Hi everyone!
Well, I'm back in Arizona and its heavy heat and dry air. So far I'm loving it, but it's hard to believe just a day ago, I was almost halfway across the world, eating baguette and talking fashion with my advisor. But I'm glad to be back.
Just before I left, I met with my advisor for our last official meeting to go through my photos and pick the few that had potential. I would be lying if I didn't say it wasn't somewhat painful. I was never a fan of letting other people see my art, and I'm not the best photographer so watching my advisor and model (I wanted her to be as much part of the process as my advisor was) go through my photos and pick ones over the others was confusing and painful. I had no idea what I was suppose to be looking for or what to say, and again I was reminded just how much precision and work it takes for those few-out-of-hundreds fashion photos to be created and printed out for an audience. I do see a change now in the way I look at pictures in a magazine: I look at the background, the clothes, the stance, the expression and imagine the environment behind the the camera (photographer, photographer's assistance, lights, stylists, more assistances, ironing boards, makeup cast, etc) as much as I look at the convenient prettiness of each photo. I think about, wow how long must it have taken to get that picture of a girl running down a sidewalk with a parachute attached to her back, and have it fully open so it's colors nicely contrasted with the background and clothes? (hours, my advisor responded, shaking her head)
We also went through some of my advisor's work. I wanted to get a look at what she had done and figure out, firstly, how much freedom I had with these photos, and secondly, how she decided to tell her "narrative." It was really amazing to see what she had done. She told me stories of happenings behind the scenes of the photos and for me, I could suddenly see everything in each look come to life, like each photo had a real purpose and wasn't another perfectly composed photo of some beautiful person.
While it's true there's that stereotypical idea of fashion people being very...arrogant and picky in the fashion industry, what they create when all the little pieces come together is most definitely art, and I'm just grateful I got to see a glimpse of it.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
week 8-9
Hi everyone!
I have big news, exciting news! I did my photo shoots! It was so much fun, and I'm really happy with the results. I decided to only do four different looks for my project (lack of time) which meant taking all the clothing, accessories, etc. to four different locations. And I did two separate shoots: one at night featuring the Moulin Rouge look, and another during the daytime for my designs from Pompidou, Shakespeare and Company, and Archives Nationales.
The photo shoot for Moulin Rouge was, to say the least, chaotic. It was maybe 60 degrees Fahrenheit with a cold wind, and I had my model wear this thin, short dress and some sandals. I felt so bad having her in the cold, so I tried being as quick as possible. Whenever I wasn't taking pictures, my advisor and I had her wear two sweaters, a long trench coat and wrapped her legs in a blanket. I had already planned out one photo where my model would walk down the crosswalk right in front of the theatre of Moulin Rouge (I got the idea from that famous picture of the Beatles), but that turned out to be a pretty complicated idea because we had to wait for the light to turn green for pedestrians, so each time I had about two minutes of shooting before we had to wait again. And I was backed up into the bike lane right next to the street so cars were driving right next to me the entire time. As if that wasn't enough to worry about, my camera was having trouble shooting with the lack of light. Ah, it was a good first photo shoo,t I think. I ended trying another photo idea I came up with during the shoot, and that was a success, so everything ended well, and within about an hour, which was good for my model.
The second photo shoot was LONG. For the first time since I left for France, I woke up at 8am(so early), packed three full bags (not including lunch) of all three outfits with their appropriate accessories (hats, shoes, jewelry) and made my way to my advisor's apartment to change for the first shoot. I made sure the weather was on our side this time, so by 11 am, we were out, walking to the first location under a bright sun. I started at Shakespeare and company, and it was really great with the blooming flowers on the trees just in front of the store, the soft light and the colorful books. It was pretty easy, so I had high hopes that the rest of the photo shoot would go as smooth as before. But what does sunshine and clear skies in Paris give you? PEOPLE. Everywhere. When we carried all our luggage to Pompidou, the streets were crowded with people. But when we got to the location, it was pretty empty, and I thought, hey maybe it wasn't going to be so bad. But I should have known better! I should have known that ALL national parks were closed on Tuesdays, including Pompidou AND Archives Nationales. Therefore, we didn't have any available bathrooms! My stress levels just shot up. So you know, I tried to stay calm, and we end up doing all the shots, moved to the final location, snuck into a bathroom and finished up at Archives Nationales around 2:30pm.
