PICTURE THIS
Thinking in images visual storytelling for the luxury and concept Markets, Digital Fashion Communication is one of the newest in terms of job specification, particularly in the current situation. Many brands are looking at new forms of telling the “Stories” of their brands and Collections. This is one of the vital forms of communication in the fashion industry in this “New Normal” environment, with areas such as visual virtual merchandising, virtual styling, giff-graphics, social media engagement, virtual interactive display and exhibit design, interactive advertising, personal public relations, and Gaming, an interactive film and music to name but a few. Fashion has undergone a revolution in the Digital Age of the pandemic. It has democratized, disrupted, and even shifted the business model of the traditional fashion system. Most fashion industry veterans hardly recognize the industry from a year ago.
Contemporary Fashion Communication AD5604
Introduction Page 4-8 Robbie Spencer 10x10 Page 9-25
CONTENTS
Styled by Robbie Spencer Page 26-30 Contemporary Storytelling Page 31-35 Storytelling Themes Page 36-46 Atmos Magazine Page 47-48 Introduction to LOVE Magazine Page 49-50 LOVE Magazine 10x10 Page 51-68 Stories Without Words Page 69-74 Nature Primary Imagery Page 75-77 Linda Sterling Collage Development Page 78-80 Ben Toms Photography Page 81-84 Beat Bolliger Style Page 85-86 Camilla Nickerson Page 87-88 What Am I Taking Forward to Form My Own Narrative Page 89-92 References Page 93-99
“I approach styling from an idea of executing an image or executing a space, as opposed to purely from a clothing standpoint,” ROBBIE SPENCER CONTEMPORARY AND STREET
As we reposition where the fashion industry stands in terms of sustainability, we look to the digital space to maintain touch with ethical production and utilization of resources, the digital space is where you will find the tech savvy and future consumers, whereby digital technology is second nature. To further the discussion of what direction the fashion industry is heading for, I intend to explore my theme for this module of which is contemporary and street. Within this category, I will explore my stylist and magazine publication of which is Robbie Spencer and Love Magazine, I aim to delve deeper into various aspects, all of which will lead me to my final campaign message and a format to display this campaign that befits this new digital space.
Robbie Spencer is a stylist and the former creative director of Dazed magazine. He is known for his striking editorial imagery and ability to find beauty in the unexpected. Described by Simone Rocha as “right on the moment,” Spencer’s work combines up-and-coming designers, artists and photographers with extensive industry knowledge and reverence.
At the most basic level, Spencer’s job “is to source clothes and interpret them into an image. But it’s also about inspiring your readers and trying to educate or enlighten people to new ideas. The term fashion stylist is very broad, you can be everything from a wardrobe coordinator for a film or music video or celebrity, or more of an art director considering the execution of an image, not just the outfit someone is wearing in it. It really depends on how involved you want to be, clothes are a tool for a stylist, but I prefer to consider the whole construction of an image.” “A huge amount of styling or being a fashion editor is production and organising,” he says. “And a big part of this job is communication, you have to be a great communicator and make sure everyone on your team understands the image that you’re trying to make. I have to be able to communicate the idea that’s in my head to the entire team or it won’t work.” Indeed, Spencer’s job is not about blindly disseminating a fashion designer’s point of view, but about adding his own. “You want the designer to be pleased, but you also want them to think ‘Oh, I didn’t think of it in that way, or that’s an interesting way of shooting it.”
To achieve the conceptual depth his work is known for, Spencer is fond of sourcing ideas and collaborators from other disciplines. “As soon as I come back from the shows, or if I’m prepping a shoot, the first thing I do is develop this body of research, moodboards and references. The connections often come from outside of fashion and I love collaborating with people that are far removed from the industry because it brings a new perspective to a fashion shoot, and that’s what transforms an image into something else and takes it to another dimension.”
ROBBIE SPENCER 10 x 10
EXPERIMENTAL “I approach styling from an idea of executing an image or executing a space, as opposed to purely from a clothing standpoint,” Fashion stylist, Robbie Spencer breaks new ground with content that pushes the visual envelope and dares to inspire and provoke. Finding the beauty in the unexpected is one of Robbie Spencer’s specialties; throughout his illustrious career he has continuously taken fashion into the realm of art with unorthodox styling. “The more I got involved with Dazed, I realised that clothing is actually a tool that you use to create an image or to tell a story.”
VISIONARY “Robbie is a visionary stylist and as creative director of Dazed has crafted some of its most impactful cover stories,” “(He) ushered in a new generation of image makers that have defined the zeitgeist...I look forward to him making iconic stories for Dazed in the future.” “Clothes are a tool for a stylist, but I prefer to consider the whole construction of an image.”
ENGAGING “As Fashion Director I intend to bring a youthful enthusiasm to the pages of Dazed, working with a new fashion team as well as new contributors.” Since the beginning, I would like to think I have brought a strong aesthetic and youthful philosophy to Dazed. I am excited to mix young and established names, something that we do so well. I am interested in building on our fashion vocabulary. We are in an era where a magazines’ print future is uncertain.
CULTURED You want to inspire the industry as a stylist. Especially as the industry is so driven by commerciality, you want to feel like you’ve given something back. I want to have a lasting legacy, to be remembered for making something special. The idea of performance in fashion and art is very important. It’s very easy to succumb to the commerciality of it all, but you have to keep pushing ideas and keep doing things that surprise people to feed the industry creatively. “I was fully aware from a very early age that fashion is a really tough profession to get into. I knew from the start that I had to start early and start doing internships.”
