I don’t normally associate British Vogue with innovative imagery. They don’t really push the boat out with their editorials and whilst they consistently bring out beautiful pictures, nothing really grabs me. I mainly buy British Vogue for the well-written articles. However, in the latest July issue, they asked Britain’s finest creative talent to take the idea of fashion and make it their own…. Fashion Fantasies…
Red Rose Poodle Suit by Gareth Pugh
I think this guy has a slight obsession with balloons judging from this and his debut show at LFW. The poodle outfit is supposed to be a tongue-in-cheek stab at the fashion industry – ‘The model is groomed and airburshed to perfection.’
"Erin O’Connor" Straw Hat by Antony Gormley
Artist, Anthony Gormley’s hat is inspired by Korean scholar hats and poor Erin had to be covered with seaweed gel and plaster to make a cast. "The idea was to make Erin a superego – a strange ‘other’ that would sit on her head looking at the world in the opposite direction."
Chloe Girl by James Jarvis
I LOVE James Jarvis’ cartoon figures (collectors toys are a passion of mine….). Hilarious what he thought of the Chloe dress though ‘I like the dress. It suits a potato-headed being.’. The Chloe girl is ‘cold, reads existentialist books, and has a disparaging view of humanity. Still, she’s into fashion.’
Paper-Cut Dress by Robert Ryan
Ryan, a recent collaborator with Paul Smith is famous for his paper-cuts. This was the first time, he had ever made anything wearable. The dress took 3 days to make and was painstakingly cut out with a knife. He says ‘I can’t make mistakes. Once you cut something, you can’t tape it together again.’
And finally…. a frou frou Vogue-ified dressing up box…
Dressing-Up Box by Shona Heath
Art director Shona Heath has subverted the traditional imagery of a dressing-up box (attics, trunks etc.). It’s about going on a fashion shoot and ‘the feeling I get when all the bags and boxes of clothes arrive. It doesn’t matter what’s inside, it’s the packaging – the endless tissue paper and tape – that’s exciting. I think if everyone had a tissue paper stuffed-package to open everyday, the world would be a much happier place.
(Pics scanned by myself from UK Vogue July 2006 – see rest of Fashion Fantasies)
the gormley hat is awesome. thanks susie!