We officially ended the shoot by having a picnic in a nearby park, which was really nice. Then both my advisor and my model had to go to work, so I brought everything back to my apartment, fell into bed and went to sleep... :)
So overall, it was super eventful and fun, and the photos I got out of the shoots, are, to me, really nice. I put all my energy into these outfits, and the photos, I hope people see it! It's nothing like the professional advertisements in a magazine, but it's so amazing to see what I can do.
The next thing to do is go through the photos and pick my final pieces for the project. Then I need edit them and maybe write a small piece to along side the final photos.
So my project is close to finished, and I'm leaving in about a week back to the hot and dry desert of Tucson, I really can't wait! see everyone soon!
I have big news, exciting news! I did my photo shoots! It was so much fun, and I'm really happy with the results. I decided to only do four different looks for my project (lack of time) which meant taking all the clothing, accessories, etc. to four different locations. And I did two separate shoots: one at night featuring the Moulin Rouge look, and another during the daytime for my designs from Pompidou, Shakespeare and Company, and Archives Nationales.
The photo shoot for Moulin Rouge was, to say the least, chaotic. It was maybe 60 degrees Fahrenheit with a cold wind, and I had my model wear this thin, short dress and some sandals. I felt so bad having her in the cold, so I tried being as quick as possible. Whenever I wasn't taking pictures, my advisor and I had her wear two sweaters, a long trench coat and wrapped her legs in a blanket. I had already planned out one photo where my model would walk down the crosswalk right in front of the theatre of Moulin Rouge (I got the idea from that famous picture of the Beatles), but that turned out to be a pretty complicated idea because we had to wait for the light to turn green for pedestrians, so each time I had about two minutes of shooting before we had to wait again. And I was backed up into the bike lane right next to the street so cars were driving right next to me the entire time. As if that wasn't enough to worry about, my camera was having trouble shooting with the lack of light. Ah, it was a good first photo shoo,t I think. I ended trying another photo idea I came up with during the shoot, and that was a success, so everything ended well, and within about an hour, which was good for my model.
The second photo shoot was LONG. For the first time since I left for France, I woke up at 8am(so early), packed three full bags (not including lunch) of all three outfits with their appropriate accessories (hats, shoes, jewelry) and made my way to my advisor's apartment to change for the first shoot. I made sure the weather was on our side this time, so by 11 am, we were out, walking to the first location under a bright sun. I started at Shakespeare and company, and it was really great with the blooming flowers on the trees just in front of the store, the soft light and the colorful books. It was pretty easy, so I had high hopes that the rest of the photo shoot would go as smooth as before. But what does sunshine and clear skies in Paris give you? PEOPLE. Everywhere. When we carried all our luggage to Pompidou, the streets were crowded with people. But when we got to the location, it was pretty empty, and I thought, hey maybe it wasn't going to be so bad. But I should have known better! I should have known that ALL national parks were closed on Tuesdays, including Pompidou AND Archives Nationales. Therefore, we didn't have any available bathrooms! My stress levels just shot up. So you know, I tried to stay calm, and we end up doing all the shots, moved to the final location, snuck into a bathroom and finished up at Archives Nationales around 2:30pm.
We officially ended the shoot by having a picnic in a nearby park, which was really nice. Then both my advisor and my model had to go to work, so I brought everything back to my apartment, fell into bed and went to sleep... :)
So overall, it was super eventful and fun, and the photos I got out of the shoots, are, to me, really nice. I put all my energy into these outfits, and the photos, I hope people see it! It's nothing like the professional advertisements in a magazine, but it's so amazing to see what I can do.