DIVERSE He has established a venerable aesthetic that is reflective of our times and global community through its deep conceptual roots and diverse cultural references. Spencers diverse work enables him creative freedom to explore and experiment within the realms of fashion and art, there is no particular aesthetic that follows his work, his work portrays the raw talent and creative ability of which Robbie Spencer applies to all forms of his work.
‘A new view of the artist as a supremely individual creator, whose creative spirit is more important than strict adherence to formal rules and traditional procedures; an emphasis upon imagination.’ R O M A N T I C I S M can be identified within the melodramatic portrayal of Robbie Spencers ‘concept of storytelling, the entirety of his work pushes the boundaries of creativity and idealism, R O M A N T I C I S M is obvious throughout his imagery as a result of his own personal imagination and creative vision. His work considers the whole image rather than just the outfit itself. From the accessories/props to the background image, Spencer carefully considers how he can reveal the story through his imagination.
ROMANTICISM
VINTAGE Contemporary styling is evident from looking at Robbie Spencers’ work. However, it is also evident that there is a slight vintage aesthetic within some of his work, utilising nature and vintage grandfather-style clothing to capture this style. The term ‘vintage’ denotes authenticity and individuality meaning that a vintage item would be difficult to acquire for oneself. With reference to Robbie Spencers’ work, the styling of vintage pieces depicts a picture of Spencer being an individual stylist whose work could not be replicated in the same way.
STORYTELLING An art. Not a process, method, or technique. Storytelling is described as an art … the “art” of storytelling. And — like art — it requires creativity, vision, skill, and practice. Storytelling isn’t something you can grasp in one sitting, after one course. It’s a trial-and-error process of mastery. Robbie Spencer who is a visionary stylist is also a visual storyteller, his work sets the scene and is portrayed through his many creative ways of styling, of which includes, fashion film narration - a digital way of telling the story, this has been created throughout many collaborations that Spencer has worked on, he considers the whole image enabling him to think about how he can visually portray hidden meanings and messages.
Something is conceptual when it deals primarily with abstract or original thoughts. A conceptual plan is one in an early stage. Robbie Spencer is a conceptual stylist as a result of his imagination, his distinctive imagery is formed through his vision and what he envisions for the final product, the way in which the imagery has been put together insinuates a reliance on the imagination. The idea that our thoughts create our reality is very interesting when thinking about how Spencers’ work is created based on thoughts and ideas, a picture in his head later becomes the final concept.
CONCEPTUAL
Togetherness in nature. Where there has always been a connection between nature and fashion, it has become a more prominent and likeable source of peace and contentment for human kind. Nature has become more involved with fashion as a result of the concern for the environment and sustainability within the fashion industry. One might suggest that Robbie Spencers’ imagery has an environmental/sustainability focus and connection with nature, the imagery on the left portrays this thought, within the melodramatic styling of Spencers’ work, there is also an emphasis upon togetherness and a sense of community of which nature engenders.
NATURE
STYLED BY ROBBIE SPENCER Telling stories visually
DAZED X CHLOE SEVIGNY
The narrative behind the Simone Rocha AW19 collection explores various ideas of intimacy, privacy, security and femininity. Presenting trench coats with organza layering, exposed bralets, and skirts and dresses embossed with floral prints, the show was a study of female eroticism, looking into the tension of women being an object of desire, and wanting to own it and direct it. The striking imagery produced in this collection is a reflection of Robbie Spencers’ talent when it comes to storytelling, he has taken the narrative of the collection and produced a story based purely on imagery, the ideas of femininity are quite obvious from looking at the models’ stance alone, Spencer has made the story his own and has used his creative imagination to set the scene of how the shoot could reflect the narrative. Certain attributes that stick out would include the use of flowers and the white dress, wandering around in nature and owning who you are, it posesses a strong sense of freedom and acceptance that a woman can be at one with herself and her surrounding and being in control rather than being a desirable object, it’s almost like an intimidation tactic against men.
This editorial of which Robbie Spencers’ work features in, touches on all things environmental. As mentioned previously within the nature aspect of Spencers’ work, community is one of the most important aspects in terms of the relationship with nature, the incredibly bold use of imagery in this editorial captures the raw essence of freedom and tranquility. From looking at this imagery, it appears that nature is our best friend and our comfort zone, there is an aspect of being at peace within the environment that sustains our livelihoods, we become more appreciative for all of the amazing things nature creates for us, and as a result of this, we consciously choose to look after the environment. In return, taking our buying habits more seriously.
‘Where the land meets the sea, geology reveals itself as a convergent continuum of earth and air, water and wind, space and time. The seaside bluffs of Cornwall, dominated by their granite backbones and igneous rocks, embody this notion that nature never acts alone—much like the community that calls it home.’
CLIFFSIDE FORMATIONS ATMOS MAGAZINE X ROBBIE SPENCER
STORIES WITHOUT WORDS IN THE NATURAL WORLD
Simone Rocha’s capsule collection for H&M is one of the most anticipated fashion collaborations of the year.
