This editorial is probably most relevant so far on the type of styling and outcomes i want to achieve. I love the all white fashion, it depicts every past inspiration i have shown and is also very individual to Petra’s photography style. It showcases large dresses with high neck detailing and lace layering – all elements that need to be highlighted in my outcomes of styling to help portray my main influence of “Picnic at Hanging Rock”. I am really interested in how expressive the outfits are and feel that overall, having my models positioned doing  ‘everyday’ activties just at an ‘everyday’ picnic, could be really effective in such outrageous garments.

“JIWINAIA”

 

The styling used in Petra’s work is always an influence of my everyday and my work styling techniques. However, here i feel that i can really take away a contemporary vision for a typical white dress, especially with the use of layering. The styling is really creative using various sheets of fabric thrown over the body to create a sort of wedding gown. I also love how it is sheer and you can again see the individual layers of say, lingerie, stocking socks, briefs and then the skirt. It all depicts quite a gothic look but with all white clothing; something that i aim to achieve. Almost like a ‘runaway bride?’

“WOMAN ABOUT TOWN”

 

This is styled by one of my favourite stylists, Rubina Marchiori, who’s brief definitely wasn’t to set a gothic appearance however, in terms of textures and typical colours that i want to stick to for my shoot, this editorial seems perfect. I could take examples from this such as flared trousers and ruffled tops to help maintain this on-going theme for another model as it could be a unique way of modernizing typical victorian dresses. Why not turn a dress into a pair of trousers that still reflect the same vintage feel? I also thought this editorial was relevant because of the outfit’s structures. Like i said previously, structure and fit will be highly important for my styling techniques and balancing the right around of ‘goth’. I love how the balance of the styling on the left is really obvious and parallel on each side. Im unsure yet of how i can construct this within my own garments, but i do know that is something really effective and noticeable in good styling so i want to try and provide this.

   

 

I have very obviously chosen Celine to show just because of the brand’s simplicity in designs, yet still manage to seem quite flamboyant and differ from current normal trends. I particularly like the fourth image’s silhouette and how the top half sits on her chest. I think this is really obvious of past periods influence such as the Victorian time where the neckline is very specific. The neck line here is much more gentle than typical victorian standards becoming very delicate and allowing her chest just to seem very feminine and soft. Shoulders and necklines like this is a definite must for my theme to help portray a much more “delicate goth” appearance. I feel like small details of the garments and styling techniques are going to be very important for this shoot as i have become very aware that there is such a small line – for this gothic theme – of fashionable and just plain costume.

“ONE PIECE WONDERS“

 

Again, contrast between slim jeans and overpowering sleeves. Ruffles and flares and lots of layering is important for my styling as it wont only get across these influences of say, “Picnic at Hanging Rock” but will also achieve a very loud, almost overpowering -again- look that could come off as quite gothic. This editorial is maybe more high fashion than what my styling would be but it is good to understand how CDG had been used in multiple ways as it will help me locate how my current ideas of victorian like styling will sit too.

 

 

 

I chose to show this editorial because of how CDG has been styled within it. Although the brand is so contemporary and powers its identity through reflecting future visionary, a lot of the garments remind me of victorian period pieces. For example, on the left, the large white ruffle shorts have a sort of bloomer like feel that would typically be worn in past eras but with a more modern take on them. I love how they have also been paired with a cut out blazer that is of a completely different shape and fit to the bottom half. I think the structure of garments will be really useful in my styling ideas now because it’ll help get across a specific period or this sort of vintage feel i want to achieve to the images and help me filter through my own, quite unconventional elements of styling too.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JANE MCLEISH

 

 

Now looking more into styling and presence of the models, i felt CDG as a brand or corporate image would be best to start of. Although they aren’t classed as a ‘gothic’ brand, a large amounts of their designs they produce have a eery and dark atmopshere to them. Maybe i think this because of their editorials or adverts or because of the nature of their large, oversized garments? However, in this editorial specifically i am interested in how the model is shown quite freely spinning and turning in front of the camera to quite clearly show off the garments. This element of freedom and possibly on the spot photography is an idea i want to continue with. Having my models in a naturalistic setting, doing realistic activities could be the most effective way of emposing my entire concept. Ill look deeper into the brand as a whole and see how they can influence me further – probably more with styling techniques than anything.

BY BRIAN GRIFFIN

  

 

PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRIAN GRIFFIN

 

Looking into similar images of how they contrast with realism and unrealistic behaviour. The lighting is somewhat different to this golden tone i want to depict, however i like how it makes the images seem very cinematic and harsh. Im unsure if this is a look i am going for for my actual final outcomes but it is still relevant. Im just interested in how even for album cover examples, they each tell some kind of story.

“E.T EDITORIAL”

 

 

 

 

This editorial helped me confirm that i want to represent the Renaissance painting through the setting of a vintage picnic like the “Picnic at Hanging Rock”. The stylist here has been really creative in how this everyday, picnic landscape resembles quite a high fashion gothic image. It is mainly shown through casting od model and posing that the gothic appearance really shines through as the models actually seem quite scary and less glamorous than normal. The placement of props surrounding each model became very aware to me also in the way that they are positioned almost very unrealistic around the models and very on show. Whereas the models seem to be very fluent and natural amongst the composition. This idea has made me feel quite aware of composition and how i want the final images to actually look. This being that they should be quite cinematic and almost tell a story, instead of just showcasing fashion elements within an editorial, linking to the story of the Nativity shown within the Renaissance painting. To help with this, i will take careful notes of the posing shown within this and how some shots are shown with such a natural positioning. Maybe i could use something like a prop that could contrast to this realistic nature and become completely apparent and unusual within the picture that could then lead the outcomes to have quite a tense element to them?