The next thing to do is go through the photos and pick my final pieces for the project. Then I need edit them and maybe write a small piece to along side the final photos.
So my project is close to finished, and I'm leaving in about a week back to the hot and dry desert of Tucson, I really can't wait! see everyone soon!
Friday, March 21, 2014
week 6-7
Hi everyone!
I'm so excited! I've finished ALL my sketches for each look and I've finally started buying the clothes! It's like my imagination is coming true! My sketches are coming to life in fabric and color! It's all so much fun right now.
So, the locations I've picked are: Centre G. Pompidou, Fondation Cartier, Shakespeare and Company, the museum Archives national, Moulin Rouge, and (maybe) Carreau de Temple. They were the location that really stuck out to me in their own ways. I didn't really pick based on a theme or anything, these buildings were just fascinating in completely different ways and really had a presence for me (which is hard to do in the chaos of Paris).
So, my sketches! I've sketched mostly based on the feeling I've gotten from the buildings I picked. Originally I was going to base my designs off of the physical architecture and structures but that immediately became overly complicated and I just don't have enough time to digest all that information and translate it into fashion. Once I finished making the sketches, I had to keep in mind that the idea I'd drawn could and most likely would change. Even in Paris, some pieces I wanted wouldn't exist, or be available in the second hand stores I go to. I'm still learning to keep myself calm and open to variations, and not die of excitement like I do.
Now that I've started buying the clothing with the help of my advisor (oh thank you so much!), she's been pushing me to make a schedule. And because I'm shooting on location, I have to think about transportation, food, weather, available bathrooms for my model to change in, which locations to shoot at in one day, how I want to take the photos! So much! But it's part of the process. As a result, I'm walking around Paris a lot right now, figuring out how I want the photo shoot to flow. Luckily, only two of my locations are on opposite sides of the city. The rest are clustered in one area, and that makes my life so much easier.
The most frustrating parts of my project are: the money, and making decisions. This is the first time I've been able to handle money on my own. And it's irritating! Constantly having to keep myself on the budget I've made and not buy things for myself. And deciding what to buy based on the designs I've drawn: already, the clothing I've bought are different in print and shape than I'd originally created, so trying to buy, for example a jacket for my Shakespeare and Company becomes more complicated because I'm not sure it will fit with the overall look.
Overall, I'm having the time of my life. A few days ago, I met with my advisor and model, and we spent the day trying on the clothes I'd already bought, adding different hats and belts to some, etc. That day was the first time I'd taken what was in my head and put it on a person. It was so satisfying, I definitely don't want to stop once this project is over.
Well, three more weeks, and I'm coming home! See everyone soon!
I'm so excited! I've finished ALL my sketches for each look and I've finally started buying the clothes! It's like my imagination is coming true! My sketches are coming to life in fabric and color! It's all so much fun right now.
So, the locations I've picked are: Centre G. Pompidou, Fondation Cartier, Shakespeare and Company, the museum Archives national, Moulin Rouge, and (maybe) Carreau de Temple. They were the location that really stuck out to me in their own ways. I didn't really pick based on a theme or anything, these buildings were just fascinating in completely different ways and really had a presence for me (which is hard to do in the chaos of Paris).
So, my sketches! I've sketched mostly based on the feeling I've gotten from the buildings I picked. Originally I was going to base my designs off of the physical architecture and structures but that immediately became overly complicated and I just don't have enough time to digest all that information and translate it into fashion. Once I finished making the sketches, I had to keep in mind that the idea I'd drawn could and most likely would change. Even in Paris, some pieces I wanted wouldn't exist, or be available in the second hand stores I go to. I'm still learning to keep myself calm and open to variations, and not die of excitement like I do.
Now that I've started buying the clothing with the help of my advisor (oh thank you so much!), she's been pushing me to make a schedule. And because I'm shooting on location, I have to think about transportation, food, weather, available bathrooms for my model to change in, which locations to shoot at in one day, how I want to take the photos! So much! But it's part of the process. As a result, I'm walking around Paris a lot right now, figuring out how I want the photo shoot to flow. Luckily, only two of my locations are on opposite sides of the city. The rest are clustered in one area, and that makes my life so much easier.