SIMONE ROCHA x H&M
It came as no surprise that Rocha asked long-term collaborator and close friend Robbie Spencer to style the campaign, which features the house’s signature hyper-feminine silhouettes, as well as an equally elegant debut of menswear and childrenswear. According to the brand, the campaign ‘invites people to step into the Simone Rocha x H&M world, and experience the feeling of community, strong femininity and closeness that underpins the collection’. The campaign is a story about friendship, joy and inclusivity – and an ode to moments of openness and congregation, which we could all do with right now. “It is a hopeful message about the joy that will come when we can meet again, and come together to dine, relax, laugh, dance, exchange and share,” says H&M. On the subject of community and family, Robbie Spencer whom had the opportunity of working on this campaign really made an impression with how he responded to the narrative, he opened up a new world within his response, reflecting and producing this feeling of community and happiness in difficult times, zooming in on the backdrop and the set design, you can see that it has been carefully curated to fit in with the overriding theme, the imagery gives off the vibe of being at a garden party in summer. This could possibly be the strongest editorial piece Robbie Spencer has worked on.
CONTEMPORARY
STORYTELLING
Storytelling is a it helps people er’s stories and ing and empathy
significant part of our lives because to connect and understand each othlives. It helps us to gain understandand grasp the message behind the story.
Storytelling is a pivotal factor in regards to constructing successful clothing collections, and this integral facet of fashion design is strongly noticeable in the works of Dublin-born, London-based designer Simone Rocha. Her appreciation and life-long devotion to classic literature has manifested itself and left a mark on her amorous, unique collections. Simone Rocha creates narratives through her signature components such as tulle, pearls, perspex, flowers, frou-frou and brocade, repurposing these familiar signifiers of the brand in a constant loop of prosperous reinvention. Simone’s literary preferences correlate to her clothing collections with books like A Room With a View by E.M. Forster. The book takes place in the Edwardian era and looks at social commentary and romance, just as Simone Rocha’s collections are equally based on femininity, empowerment, and love. Her Irish roots have also been a key source of inspiration and have influenced her literary choices
“A woman must continually watch herself. She is almost continually
accompanied by her own image of herself.”—John Berger, Ways of Seeing
For many designers, like Simone, inspiration for storytelling is drawn from sources you would not necessarily think of, for example, Simone is often inspired by literature and romance, brand values are often a reflection of the narrative. Simones’ ideas of storytelling often seems like reading a fiction novel, a story of which you become intrigued by and fantasize about. Unlike other designers, Simone tends to only release two collections a year as she would much rather have a collection that is a reflection of who Simone Rocha is, she is an independent designer who follows her own path. “I’m an emotional designer, I put a lot into a collection, so I don’t want to make more than two a year.” Rocha doesn’t call herself a feminist because she finds the term divisive. She dislikes the way everything has to be labelled. She is happier thinking about her various roles as a mother, a nurturer and a control freak. “I am very straight to the point and I know exactly what I like and don’t like. I think with clothes and with business it’s easier to be this way.”
“My whole ethos is the idea of femininity and how that’s integrated into women’s lives, how it makes them feel,”
“With every show you’re telling a story and you want to tell one that women connect with. Even if it’s a story about how men find women hot, women are still at the centre of that.”
STORYTELLING T H E M E S
‘ART IMITATES LIFE. AS WE MIMIC THE MIRACLES OF NATURE, WE REPATTERN OUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE WORLDWIDE WEB THAT CONNECTS ALL THINGS, BLURRING THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN THE BEAUTIFUL AND BIOLOGICAL.’
C O N N E C T I N G T O O U R T R U E E S S E N C E.
Nature is our loyal companion, we are able to find peace and solace within our own lives from spending time in natural environments, even the fashion industry is becoming accustomed to the idea of caring for the environment. Nature is magical and fascinating, becoming lost and mesmerized by its eternal beauty is effortless. If we all spent more time in nature we would have the potential to become amazing storytellers, inspiration and stories surround nature, it’s just a case of paying attention to and being open minded to every aspect. The authentic beauty ignites creative freedom within humanity. By spending time in nature, we remove ourselves from the commercially driven world and we are granted the opportunity to think about why our own thoughts are more meaningful than the exposure and profit that is gained from just simply producing collections that spark no meaning, all for the purpose of making a profit, this is without giving a single thought to how that will negatively impact the breeding ground for our inspiration - NATURE. As storytellers, it is important that we protect our grounds of inspiration and creative freedom as it connects us to who we are and reminds us why we started on this path, it is a reflection of the values and beliefs of which we hold and desire for our story to possess.
S O L I T U D E
I N
N A T U R E
explores the idea of storytelling within nature, as this is something that I intend to explore further. As previously mentioned, nature connects us to who we are, and so I want to use this nature aspect to help form my own storytelling
ROMANCE AND LITERATURE
Inspired by Simone Rocha, I am intrigued by the idea of storytelling through the use of the imagination, specifically, the part of the mind that is drawn to romance and literature, the idea of intertwining romance and nature e.g. romanticising being mindful of natures beauty. In today’s world, the advent of technology has changed the way stories are told. We may not follow the conventional method of storytelling but narratives exist in all the entertainment we partake in. A visual form of representation to tell stories has also emerged due to technology. Storytelling that follows the romance and literature theme may seem quite old fashioned, but I intend to continue with this theme, whilst thinking of how I can recreate it to fit into the ‘new world’. One idea could be that I maintain the old fashioned aesthetic of romance and literature but place a contemporary spin on it, by incorporating digital film into the mix - a modern reinterpretation of the romance classic - Romeo and Juliet The appreciation and reverence of nature is the first major characteristic of romantic literature. These writers believed nature had the power to affect man and his imagination. They saw the beauty of nature as an important aspect of life. These authors argued that every man, should appreciate nature, and not abuse it. In fact, many writers believed nature should be used as a setting for meditation and creativity..
