Internship update

I have been doing more product descriptions as part of my internship for my-deluxe.com which can be seen below:                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

1.)    Black shift dress by Aleksandra Wisniewska.

Sleek black shift dress with full sleeves and a round neckline. Fastens at the back with a zip. It has a 60’s feel about it with a very modern twist. Black tights and knee high boots would compliment this dress perfectly.

2.)    Stone coloured sleeveless top by Aleksandra Wisniewska. Neutral coloured top with darts under the bust, at the cap of the sleeve  and at side panels at the back for the perfect, flattering fit. The muted tone of the sleeveless blouse will go with monochromatic shades for a smart winter look as well as with colour pop trend.

3.)    Beautiful off-white dress by Aleksandra Wisniewska. Soft tailoring mid-length dress with expertly cut cap sleeves to shape the arm. Ruching detail adds fluidity and movement across the bottom section of the dress. Fastens with a zip at the back.

4.)    Structured off-white dress by Aleksandra Wisniewska. Classically cut mid-length dress with darts and cap sleeves to add shape. Soft pleating detail from the waist which flatters the line of the body.

5.)    Elegant off-white skirt by Aleksandra Wisniewska. This soft skirt is cut on the yoke at the waist so that it sits on the hips creating a beautiful shape. Loose pleats add texture and shape at the hips and across the centre for fit that compliments any bodyshape.

6.)    Stylish off-white shirt by Aleksandra Wisniewska. The long line of this shirt will add a feminine, graceful shape to an outfit. The sumptuous fabric gives the shirt its really classy, delicate feel with a soft tailored androgynous edge.

7.)    Structured black dress by Aleksandra Wisniewska. Long sleeved black dress with sophisticated v-neckline. Fastens at the back with a zip. Strong waistband and geometric panelling creates a long line of the body for a sleek, tailored finish.

8.)    Chic black trousers by Aleksandra Wisniewska. Full length black trousers in a soft fabric which will create fluid movement. Tapered cut around the ankle and panel detail form the modern shape of the trouser.

9   9.)    Black panelled shirt by Aleksandra Wisniewska. Superbly cut structured black shirt which buttons up to the neck with stylish black buttons. Diagonal panels layer over each other create shape and interest as well as a nod towards the ‘fish-scale’ trend as seen on the catwalk.

10.)   Monochrome jersey t-shirt by Aleksandra Wisniewska. Black and white geometric print gives the t-shirt a modern edge. Loose cut for a flattering shape on the body.

11.)  Sheer monochrome shirt by Aleksandra Wisniewska. Sheer, translucent white shirt with tiny black dot print. Full sleeves with structured shirt cuff. Round, feminine neckline with button down detail on the front and on the cuffs.

12.)  Sheer monochrome shirt dress by Aleksandra Wisniewska.  Full length, translucent shirt dress in white and black dotted print. The dress has black button detailing on the chest and on the cuffs. Ties at the waist to cinch in and add a feminine shape.

Work experience dressing at the Hippodrome.

I have recently had two nights paid work experience dressing at the Birmingham Hippodrome theatre.  I had to assist the female chorus of the Welsh National Opera with putting on their costume, particularly the hard parts like corsets and billowing skirts.

      Myself and the other dresser I was with were placed outside of the dressing room, waiting to be called if assistance was needed. We had to make sure that all of the costumes were in place in the right sections under the right name. We also had to make sure that all of the costumes were hung up and not abandoned on the floor and that any washing was taken down to be washed at the end of the night.

      On both occasions, I got the opportunity to do a change backstage, changing the male actors into demon costumes with huge stiffened robes, masks and headdresses. They were extremely heavy to manoeuvre so I found that quite difficult! It was a great experience though, I really enjoyed it! Made me realise that I miss working in the theatre! 

Make-up artistry

Make-up art is a skill which has fascinated me for a long time and an area of expertise in which I would like to improve upon. There are so many tools needed and different types of make-up required for different parts of the face! I really think it would be a beneficial skill to learn, however it is not a cheap pursuit to begin with! I bought some basic make-up and make-up artistry tools and it set me back a small fortune, so to fully explore this area would mean time and investment which may need to happen at a later date separate from the course. 

Art direction

During the different shoots carried out, I took on the role of art director as well as stylist which meant that I got to have a strong input in the types of make-up and hair created as well the style of photography and editing. I decided upon the locations and the ways in which I wanted the models to be photographed.

A big part of art directing is explaining to the models how you want them to act, the mood, attitude and how you want them to pose. I enjoyed this role a lot and it was nice to have a lot of control and input over the entire aesthetic of a shoot. 

Poses and the positioning of the body.

The poses that the model positions herself or himself into are informed by the type or style of shoot. The positioning of the body is another key element which can make or break a fashion photo. The model will place themselves into positions in which they feel uncomfortable in and uncomfortable positions to be in! It is these awkward and unnatural positions of the body and parts of the body which I find most interesting and make for the most captivating fashion photographs in my eyes!

       I would like to experiment  with awkward positioning of the body throughout future fashion shoots and how this can have a profound effect on the overall aesthetic of the image. 

Models

The choice of models is a key element to creating a fashion image as they will be the face of whatever image, mood, atmosphere or style the photo will try to convey.

       Having the right model to match the outfits or contrast against the clothing is extremely important as the model sets the tone for that particular image. Models too have different levels of experience and different aspects they feel comfortable and uncomfortable with. You can’t make a model do something they are not comfortable with as it shoes in the photographs, so matching the model to the suitability of the shoot is vital! 

Collaborative work

It has definitely been an enjoyable experience collaborating and working with my peers, as models, make-up artists and photographers as well local models and make-up artists. I have had the opportunity to try out different styles of fashion photography, different locations, styles of shooting, styling and different types of model.

     Collaborating with people and working in a team is not only an essential part of working as a stylist but it is also important to the organic process of producing creative work as you get to trial ideas and bounce ideas of people who may have different ideas. It gives you the chance for people to take your idea, run with it and sometimes improve it or take it away from its original context.

      Different photographers have different styles, different ways of working and particular types of photography which they feel comfortable working in as well as things they want to trial, experiment with and explore. The photos will also be edited differently according to their personal styles of photography. I have enjoyed working with and exploring different types of photography and wish to explore different strands of photography and photo-editing in the future.

       Make-up artists have different skills and specialities which they bring to the table. They have had different experiences and come from different backgrounds, so it is important to find out which styles they like to create, what they are comfortable with and what they want to experiment with. Finding a make-up artist who is also good at/ enjoys doing hair is also useful!

     Collaborating in this way across the three different areas, is definitely an approach in which I enjoy and would like to work in again as everyone has different ideas and their input is valid and important in creating quality work.