Alex's FMP- Weather
Weather Research
Definition:
weather
/ˈwÉ›ðÉ™/
noun
the state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time as regards heat, cloudiness, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc.
Etymology:
weather
/ˈwÉ›ðÉ™/
Learn to pronounce
Origin
Old English weder, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch weer and German Wetter, probably also to the noun wind1.
Synonyms:
Similar words
weather
noun meteorological conditions atmospheric conditions meteorology
climate temperature humidity cloud cover wind speed elements
atmospheric pressure forecast outlook met met report
The 'heavy weather' fashion line for dazed magazine is inspired by wet weather clothes and raincoats. It is taken from a practicality of keeping yourself dry when it is raining outside and turned into art and the peak of high fashion in a very impractical kind of way. However it has elements of practicality like the hats for example or the kag in a bag kind of thing or a rain mac.
The cloud proportion dress takes inspiration from Vivien Westwood and her eccentric fashion style. It also takes elements of wedding dresses and looks a bit like the iconic David Emanuel dress for princess Diana's wedding day. It really takes runway fashion to the extreme and plays with the idea of fluffy clouds and how they balance with the human form. It is playful, exiting and really intrigues me.
Wind drawing machines
I have done some research into different types of wind machines (that are above). The one that interested me the most is the bicycle type contraption that has all sorts of attachments and gadgets. It creates pattern by being attached to a spinning weal being peddled by a person. There are also other types of wind powered drawing machines that I have done some research into, for example a propeller type drawing machine, a manmade wire type drawing machine and a sails kind of propeller invention.
Ellsworth Kelly
Above are some photos of the work of Ellsworth Kelly, for example 'brushstrokes cut into 49 squares' which my 'organised chaos' is inspired by. My examples of this are on the right, I experimented with different shapes like square and oblong. However, I think my favourite one is the bottom left that closely resembles the one of the works by Ellsworth Kelly. I think that this process is great for idea generation and pattern design. I enjoyed the feeling of planning and organising chaos, it was satisfying to neaten and tidy it up. I think that this was successful because it helped me to create ideas and I may take this idea and develop further later on in the project. I also think that the black and white pattern is impactful and striking which I would really like to incorporate in my work. I really love the minimalism displayed in Kelly's work.
London trip to The Natural History Museum and The Design Museum
Yesterday we went to The Natural History Museum and The Design Museum I really enjoyed getting up close and personal with artefacts and inventions of the past and the present. I was really interested in the shapes and forms of the crystals and how they resemble clouds and different weather formations. I have actually always really liked crystals because they are so intricate and unique, I think this can link greatly to the topic of weather because of the similar shapes and sometimes colours. Another thing that really interested me in The Natural History Museum was the huge glowing Earth installation, this links to weather because we live on earth where the weather is ever changing due to global warming and climate change. I really loved The Design Museum because it appealed to my love of, well, design! What really interested me was the clothes and the minimalistic and simplified pattern design. Also I was intrigued about the idea that designs truly everywhere we look from when we wake up in the morning to when we sleep at night. I think that product design is so fascinating because of the fact that we are imersed within it even if we are not aware of it.
Cloud instillation
This cloud sculpture made by Caitlind r.c. Brown and Wayne Garrett is made out of lightbulbs. I think it is truly ingenious it also reminded me of the knife angle that I went to go and see at some point, it was poignant and impactful (a picture is on the right). I think that it links to my ideas on weather and fashion because it is so bold and really makes a statement, I would like to achieve this within my final major project.
This is a sculptural piece that is massively inspired by weather and clouds I think that I could incorporate this within fashion and clothes because that is the topic decided to focus my attention on in this project. I could also decide to go down the rout of a more sculptural design, which is also interesting.
High Fashion Magazines
I have done some research in some high fashion magazines such as Dazed and Confused, Hunger and Vogue. I have actually got a copy of the Jodie Comer Vogue magazine, I enjoy looking at the new and upcoming trends within the world of fashion and the articles supporting them. I also have a picture of the Harry Styles on the Dazed and Confused cover printed off and on my wall. I thought that I could make a poster or a magazine cover to advertise my final outcome for the 2D part of the FMP. I also like to make collages out of these kind of magazines, its fun!
Vivienne Westwood
I have done some research into Vivienne Westwood before so I have decided to focus my research on what I think relates most to weather which is wedding dresses. I also love the style of wedding dresses because they are so elegant and pure. One thing that I have noticed with her work is the constant reuse of beautiful white pearls with the 'Vivienne Westwood' logo hanging from them. An example is below. I think that the veils are especially similar to clouds and the pearls like rain drops hanging from it.