FEMALE EMPOWERMENT
Given that empowerment is literally defined as “the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights,” storytelling, which is the ability to construct and control one’s own narrative, is therefore literally the definition of empowerment. Storytelling is own identity
the means of – what could
giving form be more
to one’s empowering?
Again, following on from Simone Rochas theme of storytelling, there is an obvious element of feminism behind each story. ‘It’s not like one day I thought, “I want to focus on women,”’ she explains. ‘But there’s a strength that comes from being a woman designing for women and putting my personality and emotions into my pieces - but also having the awareness that it’s not just about me,’ Simone says. ‘Louise always said my work is very feminine, strong and modern, so I’ve strived to keep those three things in place.’ “For tity.
me, If
the most important you have that,
thing the
is your own idenrest will follow”
The consistent themes of nature, romance, literature and female empowerment all have a strong connection with each other. However the aspect of female empowerment in particular focuses on the woman herself, embracing her feminine nature. This is one of the themes I intend to take forward with my own version of contemporary storytelling.
ATMOS MAGAZINE NATURE
‘We must come together in union with the land to heal it in the way it, time after time, heals us.’ ‘It’s this sense of community that enables us to see nature not as separate to us, but rather as a part of us to love and nurture; not as a faraway entity that we destroy for our own gains, but as a relationship that involves care and communion.’
MAGAZINE PUBLICATION LOVE MAGAZINE
Love is a British style and fashion bi-annual magazine founded in 2009 by Kate Grand with publisher Conde Nast, publishing two issues per year. Ideal for passive consumers who are searching for inspiration; perfect for designers, artists, or anybody who is looking for visual ideas. Singer/songwriter, Beth Ditto, featured nude on the front cover of the premiere issue in 2009, challenging the conventional imagery of women in a culture that worships size zero. LOVE is a title that gives us the opportunity to highlight expression and identity. Love has also expanded into video and film and garnered attention for its annual digital advent calendar.
10 x 10
INCLUSIVE “HOW DO YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT KNOWING THAT YOU ONLY HIRE YOUR WHITE FRIENDS?” The clue is in the name. LOVE magazine welcomes people from all backgrounds and unlike any other magazine, this one appreciates and embraces front covers that challenge and really reflect who LOVE is, a magazine that tells stories for how they perceive the world. Inclusivity is one of the first aspects of this magazine that is strikingly obvious, only recently have we seen Vogue magazine release a magazine cover with individuals of different colour. However, for LOVE magazine, diversity and inclusivity is something of which they have constantly pushed to the forefront of their stories.
VISUAL LOVE magazine could be considered as the complete opposite of minimalism, every editorial features a strong visual narrative following on from the written narrative, this visual aspect is important when taking into consideration the future of the magazine, this way of forming/ telling stories visually is easier on the eye for the reader.
AVANT GARDE The term AVANT GARDE with relation to LOVE magazine could quite simply define the ideas of storytelling through innovative approaches to art, their storytelling and creative process is on another level in comparison to other magazine publications. Following no particular aesthetic, this magazine does not hold back or play it too safe within the content that is published.
ACCEPTANCE LOVE celebrates all things positive, bringing individuals together to celebrate their flaws/ imperfections and qualities by publishing magazines that encourage this idea of self love, placing people with slight imperfections on the front cover to highlight that LOVE is a community of people who are human beings, humans that have feelings and emotions, humans that may struggle with self love, a reminder that it is normal to have imperfections because no one is perfect.
COMMUNITY LOVE brings together a community of like minded individuals, of whom share the same values and beliefs about society. As a result of their ability to push all stories to the front of every cover. A community/tribe has automatically constructed itself, a community of individuals who connect with the underlying values and beliefs. This community/audience are the fresh faces of a new generation, the generation of change makers.
PROGRESSIVE The word progressive, simply meaning progression or ahead of the curb, this can be connected to LOVE magazine when looking at how they tell stories, LOVE magazine is an example of a progressive magazine due to the fact that they seem to be ahead of other magazines, they have jumped onto trends and have remained current in the digital space. With every editorial, comes another chance to evolve and progress within the realms of technology.
AUTHENTIC LOVE magazine is authentic in a way that sets them apart from their competitors, they follow their own aesthetic and produce engaging content that is a reflection of who they are, authenticity comes from exposing who you are, and this is a part of storytelling, LOVE magazine share great stories, stories that are original, stories that make LOVE who it is, they are AUTHENTIC.
CONSISTENT Love magazine shows consistency through the content they push out, they consistently produce editorials that reflect the name of Love, positivity, inclusivity, warmth etc.
ENGAGING LOVE is very engaging in terms of both their presence on social media channels for connecting to younger audiences and how they provide a very inviting atmosphere, their presence on TikTok alone puts them ahead of other magazines as it will broaden their audience on a large scale.
