalayan, Ann Demeulemeester, Dior, Prada, Haider Ackermann, John Richmond and Azzedine Alaia

Haider Ackermann and Calvin Klein

Hussein Chalayan 

Calvin Klein 

Prada and Haider Ackermann

Donna Karan Collection 

Haider Ackermann and Ann Demeulemeester

Haider Ackermann

There was a lot of controversy surrounding this shoot because many say that it was insensitive and heartless. But creative directors insist that it was about getting the issue noticed and encouraging people to stand up and do something about it and feel sorry for its victims.

Either way, it cannot be denied it is an incredibly creative and provocative shoot. Steven Meisel excels and styling is spot on. 

Ara Jo: Hypnosis

Continuing with my research into oceanic life and its influence on fashion, I came across the highly innovative and futuristic designs on Central St Martins. The collection, 'Hypnosis' is similiar to that of Platos Atlantis in the way in takes of this idea of mythical creatures from the sea, with a heavy influence on mermaids but yet the outcome is so different. Its great to see designers generating their own individual ideas from the same concept so you can gain such a wide variety for research.

Obviously, Ara Jo's collection is a lot more Avant Garde and more experimental that the elegant but unusual designs of The Girl from Atlantis. I don't think anything will top my love for the clothes in that shoot but its great to see designers actually playing on their own imagination and creating some really interesting stuff that hasn't been seeing before.

Karl Lagerfeld, you beauty.

Not going to lie, in love with absolutely  everything that comes from Karl Lagerfeld's genius mind. There is literally no one like him. I appreciate many designers and can't pick a favourite, but there isn't anyone who designs in the way he does. Every piece of Chanel I can look at and know it's a Chanel straight away and yet theres always something new and fresh about it. Its always interesting, it's always beautiful. Last time, he created Prospero's paradise and this time, he took his influence from Bombay.

Clear Indian influence and yet so unique to Karl. The shapes are fantastic, the embellishments are so gorgeous and the styling is definitely down to an art. I look forward to AW12 already.

The Girl from Atlantis

It was of course Alexander McQueen who initiated my fascination following his Plato's Atlantis collection. This was one of my favourites of all time. I have decided my research research topic for my final year portfolio is going to be all about underwater life and the ocean. I'll be looking into mythology and legends such as Atlantis and the Greeks, as well as how underwater creatures and life inspire fashion and issues surrounding water and fashion. Whilst researching, I came across the Vogue Nippon 'The girl from Atlantis'  May 2010 shoot by Solve Sundsbo and was immediately in love. It combined McQueens ideas with other designers in such a beautiful and creative way to create this eco-futuristic Atlantis inspired look.  This is exactly the key theme I was aiming for just because its so stunning and interesting. 

Miu Miu

Emilio Pucci and Alexander McQueen 

Versace

Balmain 

Givenchy

Prada

Alexander McQueen

Julien McDonald

Mark Fast

If I could design half aswell as these designers have in my final project, I'd be an extremely happy woman. This is just one take on the oceanic theme, but I'm starting to discover so many different ideas in my exploration. I'll keep you posted.