On Wednesday 15th December 2021, students taking the Costume & Fashion module put on two fashion shows in Studio 3 Gallery, working together so that each seminar group formed a ‘fashion house’. Here are some immediate observations on these great collections:
Punk Lives: a great combination of overall effect and attention to detail. The backing film, music and props framed the outfits beautifully. Individual designs were historically informed but also innovative and elegant. Definitely punk as seen through the lens of deconstruction – hints of Margiela. Some nice touches like a shimmering green top under a black T-shirt with a punchy slogan picked out in gold safety pins, a jacket slipped off the shoulder to reveal a slashed top, a camera worn as a jaunty pendant over a suit with stitched on pockets… The whole collection was very strong, coherent, and presented with panache. Edgy but also quite wearable too.
Deconstructing Cinema: a fond if irreverent roller-coaster ride through cinema history. Each individual design was put across with verve and accompanied by appropriate film themes on the backing track. Iconic and memorable film costumes were analysed and reinterpreted imaginatively. Some designs were spectacular – a dark angel, a pink prom queen, a female James Bond – others provided a subtle critique of the fashion codes of preppy teenage convention. The choreography was vibrant and effective. Overall, certainly more Galliano than Prada!