Natsuki Hanyu
Natsuki Hanyu's work is massively centered around nature and plants, it is an extreme form of costume. Her designs are deeply rooted within Japanese culture and the belief in spirits within living things like trees and nature. The plan within these pieces is to re-ignite and re-animate the feeling that things that are a non-human form are spiritually alive within nature. This comes under a category that I would like to explore called 'performance-textiles'.
Seaweed sustainability for Hunger magazine
Seaweed is used as a sustainable clothing material in these outfits, it is interesting to think about ways that we can use alternative materials that are better for our planet. I don't think that I will personally be using seaweed but I will further investigate more sustainable materials to use in my final project. However, it is a really interesting concept to consider the fact that you can use such unexpected materials and have such a great outcome!
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The only real issue with this is the effect on sea life, this is because some fish species rely on it for food and shelter. It also helps to protect our coast lines by reducing wave action and storm surges.
Mary Quant
Mary Quant defined fashion of the sixty's, dominating trends such as the mini skirt and the mini dress. These trends in fashion are closely linked to the changing views on equality and feminism. She also is big on bold prints and statement accessories such as hats, hairstyles, make-up, bags and earrings. Also she has a cosmetics brand, that has a wide range of different products that are modern and yet still innkeeping with her signature 'Mary Quant' kind of style. I think that I could use a similar repeat pattern kind of thing within the theme of weather and clouds. I could simplify the shape of a cloud and use that as a repeat fabric pattern, like on the right.
Weather front pattern design
Above are some photos of weather fronts that I can turn into a black and white pattern design for my different wedding dress designs. I have already used this kind of pattern for decoration and space filling and I haven't even realised it! I also think that I could make my final dress out of paper to make it more different and unique. On the left are some of my pattern design ideas on the weather fronts. I could create them into a repeat pattern for my final dress or I could create even more! I really enjoyed this proses actually, mainly because it is is simple yet effective. I will continue this and create some digital drawings that link to weather and the patterns created by weather fronts.
Bridget Riley on pattern
Bridget's style is very patterned, this is great inspiration for me because I think I will focus more on black and white pattern design. I have started research above on weather fronts. I have also done some research in to Mary Quant who has a very similar style when it comes to patterns, block design and a black and white colour pallet. I will defiantly take this on board when creating patterns for my dress design.
Paper dresses
I have done some research into paper dresses before on my other website but this time I have tried to focus more on high fashion and the shapes and forms of dresses within the world of the runway. When I intend to create my dress I will have photocopied and reprinted my black and white pattern repeatedly to give the effect of a weather front (as researched above). My favourite of these would have to be the 'world map' dress, it is just so interesting and intricate. It also has a very similar feel to it as the weather fronts I think that I could use this in my final piece.
Matisse- the Art of collage
Henri Matisse has a very bold collage style, with seaweed shaped blobs and people. I think that I could take this on board when I create my repeat pattern design. I have always really liked Matisses work with collage, it is unique and really focuses on bold repeated patterns. I think my pattern designs are more swirly because they are hand drawn but over the holiday I will do some work with collage and do some digital drawings as well. On the right is my attempt to recreate some pattern designs by Matisse. I am only really working in black and white so I have made my Matisse inspired patterns monochrome. I have taken the shapes and forms of clouds, leaves and a little person in the middle, similarly to Matisse.
Monochrome in Ikea
When I went to Ikea I managed to carry out some primary research, I took some photos of black and white wall decor. I think that the main element that makes this quite captivating is the striking lighting and the contrast created by that. I think that the main thing that I can take from this research is to really focus on the contrast made by having black on white or visa versa.
Presentation Skills
The design museum
When we were at the design museum I really liked the way that things were displayed, I think that I will use this in my work by having my collages mounted to the wall and some (if not all) of my fabric pieces displayed on a plinth or table below. The white background makes it look clean and polished which is a great contrast to the shabby chic that I'm going for with my fabric pieces.
Vivienne Westwood
When I was really set on making a wedding dress I would have probably displayed it like this, it does look really nice to be fair. I think if I had had more time and I had of made a dress I would of definitely done this.
Tracey Emin
I think that if I had made a quilt as I once intended throughout this project I would have displayed it in this way. I think that especially with such a strong statement as with Emins work, it creates a huge amount of contrast to the white wall space. The tent is also a really creative way to display her work, if you were inside of it it would almost be an immersive experience.