The most frustrating parts of my project are: the money, and making decisions. This is the first time I've been able to handle money on my own. And it's irritating! Constantly having to keep myself on the budget I've made and not buy things for myself. And deciding what to buy based on the designs I've drawn: already, the clothing I've bought are different in print and shape than I'd originally created, so trying to buy, for example a jacket for my Shakespeare and Company becomes more complicated because I'm not sure it will fit with the overall look.
Overall, I'm having the time of my life. A few days ago, I met with my advisor and model, and we spent the day trying on the clothes I'd already bought, adding different hats and belts to some, etc. That day was the first time I'd taken what was in my head and put it on a person. It was so satisfying, I definitely don't want to stop once this project is over.
Well, three more weeks, and I'm coming home! See everyone soon!
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
week 5
Hi everyone!
So, now, regarding my project, everything is starting to move forward. I have picked my final locations and am starting to draw the final sketches, which I may post (some) next week. I am getting together with my advisor more often to walk through the streets of Paris. She also points out the most popular cafes and the hidden second hand stores when we walk so even though I've been here for more than a month, I'm still constantly discovering new places.
The last week was especially fun for people watching. My advisor took me to a street where all the people who were apart of Fashion week liked to meet up, sit and drink coffee and beer for hours. And the clothes they were wearing: so funny! These people had no boundaries (other than the fact that it was cold so luckily no one was naked or anything). Some wore big fur coats, some had half their hair shaved off and tons of make up and bright nail polish on; no one looked the same. What captured my attention the most though, was the way they carried themselves. These people knew when they walked by a café, everyone was looking, especially me. And that was their goal. I spent at least two hours drinking one cup of hot chocolate (because it was expensive) while openly staring at the people walking by. I'm sure anywhere else I would've have seemed... almost disturbing. But everyone was just having fun, drinking, smoking and talking about anything as the traffic rolled by and the sun began to set. It was one of my favorite nights in Paris so far.
The big news from this week end is that I went to Berlin! I took an hour and a half flight from Paris to Berlin on Friday and came back Tuesday night. And Berlin is beautiful, but not the way Paris is. Paris, visually, is rich, and full of stories that span back hundreds of years. You can see it in the arches of the old churches and the way the older buildings literally lean back in the oldest parts of Paris. Berlin, on the other hand was recently rebuilt. This means that there's much more SPACE, to breathe and live. Most, if not all of its current buildings are simple cement blocks with windows and terraces. The streets are wider and there are more (and much bigger) parks. The sidewalks are cleaner but there was beer bottle caps everywhere. For me it was kind of like fusing Tucson and Paris. So it was more than great to go there, almost like I was closer to home...
Anyways, it was nice to escape from the busy-ness and constant noise of Paris to the more open and relaxed atmosphere of Berlin. It really helped to emphasize French culture, which is so different to that of Germany. Even though there are many foreigners in both France and Germany, there is still a certain way of living that identifies the general French population from the rest, no matter how close these countries are.
(By the way, if any of you go to Berlin, I recommend eating their waffles. Actually I command you to go eat their waffles. Crazy good!)
See everyone soon!
So, now, regarding my project, everything is starting to move forward. I have picked my final locations and am starting to draw the final sketches, which I may post (some) next week. I am getting together with my advisor more often to walk through the streets of Paris. She also points out the most popular cafes and the hidden second hand stores when we walk so even though I've been here for more than a month, I'm still constantly discovering new places.
The last week was especially fun for people watching. My advisor took me to a street where all the people who were apart of Fashion week liked to meet up, sit and drink coffee and beer for hours. And the clothes they were wearing: so funny! These people had no boundaries (other than the fact that it was cold so luckily no one was naked or anything). Some wore big fur coats, some had half their hair shaved off and tons of make up and bright nail polish on; no one looked the same. What captured my attention the most though, was the way they carried themselves. These people knew when they walked by a café, everyone was looking, especially me. And that was their goal. I spent at least two hours drinking one cup of hot chocolate (because it was expensive) while openly staring at the people walking by. I'm sure anywhere else I would've have seemed... almost disturbing. But everyone was just having fun, drinking, smoking and talking about anything as the traffic rolled by and the sun began to set. It was one of my favorite nights in Paris so far.
