London College of Fashion - Fashion Show ‘13.
So, to start off, I was among one of the audience to watch young designers display their first pieces of work. I thought of writing about it since it was quite an experience for everyone present there, including me. There were some outstanding pieces of work, as you can see. Our world of fashion seems to be flourishing more and more! The expanse of ideas flowing through one’s mind regarding fashion, is intriguing. It was one astonishing show, which is definitely worth being propagated in Cosmo, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar…you name it!
Since it’s foundation years, Prada is known to succeed in the epitome of the fashion world. This Italian designer brand has captivated a number of viewers towards the brand, due to its versatile ability to keep up with the value of its name. Prada has preserved brand identity, by illustrating top-notch ad campaigns in fashion-aware magazines like Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and on the web online, where people seem to be spending most of their hours, while at leisure. The posture of models, the environment in which the shoot is set up, portrays the elegance of Prada. The brand keeps up with its prestige, as an enormous amount of people value the upkeep of Prada with respect to its products.
Further to my discussion, I will be talking about what this Prada Ad Campaign connotes and denotes to the viewer. The following connotation is that, the Prada Spring/Summer 2008 ad campaign consists of seven bold and headstrong women. All of them are adorned with different black coloured garments in varied postures. Since the colour black signifies, strength and authority, it is considered to be a very formal, elegant, and prestigious colour. The clean lines of their structured outfits are quite revealing, portraying the apotheosis with respect to Prada’s models. The most probable connotation is that, Prada is trying to convey its own brand identity by the use of black, creating a bold and refined edge with reference to the women in the ad campaign. Miuccia Prada evidently quotes, “Fashion fosters clichés of beauty, but I want to tear them apart.” –(Prada.M, 1992, Brainyquote). This quote seems inevitable with regards to the brand, as ever since, Prada has been successful in its upward trajectory, introducing exquisiteness in the brand. These seven elite women are wearing stilettos, which add to their powerful look. The women are portraying a rather grandiose image of themselves that adds to the present narcissistic atmosphere. A carefree drama is evident in the ad campaign, with the way the women are not restricting their poses. One inevitable fact in the photograph is that the women are laying their hands on each other in different ways indicating support and togetherness. The women seem to have a hidden identity by the way their eyes point towards different directions. While the use of black in a spring/summer ad campaign may not be an expectation from the audience, it also intrigues the viewers to unleash the curiosity of the reason behind presenting women in bold, black coloured clothing and bags.
The denotation suggests that, each woman in the campaign is successful in creating an alliance of a strong regime or force. Prada in general, conveys women as powerful weapons when it comes to communicating an ideology. This particular Pradawomen’s advertisement captures models posing marvelously portraying the sentiment of label’s modern femininity. It propagates the power present in a woman as over the years, gender indifferences have often showcased men as the more stringent force in comparison to women. The women in the advertisement are a part of an elite class. More so, it appears as though Prada is promoting a new identity that is specifically their own interpretation of the brand as a way of creating your own identity. This image represents the contradiction that exists in fashion. To paraphrase, clothing and accessories appeal to people because they can express their individuality but at the same time, there are rules in fashion, which these women are creating.
The constructed image or argument of this “dress code” is that of empowering women establishing a mission, in the photograph. The women are successful, powerful and knowingly beautiful. The Little Book of Prada –(Graves. L, 2012, Page 160) suggests the brand’s emphasis on understated elegance and luxury created by their ad campaigns. Such techniques make the products stand out despite the technologically advanced fabrics and originality of design. These seven women are made to look taller to add to the sense of rigidity and the femme fatale look. “Women have always been the strong ones of the world.” –(Coco Chanel, The Legend and Life, 1952, Page 50). This quote suggests that women have not only been strong everyday, but they have also overcome the hurdles caused to them as a matter of their gender, race and identity. This ad campaign has taken elements of a woman’s character from the past and the present to convey to the audience the strength of the brand. Prada both chronicles and epitomizes the achievements of one of the world’s most influential and enlightened fashion and design companies that instigated her to create unique designs and showcase them in ad campaigns –(Prada. M, 14 Dec 2009, Page 15). It is such connoted imagery that changes one’s narrow outlook towards women and denotes them with a strong identity characteristic of their own.
Norman Parkinson’s Fashion Photography in London - After Van Dogen, 1959
Colour me Summer-y!
It’s time to lose those heavy dark coats and get our bright colours on!
Teal, Mustard, Shades of Orange, NEON are hitting the streets all over!
Let’s grab those pairs of pastel shorts, maxi and skater skirts and sip on a Lime Boost!
#HelloSummer x
D.I.Y Necklace Inspired by Tom Binns (image: passionsforfashion)
It was not until my trip to Greece this Summer, that I realized, things could go far beyond my mind to be able to capture such dreams. Everything here, made me feel like I belonged there, maybe not forever but as a moment which will last forever.
Soaking up the sun on Santorini Island, Greece
Wearing:
Striped Crop Top - TopShop UK
Necklace - Forever21
Coloured Bracelets - Local Greek market
High-waisted Pants - Primark