CONTEMPORARY I would consider LOVE magazine to be quite contemporary with regards to where they stand, this is because they promote and keep up to date with everything that is current and that is the future, they have ensured this by being present in the social media world and keeping tabs of potential, current or future events. For example, LOVE have been promoting the Black Lives Matters movement since it first began and have continued to do so as they are promoting something that is relevant to who LOVE is.
LOVE MAGAZINE STORIES WITHOUT WORDS
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS: DAVID HUGHES CAPTURES THE INTIMATE DETAILS OF LONDON IN LOCKDOWN THE ART OF STORYTELLING. The search for a meaningful narrative to frame a moment of chaos can be found in the big stuff. For a wandering mind, it can be found in the little details too. Sometimes the bigger picture can skew the importance of the littler things in life. But sometimes the smaller things amount to much more... LOVE stories capture the small details, the subtle details that make the narrative that much more original, this way of telling stories visually but subtly is engaging as it will leave the reader immersed in the story.
ULTIMATELY, THERE IS A BIGGER PICTURE, HOWEVER, THE HIDDEN MESSAGES ARE FOUND WITHIN THE SMALL DETAILS OF THE STORY.
NATURE P R I M A R Y I MA G E R Y
“I wouldn’t necessarily think of myself as a designer but as more of an image maker. For me, it’s all character-based, which goes back to the whole stage thing. Fashion is fantasy; people want to be someone that they’re not. It’s that whole Cinderella thing. You aren’t that person but can be for a little while. There are infinite possibilities that exist within that idea.” In a world that is consumed by technology within the digital space, nature is our escapism, we can be and connect with ourselves in nature, live our fantasy and romanticize a life away from the commercial world.
LINDA STERLING COLLAGE DEVELOPMENTS
“Great creativity can come out of boredom, and I think that’s what the younger generation miss. Boredom was punk’s seedbed, and social media does all it can to eliminate the void.”
We look to all art to show ourselves and the world re-explained in a way that makes it and our sense of ourselves somehow richer and more alive.
BEN TOMS PHOTOGRAPHY
Focusing on the nature aspect of storytelling, I decided to research photographer Ben Toms, of whom often collaborates with Robbie Spencer, my reason being for this was to garner some inspiration from storytelling within nature, like Robbie, Toms is a visionary creator/storyteller, his work captures the essence of his own ideas of storytelling, and this is sometimes captured through film narration.
“Untitled” is the first published collection of photo works by photographer Ben Toms. Influenced by documentary, nature, and architectural photography, souvenir postcards, and the mail art movement, Toms has created a series of works referencing adaptive mimicry in architecture, dress, and the natural world. Postcards fill multiple roles, they are disposable but can become irreplaceable. A postcard can be an advertisement or a priceless emotional keepsake. They document public monuments but also obscure roadside attractions. A postcard can be a trophy, a love note, a threat, a writing prompt, a found object, a ready-made, but they are always a collaborative document, co-authored by the producer and the sender.
‘UNTITLED‘
Ben Toms is the quietly prolific photographer behind some of the decade’s most norm-busting editorials – and our winter issue cover. With a mixed media VHS-thetic, Toms’ work messes with the mundane and the marvellous. Casting female bodybuilders alongside this season’s freshest faces, his subjects continue to ask if we’re sitting uncomfortably.
BEAT BOLLIGER STYLE
“With today’s less strict dress codes we have the freedom to rediscover classical styles in any form, but the meaning of elegance remains timeless: tasteful attire and graceful” Beat Bolliger is a Swiss stylist. Relocating to Paris, Bolliger studied fashion at the Studio Bercot. After a start in casting, Bolliger added styling to his repertoire. Bolliger quickly found success, working with magazines such as Dazed & Confused, L’Uomo Vogue, and V magazine.
CAMILLA NICKERSON STYLE
Fashion can be a self-regarding world, but Camilla Nickerson’s vision roams far and wide. A stylist, image-maker and consultant inside the business. “It’s not just about clothes; there’s always a message beyond an outfit, some kind of cultural comment. You might not be directly aware of it, but if it touches you, then something is being communicated. It’s incredibly difficult to convey magic in a photograph with such an influx of images all the time, but when it does work, it really stays with you.” “There’s a Britishness to Camilla’s work,” “but not in a romantic or fantastical sense. It’s more an edgy, street perspective that she brings from her engagement with the contemporary art world.” “My role is to communicate that mood, either in the way a woman would wear a colour or texture or how she’d stand. An awful lot of it comes down to asking one question: ‘What would a woman wear?” “A lot of people think a stylist’s role is confined to clothes, but Camilla is a real storyteller,” “There’s an emotional feeling to her work that comes out of conversations. We’ll talk on the phone, she’ll send images, we’ll send fabrics, then she’ll ask questions, like an art director would. She’s so in touch with nature, the art world and the everyday, and she brings all those elements when she arrives.”
WHAT AM I TAKING FORWARD TO FORM MY OWN NARRATIVE
FINDING BEAUTY IN THE UNEXPECTED
Following on from research into Robbie Spencer, I have been drawn to this idea of finding beauty in the unexpected. Beauty can be found when we open our eyes to all possibilities, when we open our eyes to prepare for the unknown beauty to cross our path. Robbie Spencers ideas of intertwining the realms of fashion and art enables a wider lens/view of the whole picture, allowing beauty to be stumbled upon in small detail within the bigger picture.