The big news from this week end is that I went to Berlin! I took an hour and a half flight from Paris to Berlin on Friday and came back Tuesday night. And Berlin is beautiful, but not the way Paris is. Paris, visually, is rich, and full of stories that span back hundreds of years. You can see it in the arches of the old churches and the way the older buildings literally lean back in the oldest parts of Paris. Berlin, on the other hand was recently rebuilt. This means that there's much more SPACE, to breathe and live. Most, if not all of its current buildings are simple cement blocks with windows and terraces. The streets are wider and there are more (and much bigger) parks. The sidewalks are cleaner but there was beer bottle caps everywhere. For me it was kind of like fusing Tucson and Paris. So it was more than great to go there, almost like I was closer to home...
Anyways, it was nice to escape from the busy-ness and constant noise of Paris to the more open and relaxed atmosphere of Berlin. It really helped to emphasize French culture, which is so different to that of Germany. Even though there are many foreigners in both France and Germany, there is still a certain way of living that identifies the general French population from the rest, no matter how close these countries are.
(By the way, if any of you go to Berlin, I recommend eating their waffles. Actually I command you to go eat their waffles. Crazy good!)
See everyone soon!
Saturday, March 1, 2014
week 4
Hi everyone!!
SO, the coming week is officially Fashion Week in Paris, France! Next week, there will be the famous fashion shows where the models walk down the runway with their straight faces, you know those scenes from the movies. In each show, all the major designers like Chanel will be showing off their designs or "looks" for the coming Autumn/Winter, so that magazines like Elle and Self Service can order the looks they like and put them in their magazines before the new clothing hits the stores in a few months. This is when stylist like my advisor are hired: they help organize the outfits that will be displayed; they're in charge of getting any extra accessories, props for the location, etc the magazine wants. Overall, stylists like my advisor have to be one step in front of everyone at all times. So for few months, stylists have a ton of work to do. Just hearing all of this is exhausting!
The newest development for my project is finding my inspiration for my final outfits I will be (hopefully) bringing back with me when I return to Tucson. I've decided to base my designs on the architecture of Paris buildings! That means I'll be taking the characteristics of some buildings I find unique to Paris and incorporating them into assembling my outfits. Cool, right?
So now, I'm spending my time trying to pick up to eight different locations (that means eight looks if I have enough time) from which I can start assembling my mood board. A mood board is one place (doesn't have to be a board) where a stylist puts everything she/he finds inspiring, etc so she/he can start actually designing. So I have a lot of work coming up, but's going to be off the hook!!
SO, the coming week is officially Fashion Week in Paris, France! Next week, there will be the famous fashion shows where the models walk down the runway with their straight faces, you know those scenes from the movies. In each show, all the major designers like Chanel will be showing off their designs or "looks" for the coming Autumn/Winter, so that magazines like Elle and Self Service can order the looks they like and put them in their magazines before the new clothing hits the stores in a few months. This is when stylist like my advisor are hired: they help organize the outfits that will be displayed; they're in charge of getting any extra accessories, props for the location, etc the magazine wants. Overall, stylists like my advisor have to be one step in front of everyone at all times. So for few months, stylists have a ton of work to do. Just hearing all of this is exhausting!
The newest development for my project is finding my inspiration for my final outfits I will be (hopefully) bringing back with me when I return to Tucson. I've decided to base my designs on the architecture of Paris buildings! That means I'll be taking the characteristics of some buildings I find unique to Paris and incorporating them into assembling my outfits. Cool, right?
