Madonna in Steven Klein Video - "Beast"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykcgpvDw-G8

I found this short fashion film very inspirational. It features the singer/actress/entrepeneur posing on a stage, next to a burning dress. I have previously said that I would like to burn a dress and see what is left, to potentially use in the photoshoot/ as the final outfit, but this video has inspired me to record the process of burning the dress... perhaps this could be incorporated into a fashion film, or I could get my photographer to take a series of photographs to show the progressive decaying of the dress. The best way of doing this, in my opinion would be to hang it from fishing wire, (which will simply melt instead of catch fire, therefore avoiding potential hazards), and hang it from the branches of a tree (unintentionally in the style of Tim Walker).

SHOWstudio: Gareth Pugh A/W 09 short film by Ruth Hogben

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Mblngm34zs

I love everything about this fashion film. Gareth Pugh collaborates with Ruth Hogben which proves to be a brilliant combination, and it is no surprise that I have been inspired by the clothes, the movement, the silhouettes, and the editing, as it was the latest gareth pugh collection which inspired my initial direction for this unit.

Devastating News...

I heard the news this morning that my Aunty Theresa passed away in the early hours of thismorning. It still hasn't really sunk in yet, but I am happy that she's not in any pain any more. It has made me want to put a whole new spin on this project. I have realised that I was definately picturing it being way too dark, probably because of the anger I was feeling. She was certainly in a dark place because of all the pain she was in, and how weak and helpless she was, but I would really now like to put an optimistic spin on things... definately still use the darkness that i originally intended, but incorporate light and hope... maybe by lighting or by styling.

One step further: Burning dress

I was inspired by this Stephen Klein image to use a partially burnt dress in the photoshoot. Preferably an old ballgown/wedding dress because they have more layers, will will create interesting textures. This will make for really interesting, beautiful photographs, and the burnt layers of the dress will be symbolic of the failed struggle for a breast cancer patient, the loss in their mind of beauty, and something that was once perfect and beautiful being permanently damaged. So, time to get down the charity shop, and start rummaging amongst the ruffles!

Photographer

OK, next stage complete, I've now got a photographer lined up for the shoot. Her name is Nat Lloyd and she's on BA Photography at AUCB. She hasn't shot women's fashion before, but has produced some very successful menswear images. Examples of her work:

Ideas for storyboards...

1) HOSPITAL - running through hospital corridors, on hospital beds, near hospital equipment... ripping off a hospital gown and changing clothes

2) FOREST - looking dishevelled, falling into some water... black&white photography

3) BEDROOM - sitting in the dark, hiding face/breasts

4) BEACH - Dark, rock pools/craggy rocks, clothes dirty with water/sand

5) UNDERGROUND - rusty scrapyard bed, burnt sheets, ripped curtains/blinds, everything dirty and aged.

6) A series of photos in the same setting... some being with a victim, some being with a survivor, some with both... to show contrast.

Jacqui just gets better and better!

My model Jacqui Boulton recently modelled for a shoot for another photographer, and the resulting photos are beautiful, I think her best yet. The photography is brilliant and the styling is also lovely, very feminine. I can take inspiration from the photos for my styling... In the top photo she has a silk fabric over her face (one of my ideas was to have her trying to hide her face)... and in the centre photo she has extensions in her hair, and they have crimped and backcombed it to make it look scruffy, a look that I am hoping to achieve.

Location Location Location!

I have been looking into what sort of locations would be ideal for a photoshoot with this concept, and have generated some ideas from research which would be interesting to look into.

1) Woods - dark with a lot of shadows... brilliant for the despair side of the concept, this could conjure up a very sad and oppressive mood.

2) Forest - Again, dark and with shadows... but also with different textures going on, such as rocks, and perhaps water... I could maybe have the model floating in the water, this could represent drowning... maybe a little bit too dark and sinister though?

3) Underground - A messy, dark, dirty underground space could be representative of the patients mood... and maybe the fact that they feel trapped within the barriers of the disease... this would certainly add to the disheveled look of the model.

4) Street - sitting on the kerb? This would be ideal for portraying the feeling of loneliness in the woman in the story to the viewer/audience.

5) Scrapyard - This could be seen as metaphoric, and somewhat reflecting the patients own life. objects which end up in a scrapyard start their life shiny and new, and then either fail to work, or are misused and become faulty.

6) A beach at night - A dark setting, this can look very sinister, with the odd random lights on the horizon. Sand and sea could be included in the photos to create some interesting results.

7) A bedroom - Where a recovering patient will spend a lot of their time. This could be made very personal and items which the patient may need could be included in the shot, and the model could be made to look very ill and in despair and pain.

8) Hospital Ward - this might be difficult to achieve, with health and safety regulations in a hospital, but we could get some very interesting results... perhaps including hospital beds, hospital equipment, maybe stage a dramatic scene... there are many possibilities with this location... the only thing which worries me is if it might be making it a bit too obvious.

New Boots!

I bought these BEAUTIFUL new boots today... they are from River Island and I paid the steep price of £75 for them (this actually isn't that steep at all, especially considering there are similar ones in All Saints for £165, but I am a poor student and this purchase wiped out the rest of my overdraft... totally worth it...) As I was buying them I realized that they could work really well with the styling for this unit. Disheveled, yes... they have a worn finish to them; post-war, definately... the military style is perfect for this; masculine, absolutely. We will see which route I go down for the styling of the shoot, whether I go with masculine and disheveled to represent the victim... or if i go with for feminine styling to represent the survivor, or even both. What a clever purchase anyway!

Styling Elements Brainstorm

Visit To Hospital

I went to see my Aunty Theresa in hospital today. It was the first time I have seen her in months and she looked so ill from the cancer. She was incredibly pale and thin, and she was clearly in a lot of pain... I thought it was going to really upset me, but more than anything it made me angry... not so much about the fact that the cancer is killing her, because she has been treated for it so many times, and the doctors have managed to prolong it until now... but the fact that she was clearly in so much pain was just horrible to see.

The anger that this has given me definitely is going to affect the outcome of this unit. I think that ultimately it has made me think about the topic in a much darker more oppressive way, and this may be reflected in the styling, and the lighting and location of my shoot.

Dazed and Confused, One in 10

This is the spread from Dazed and Confused December 2000 issue, which has inspired my concept. The models are all women who have suffered from breast cancer, some of whom have had mastectomies. 1 in 10 (the title of the spread) is a figure describing how many women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer. The photographs were taken by Nick Knight and his reason for this project was to "reflect our restricted ideas of beauty and explore the sexuality of these women". For the models personally, the cancer had stripped them of their confidence, so taking photos that were dark and sexual, helped them regain some of their confidence back, making them appear beautiful and sexy as any model would be.

BRAINWAVE!! Breast Cancer... one in 10

2 weeks in, I have had a brainwave! I saw this and similar images on dazeddigital.com, it is a spread based around breast cancer. The models are all women who have had breast cancer, some of which have had a mastectomy... the photos are very dark, and look slightly sinister, but are also very sexual and romantic. I intend to take inspiration from this spread, and from the disease and decay elements of breast cancer... and link it with the post-apocalyptic princess concept... I am very happy with this concept as I know I will get really inspired by it... My godmother's (who I am very close to) mum has recently been admitted to the macmillan ward at Bournemouth General Hospital for the last time, as her breast cancer has spread. A close friend of the family died from the disease 5 years ago as well, it is something that I am very passionate about.

All Saints

All Saints clothes sum up the dark disturbed vibe that I wish to achieve in my styling and my photographs... particularly pretty dresses with a mannish/grungy edge, in the form of worker boots, drapery, leathers etc.