The primary imagery displayed on this page further portrays this idea of nature and the beauty found within - the unexpected beauty. To further the narrative, I want my story to be a mirror of the raw beauty of nature and how one can discover themselves within the natural environment, the art of discovering oneself in nature can be seen as an unexpected beauty.
WILLIAM WORDSWORTH DANCING WITH THE DAFFODILS
I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze
The speaker says that, wandering like a cloud floating above hills and valleys, he encountered a field of daffodils beside a lake. The dancing, fluttering flowers stretched endlessly along the shore, and though the waves of the lake danced beside the flowers, the daffodils outdid the water in glee. The speaker says that a poet could not help but be happy in such a joyful company of flowers. He says that he stared and stared, but did not realize what wealth the scene would bring him. For now, whenever he feels “vacant” or “pensive,” the memory flashes upon “that inward eye / That is the bliss of solitude,” and his heart fills with pleasure, “and dances with the daffodils.”
BACK TO OUR ROOTS JOSEPH MURPHY
Joseph Murphy loves to explore nature and spirituality, encouraging us to go back to our roots and detach ourselves from all the unnatural elements of our modern lives. “In my work, I believe that at its foundation, nature is vastly sublime. If we take a moment and stand in its presence, one begins to notice subtleties that often go unnoticed.” In his own words, Murphy discusses the beauty of nature and how that can be found within his work, and with the beauty of being present in nature, one may begin to notice the small details of which can often be portrayed as the details of beauty.
JOHN KEATS ROMANTIC POETRY ESCAPISM Poetry of escapism is associated with John Keats. If a poet writes romantic poetry, then he definitely is an escapist. This kind of poetry deals with imagination. John Keats finds this world brutal, therefore, he wants to go far away from it. Even he is ready to accept death as witnessed in “Ode to Nightingale”. Sufficiently, poetry of escapism is the name of fleeing from reality and living in the world of imagination. Sorrows and sufferings are there in everyone’s life and so as in the life of John Keats. It is difficult to face them. However escapism is possible. John Keats’s life was full of sorrows. He did not like the cruel world. Escapism was the only option for him. John Keats is a romantic poet and also an escapist. His odes are evident that he has no ability to face hardships, therefore, he seeks escapism. He is not satisfied from his life. He thinks that far far away from this life, there must be a peaceful world. Romantic poets can create a world of perfection but it can only be created through high imaginative powers. John Keats has this ability. He has a good imagination. John Keats is regarded as the most romantic poet of his era because he is an escapist.
ESCAPISM IN NATURE ‘English Romantic writers found solace and happiness in their own created world of imagination, where they preferred to escape from the harsh realities of their time.’ Escapism can be defined as the tendency to escape from daily reality or routine by indulging in daydreaming, fantasy, or entertainment. It is an inclination or habit of retreating from unpleasant reality, as through diversion or fantasy. ‘Escapism in nature’ explores the idea of finding comfort in nature when the commercial world becomes too much, leaving the new reality behind to find peace in the natural world. Now that the world is beginning to return back to a new but different normality, people may have changed their way of life, but the commercial and materialistic world isn’t going anywhere, so it is important that we have that option of escape when the commerciality of everything makes it more difficult for one to find themselves.
ROMANTICISM AND NATURE
Romanticism and nature are connected because the artists and philosophers of the romantic period emphasized the glory and beauty of nature, and the power of the natural world. Some scholars of romanticism believe that the romanticists treated nature in an almost religious way. Work of the romantic period often bears hints of introspection and a search for self or identity. Romanticism generally places a heavy emphasis on the emotions inspired by the beauty of the natural world. Nature has created an abundance of beauty for humanity, so why is it that we continue to destroy this natural beauty through our bad habits? Within this narrative, I intend to emphasize this idea of caring for the natural world because it is our escapism in times of uncertainty.