So now, I'm spending my time trying to pick up to eight different locations (that means eight looks if I have enough time) from which I can start assembling my mood board. A mood board is one place (doesn't have to be a board) where a stylist puts everything she/he finds inspiring, etc so she/he can start actually designing. So I have a lot of work coming up, but's going to be off the hook!!
Thursday, February 20, 2014
week 2
Hi everyone!
So like last week, I'm still walking around Paris trying to absorb the culture. No matter how many hours I spend strolling through the crowds, I still can't get over how many people there are! And I love to watch the constant stream of persons walk by while sitting at a café with a hot chocolate. I hear so many different languages and see so many different races everywhere I go; it's just so amazing and so different from Tucson. And because there is such a blend of different cultures, the fashion I see everyday on each person is never the same. Now I can spot a group of tourist anywhere with their berets and sweaters from the tourist shops.
My advisor is currently working on a new project this week, which means I haven't been able to spend much time with her. She just finished a project focused on the era of Marie Antoinette. She was the assistant to a known (well not known to me) French stylist who was working with an American stylist for the Harper's Bazaar magazine. My advisor was in charge of collecting a variety of shoes, jewelry, hats, gloves, shoe buckles, hand mirrors, fans etc resembling that time period for her boss to pick from: that is to say, she had a lot of things to gather for the photo shoot. That brought her to the Flee Market of Paris, the biggest flee market in Europe.
This market is HUGE!
Just aisle after aisle, store after store of anything you can think of: beads, jars, statues, eyes, art, eighteenth century fans, toys, furniture, paintings, chandeliers, clothes (tons of clothes!), clocks. The list goes on! I went to the flee market to help my advisor return all the items she borrowed from a vintage store. On our way, I passed a number of stands all with something different; I even passed this life sized pure white crocodile which I thought about buying, but then decided against it.
When we arrived to the shop, I got a chance to look around and it completely blew my mind. I wanted to live there! Everything was original products from known fashion figures like Coco Chanel. The dresses, shoes, shirts, pants etc there were so elegant or disturbing to the eye; the combination of colored fabrics clashed with each other but somehow worked. And behind each woolen purse and green tuxedo was a rich history of a time I'd only ever glanced over in history class. It was just another example showing me there really isn't any one ideal French look of the Paris people.
I am sketching outfits here and there with clothing that catch my eye but I'm still waiting for my inspiration. Other than that, I'm truly enjoying my time here.
So like last week, I'm still walking around Paris trying to absorb the culture. No matter how many hours I spend strolling through the crowds, I still can't get over how many people there are! And I love to watch the constant stream of persons walk by while sitting at a café with a hot chocolate. I hear so many different languages and see so many different races everywhere I go; it's just so amazing and so different from Tucson. And because there is such a blend of different cultures, the fashion I see everyday on each person is never the same. Now I can spot a group of tourist anywhere with their berets and sweaters from the tourist shops.
My advisor is currently working on a new project this week, which means I haven't been able to spend much time with her. She just finished a project focused on the era of Marie Antoinette. She was the assistant to a known (well not known to me) French stylist who was working with an American stylist for the Harper's Bazaar magazine. My advisor was in charge of collecting a variety of shoes, jewelry, hats, gloves, shoe buckles, hand mirrors, fans etc resembling that time period for her boss to pick from: that is to say, she had a lot of things to gather for the photo shoot. That brought her to the Flee Market of Paris, the biggest flee market in Europe.
This market is HUGE!
Just aisle after aisle, store after store of anything you can think of: beads, jars, statues, eyes, art, eighteenth century fans, toys, furniture, paintings, chandeliers, clothes (tons of clothes!), clocks. The list goes on! I went to the flee market to help my advisor return all the items she borrowed from a vintage store. On our way, I passed a number of stands all with something different; I even passed this life sized pure white crocodile which I thought about buying, but then decided against it.
When we arrived to the shop, I got a chance to look around and it completely blew my mind. I wanted to live there! Everything was original products from known fashion figures like Coco Chanel. The dresses, shoes, shirts, pants etc there were so elegant or disturbing to the eye; the combination of colored fabrics clashed with each other but somehow worked. And behind each woolen purse and green tuxedo was a rich history of a time I'd only ever glanced over in history class. It was just another example showing me there really isn't any one ideal French look of the Paris people.
