Don't Panic! Style Inspiration

The complex world of fashion needs simple line drawings to help uncomplicate things. I looked at a range of artists who use simple line drawings in their work. I really like the style and feeling they give to the work.

These designs of mirrors look cute and I could use to represent vanity in fashion. They are very obviously hand drawn but I think this gives a nice feel to the work.

Using a touch of colour helps to emphasise elements without being too overpowering on the natural brown paper. I like the use of the worn paper, it could express the weathered and re-used fashion styles and statements.

Simple, clean image. With the use of shadow it gives it a depth and makes it more visually stimulating. Soft colours help you to focus on what you are actually looking at.

I like the boldness of the lines. There is a lot of personality in this design, not only because it is hand rendered, but because the fonts used are both very different and could represent a designed font and a natural handwriting style.

Simple, out of proportion, self explanatory. There needn't be any text along with this drawing. It is meant to be used as an activity for children to cut out an create their own art work, but I think it would look good framed as is.

Looking at a completely different style of design. To represent the more in-depth, high end side of vogue and fashion. I love this style of design and amongst other styles is one I aspire to. I like the high contrast in colours and the fantasy/real life feel they have. They set a scene a tell a story which seems real because of the use of photography, however, the images have been manipulated on a very high scale using layers, brushes, stamps, levels, masks etc.

Come on, Vogue!

To start off my research for this project I looked at the obvious Vogue magazine covers. I think the brief wasn't specifically relating to the Vogue magazine, however if that is the title of the monthly then there must be some inspiration and style to be found here.

All of the below Vogue covers focus strongly on the person photographed. The cover is the selling point of the magazine, and getting a celebrity on the cover will maximise sales. On all the cover's the model is centered on the page and there is a high contrast with lighting on the face and body. Backgrounds are blurred and flawless skin further attracts attention to the chosen cover-girl. The text giving information of the contents isn't necessarily needed as so much attention is drawn away from this. The audience is possibly more interested at looking at the images, that first drew them to the magazine, than reading the articles.

Another angle I looked at was the Madonna song 'vogue'. It is such a famous song and has well recognised dance moves. Fashion also relates to the song as Madonna wore her famous pointed bra. The song and style that come with it express women as strong, sexy and independent.

I also looked at fashion statements and how they have influenced the world. Outrageous trends seen on the catwalk are very influential.

Outfits like these are not wearable and high street stores will take elements from these designs and reflect them into their collection in a more consumer friendly and appealing way. For example they will take colour and texture and shape and replicate it on a softened scale. For instance, look at the design by Gareth Pugh below and compare it with the dress design found on asos. They show similarities, not on a huge scale but they can be compared easily.

asos.com