REFERENCES Robbie Spencer FORMER CREATIVE DIRECTOR, DAZED. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.businessoffashion.com/community/people/robbie-spencer SULEMAN ANAYA. (2013, June 17). The Creative Class | Robbie Spencer, Fashion Director. Retrieved from https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/workplace-talent/the-creative-class-robbie-spencer-fashion-director/#:~:text=It%20really%20depends%20on%20how,really%20varied%2C%22%20says%20Spencer. STEPHAN MOSKOVIC. (2013, June 12). ROBBIE’S DAZED – EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW & INTERVIEW. Retrieved from https://models.com/mdx/robbies-dazed-exclusive-preview-interview/ Dazed Digital. (2019, October 10). Robbie Spencer announces new role as Executive Fashion Director of Dazed. Retrieved from https://www.dazeddigital.com/ fashion/article/46365/1/robbie-spencer-announces-new-role-as-executive-fashion-director-of-dazed Robbie Spencer. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.artpartner.com/artists/style/robbie-spencer/bio/ Olivia Wilde. (n.d.). Only the really young are fearless, have the optimism, the romanticism to take unimaginable risks. Retrieved from https://www.brainyquote. com/quotes/olivia_wilde_553278?src=t_romanticism Adam Augustyn. (n.d.). Romanticism. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/art/Romanticism Allie Decker. (2021, June 2). The Ultimate Guide to Storytelling. Retrieved from https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/storytelling conceptual. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/conceptual Jessica Heron-Langton. (2019, October 3). Simone Rocha releases a new book exploring themes of femininity. Retrieved from https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/46306/1/simone-rocha-chloe-sevigny-lily-cole-aw19-book-harley-weir Atmos Volume 04: Cascade. (2020, October 29). Cliffside Formations. Retrieved from https://atmos.earth/cornwall-nature-fashion-photos/
Simone Rocha x H&M. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.artpartner.com/artists/style/robbie-spencer/overview/ The Importance Of Storytelling In Literature. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ipl.org/essay/The-Importance-Of-Storytelling-In-Literature-FCUJFAH4NAG Simone Rocha. (2019, June 18). 5 books that shaped Simone Rocha’s version of womanhood. Retrieved from https://www.documentjournal.com/2019/06/5books-that-shaped-simone-rochas-version-of-womanhood/ Alice Fisher. (2017, September 24). Simone Rocha: ‘With every show I’m telling a story’. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2017/sep/24/ simone-rocha-fashion-designer-with-every-show-im-telling-a-story Mirror Image. (2021, May 25). Retrieved from https://atmos.earth/fashion-nature-art-connection-photos/ Romanticism in Short Stories: Definition, Characteristics & Examples. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://study.com/academy/lesson/romanticism-in-short-stories-definition-characteristics-examples.html Emily Cai. (2020, March 9). Women and Storytelling. Retrieved from https://femlens.com/news/women-and-storytelling/ KENYA HUNT. (2018, February 5). Simone Rocha On The Power Of Femininity. Retrieved from https://www.elle.com/uk/fashion/what-to-wear/longform/a41379/ simone-rocha-interview/ DAYAX RAAGE. (2022, January 4). Building Unity Through GoGrowWithLove. Retrieved from https://atmos.earth/horticultural-collective-building-unity-through-gogrowwithlove/ Presenting Love Magazine. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.uniquemagazines.co.uk/blog/love-magazine-2/ Freya Drohan. (2020, November 25). CONDE NAST REVEAL PLANS FOR THE FUTURE OF LOVE MAGAZINE. Retrieved from https://fashionweekdaily.com/condenast-reveal-plans-for-the-future-of-love-magazine/ CHANTAL FERNANDEZ. (2020, September 4). Katie Grand Exits Love Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/media/katie-grand-exits-love-magazine/ AMELIA WHITE. (2020, August 13). DAVEY ADESIDA: “HOW DO YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT KNOWING THAT YOU ONLY HIRE YOUR WHITE FRIENDS?”. Retrieved from https://www.thelovemagazine.co.uk/article/davey-adesida-how-do-you-sleep-at-night-knowing-that-you-only-hire-your-white-friends
ELLA BARDSLEY. (2020, September 9). IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS: DAVID HUGHES CAPTURES THE INTIMATE DETAILS OF LONDON IN LOCKDOWN. Retrieved from https://www.thelovemagazine.co.uk/article/its-the-little-things-david-hughes-captures-the-intimate-details-of-london-in-lockdown Vanessa Hsieh. (2017, March 14). Ten killer quotes from London’s best designers. Retrieved from https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/35124/1/tenkiller-quotes-from-londons-best-designers-london-uprising-book Hannah Ellis-Petersen. (2015, October 7). Linder Sterling: ‘I have a library of every perversion on the planet’. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/ artanddesign/2015/oct/07/linder-sterling-art-punk-feminism-performance-art#:~:text=%E2%80%9CPunk%20at%20its%20purest%20came,can%20to%20eliminate%20the%20void. Morrissey. (2010, February 22). Linder. Retrieved from https://www.interviewmagazine.com/art/linder “UNTITLED” BY BEN TOMS. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://ginza.doverstreetmarket.com/ben-toms-untitled Claire Marie Healy. (n.d.). Ben Toms Photographer. Retrieved from https://www.dazeddigital.com/projects/article/22497/1/23-ben-toms BEAT BOLLIGER. (2019, February 5). Retrieved from https://www.pressreader.com/italy/vogue-italy/20190205/286560223970660 BEAT BOLLIGER - SWISS FASHION STYLIST. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.thefashionisto.com/stylists/beat-bolliger/ ANNA-MARIE SOLOWIJ. (2014). Camilla Nickerson On what styling means. Retrieved from https://thegentlewoman.co.uk/library/camilla-nickerson WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. (n.d.). I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud. Retrieved from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45521/i-wandered-lonely-as-a-cloud KATY COWAN. (2016, February 18). Back to our Roots: Artist goes back to nature to take a deeper look at our spirituality. Retrieved from https://www.creativeboom.com/inspiration/back-to-our-roots-artist-goes-back-to-nature-to-take-a-deeper-look-at-our-spirituality/ Anwaar Ahmed. (2018, November 9). John Keats as an Escapist | Romantic Poetry is Poetry of Escapism. Retrieved from https://askliterature.com/poetry/ john-keats-as-an-escapist/ Sawaiz Riaz. (n.d.). Romanticism: An Age of Escapism. Retrieved from https://rangeinn.com/romanticism-an-age-of-escapism-18181/#:~:text=Dissatisfied%20 with%20the%20modernized%20world,through%20logic%20and%20intellect%20only. Marjorie McAtee. (2022, February 23). What Is the Connection between Romanticism and Nature?. Retrieved from https://www.infobloom.com/what-is-the-connection-between-romanticism-and-nature.htm#:~:text=Romanticism%20and%20nature%20are%20connected,in%20an%20almost%20religious%20way.