I am sketching outfits here and there with clothing that catch my eye but I'm still waiting for my inspiration. Other than that, I'm truly enjoying my time here.
Monday, February 10, 2014
week 1
Greetings from Paris!
For those who don't know, my senior research project is about the workings of the fashion world in France: the research that creates the ideas for new clothing, searching and assembling the final product and the final photo shoot that ends up in your magazines! I will be working as a stylist along side a professional stylist, Kerry Dorney, who will be guiding me throughout the process. In the end, I hope to do my own photo shoot with the outfits I will be designing throughout this project. Super exciting!
So this last week consisted of me getting over the jet lag and meeting up with family for the most part. I met with my advisor here and she's really nice and easy to talk to. She is also very precise when she talks about fashion: for her, it's an art where the color, size, texture, etc. all help to create this certain atmosphere and attract specific people. It's fascinating the listen to her talk about it. Now, when I'm walking down the pave streets throughout the city, I try looking for those little details that strike my interest: the way a skirt folds around the body or the creases along the sleeve of a jacket. There is such a profusion of small shops that line the winding streets that each have their own style. There is so much focus on the cut and color in each shop: it just blows my mind. It's completely different from the malls in Tucson, I can't even describe it. You'll just have to come and see yourself.
The first step in my project is inspiration: finding those clothing that for me really attracts my attention and make me want to buy. So I'm spending a lot of time walking, looking through windows and learning about the food and famous spots of France.
I've been to a museum that was showing an exhibition of a photographer named Brassai. This exhibition was made up of only of black and white photographs of everything: people, the human body, streets, famous Paris landmarks, gangsters etc. during the early 20th century. I was especially fascinated by his shoots of Paris at the streets at night. There was so much mystery and elegance in this set. It was the first time I really got to focus on the texture of the stone of the buildings and the see the hidden bars filled with drunk people. And Picasso's hand which was cool. I loved it.
Overall, It's been a crowded but delicious first week and I can't wait to see what's on the next corner.
Ciao!
For those who don't know, my senior research project is about the workings of the fashion world in France: the research that creates the ideas for new clothing, searching and assembling the final product and the final photo shoot that ends up in your magazines! I will be working as a stylist along side a professional stylist, Kerry Dorney, who will be guiding me throughout the process. In the end, I hope to do my own photo shoot with the outfits I will be designing throughout this project. Super exciting!
So this last week consisted of me getting over the jet lag and meeting up with family for the most part. I met with my advisor here and she's really nice and easy to talk to. She is also very precise when she talks about fashion: for her, it's an art where the color, size, texture, etc. all help to create this certain atmosphere and attract specific people. It's fascinating the listen to her talk about it. Now, when I'm walking down the pave streets throughout the city, I try looking for those little details that strike my interest: the way a skirt folds around the body or the creases along the sleeve of a jacket. There is such a profusion of small shops that line the winding streets that each have their own style. There is so much focus on the cut and color in each shop: it just blows my mind. It's completely different from the malls in Tucson, I can't even describe it. You'll just have to come and see yourself.
The first step in my project is inspiration: finding those clothing that for me really attracts my attention and make me want to buy. So I'm spending a lot of time walking, looking through windows and learning about the food and famous spots of France.
I've been to a museum that was showing an exhibition of a photographer named Brassai. This exhibition was made up of only of black and white photographs of everything: people, the human body, streets, famous Paris landmarks, gangsters etc. during the early 20th century. I was especially fascinated by his shoots of Paris at the streets at night. There was so much mystery and elegance in this set. It was the first time I really got to focus on the texture of the stone of the buildings and the see the hidden bars filled with drunk people. And Picasso's hand which was cool. I loved it.
Overall, It's been a crowded but delicious first week and I can't wait to see what's on the next corner.
Ciao!
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