Meet the GFF 2020 Fashion Styling and Creative Direction Award Nominees
The winner of the Fashion Styling and Creative Direction Award will present a portfolio of at least two editorial stories, each aimed at an identified publication, addressing a wide variety of issues and narratives. Students must demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively through the evaluation of the needs of the viewer/client in respect of market/trends.
Alisa Chaplin, University of Brighton
Informed by political and theatrical themes and inspired in its entirety by the performance and attention to detail as seen in a glory day Alexander McQueen show, my first editorial submission ‘Flight of a Bee’ shows this stage of my project; pre-pandemic, collaboration with models, artists, designers readily available, very much working within a familiar system. Little did I know when I was in these initial stages I would be faced with many of the radical fears I had been exaggerating to conceptualise my ‘dystopian’ world. Within my work, I often explore the performance of femininity whilst critiquing beauty standards, tending to take a very playful approach to styling, to remind people that whilst fashion is an incredibly powerful tool, it is nothing if it is not fun.
Annabel Ross, University of South Wales
For this final editorial, I wanted to explore the concept of self-isolation and the emotions we endure on a daily basis as we “stay put” in our homes. I will also refer to how we are still able to carry out creative practices and communicate with others from our homes via technology. I organised the styling and creative direction for this shoot in two days by communicating my ideas to the model and photographer via moodboards. I was then able to send garments over to the model and successfully direct the shoot via Facetime.
Clemmie Hyde, Sheffield Hallam University
I have presented the images as they appear in Volume 1 of my new magazine publication, ‘Network’ to display how the images have been elevated and further contextualised by the use of typography and graphics. The first series was a reflection on the re- lationship between class representation and the fashion industry; exploring the common trends that have derived from typically working class trends and brand associations.
Having looked into foot- ball hooliganism and the European trends adopted by them, I adapted the stand out trends to a more curated and modern aes- thetic, hence the title, ‘The New Casual.’
The second series was a further considera- tion of these themes, but entwined with a more fantastical, theatrical look at culture clashes and use of more flamboyant styling. I entitled this series, ‘All Dressed Up With Nowhere To Go’ as a reflection on the current lockdown situation and the feelings of many at this time
Daisie Jacobs, Leeds Arts University
“F. O. A. M (feelings of apprehension, mainly)” is an editorial that explores the need to safeguard our mental wellbeing in the face of overwhelming issues beyond our control. The title serves two purposes in that it references the expanding foam used to create the looks, and acts as an acronym standing for ‘feelings of apprehension, mainly,’ a phrase that has been significant within my own personal experiences with anxiety and panic. I wanted the shoot to feel somewhat dystopian and otherworldly to reflect how alien the world often feels during times of uncertainty. This shoot was undertaken whilst in lockdown with my lovely mother as the model. The editorial is aimed at an audience interested in more conceptual, high fashion campaigns, and for those who have an interest in the cross section where fashion meets art.
Daniel Robinson, University for the Creative Arts Rochester
My dream is to work within editorial photography, I wanted my final major project to showcase this by creating a body of work that represents my photographic, styling and storytelling skills. Primary research in visiting Tim Walker’s Wonderful Things and the Barbicans Masculinities: Liberation Through Photography exhibitions, motivated my passion in carrying out a narrative photography based project.
Taking poems as a guideline, I devised a series of editorials each aimed at a specific fashion magazine. Further visual research found in publications, such as Foam magazine’s fashion edition, provided inspirations for the art direction and photographic styles of my shoots. Collecting references from well-known and iconic photographers such as Deborah Turberville, Hassan Hajajj and David LaChapelle, I fused my own concepts with inspiration from their technical and creative practice to fully realise my outcomes.
Emily Fraser, Leeds Arts University
Mary Had A Little Lamb was Marvis Chan’s initial concept which resulted in the ‘I Wonder Where My Rabbit Has Gone’ series of images aiming to provoke curiosity in the audience. When discussing the concept with the photographer, and going into more depth about the elements of the photography and exploring the mood boards (Figure 1 and 2), the general aesthetics reminded me of Mary Had A Little Lamb. However, aspects of the photography such as the alternative angles, combined with the fantastical greenery in the background created a surreal image which also brought to mind the story of Alice in Wonderland.
Kiran Samra, Ravensbourne University London
My editorials are featured in FUSE - a bi-annual publication challenging the current representation of British Asian women today - specifically South and West Asian. As well as providing stylistic documentary and editorial imagery to tackle the current stereotypical representation, FUSE aims to create a platform for women who face issues everyday within Asian communities in the UK (such as abuse, ‘honour’ and LGBTQ+) through interviews and shared stories. Through extensive primary and secondary research, it has been proven that FUSE is not only wanted but needed in the market today. FUSE comes in an A4 cardboard box consisting of 4 zines, a poster and a set of stickers. It is a collectable piece rather than a traditional publication.
Matthew Pennington, University for the Creative Arts Epsom
A Recipe For Disaster follows the story of Miss C on her quest to protect her neighbourhood from sin. This comical silent visual contains six chapters, which explore the discourse of Miss C taking action to cleanse her community from the wrath of a local man called Byron. This short film explores faith, nostalgia, delusion, the past and future as we follow the actions of Miss C’s good intentions resolve in a contentious outcome.
Olivia Walters, Sheffield Hallam University
WADE is a visual publication created, directed and designed as part of my final Image Making & Styling project. The magazine explores how plastic pollution is quickly becoming one of the most pressing environmental issues to date. By combining striking imagery, recycled plastic and beautiful coastal locations, Wade aims to raise awareness of excessive usage of plastics and inspire readers to change their buying habits through three editorial shoots that form the ‘Plastic’ series. Pledging to be an inspiring and responsible influence, all plastic used throughout the following editorials has been collected and recycled appropriately. The garments featured are made using recycled plastic. Let’s help tackle plastic pollution together.
Seyon Amosu, University for the Creative Arts Rochester
The way I work creating a series of creatively directed and styled visual stories that explores my Identity as an African queer and our experiences from my lens. taking inspiration and stories from my childhood to adulthood experiences and communicating that visually. This project also solidifies my identity as a creative, showing my strengths and aesthetics, the narratives I personally care about and that I am passionate to explore.