IMAGES Figure 1: https://similarpng.com/beige-adhesive-or-masking-tape-piece-with-torn-edge-realistic-style-on-transparent-background-png/ Figure 2: https://www.artpartner.com/artists/style/robbie-spencer/ Figure 3: https://www.artpartner.com/artists/style/robbie-spencer/ Figure 4: https://www.artpartner.com/artists/style/robbie-spencer/ Figure 5: https://www.artpartner.com/artists/style/robbie-spencer/ Figure 6: https://www.artpartner.com/artists/style/robbie-spencer/ Figure 7: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Free_crumpled_paper_texture_for_layers_(2978651767).jpg Figure 7: https://www.artpartner.com/artists/style/robbie-spencer/ Figure 8: https://www.artpartner.com/artists/style/robbie-spencer/ Figure 9: https://www.artpartner.com/artists/style/robbie-spencer/ Figure 10: https://www.artpartner.com/artists/style/robbie-spencer/ Figure 11: https://www.artpartner.com/artists/style/robbie-spencer/ Figure 12: https://www.artpartner.com/artists/style/robbie-spencer/overview/
Figure 13: https://www.instagram.com/p/CSMFgivsSwf/ Figure 13: https://www.instagram.com/p/CSq6ww9s7MD/ Figure 14: https://www.artpartner.com/artists/style/robbie-spencer/overview/ Figure 15: https://www.dazeddigital.com/film-tv/article/45853/1/chloe-sevigny-interview-simone-rocha-harley-weir-luca-guadagnino Figure 16: https://atmos.earth/cornwall-nature-fashion-photos/ Figure 17: https://www.artpartner.com/artists/style/robbie-spencer/overview/ Figure 18: https://www.hm.com/co/simone-rocha-hm-designer-collaboration-2021/ Figure 19: https://www.instagram.com/p/CY_Ix5DLfvI/ Figure 19: https://www.instagram.com/p/CYYonYMrAhj/ Figure 19: https://www.instagram.com/p/CYYowzyLcTq/ Figure 20: https://www.facebook.com/simonerochastudio/photos/ms.c.eJw9jsENBDEIAzs6EcAE99~;YCVgifiMPtqkcD9NjWic~;KwCSgQAvFlxjkmY~_IOSghNBYUEKAwlVyFH2KagHN72kgpvRyE56dwALlDINsAtktZ2uP9A5YvKUzndsi5v302oJkK9AFcnupbAtc64fbS~;hMD~;wByjI9kg~-~-. bps.a.3201459423232699/3201459996565975 Figure 21: https://atmos.earth/cornwall-nature-fashion-photos/ Figure 22: https://www.instagram.com/p/CZtsrNDt7pb/ Figure 23: https://www.artpartner.com/artists/style/robbie-spencer/
Figure 24: https://www.artpartner.com/artists/style/robbie-spencer/ Figure 25: https://atmos.earth/horticultural-collective-building-unity-through-gogrowwithlove/ Figure 26: https://www.condenast.com/brands/love Figure 27: https://www.thelovemagazine.co.uk/article/davey-adesida-how-do-you-sleep-at-night-knowing-that-you-only-hire-your-whitefriends Figure 28: https://www.thelovemagazine.co.uk/article/on-his-80th-birthday-msgms-massimo-giorgetti-talks-to-the-italian-hitchcock-darioargento Figure 29: https://www.thelovemagazine.co.uk/article/matty-bovans-new-label-is-a-visual-diary-of-lockdown-in-yorkshire Figure 30: https://www.instagram.com/p/CIGrjURjMZk/ Figure 31: https://www.thelovemagazine.co.uk/article/no-justice-no-peace-the-powerful-voices-of-black-lives-matter-protestors-in-la Figure 32: https://www.thelovemagazine.co.uk/article/meet-kaila-wyatt-the-model-turned-self-portrait-artist-wishing-for-a-more-progressive-2021 Figure 33: https://www.thelovemagazine.co.uk/article/rave-against-homophobia-popoff-kitchen-is-the-queer-techno-night-revolutionising-moscow Figure 34: https://www.thelovemagazine.co.uk/article/now-is-not-the-time-to-fall-back-into-old-habits-says-photographer-jordan-hemingway Figure 35: https://www.thelovemagazine.co.uk/article/how-band-meggie-brown-are-creating-a-safe-space-for-musicians-to-explore-theirqueerness
Figure 36: https://www.thelovemagazine.co.uk/article/davey-adesida-how-do-you-sleep-at-night-knowing-that-you-only-hire-your-white-friends Figure 37: https://www.thelovemagazine.co.uk/article/its-the-little-things-david-hughes-captures-the-intimate-details-of-london-in-lockdown Figure 38: https://www.artpartner.com/artists/style/robbie-spencer/ Figure 39: https://thequietus.com/articles/21569-ludus-linder-sterling-interview Figure 39: https://www.collater.al/en/collage-linder-sterling/ Figure 39: https://www.instagram.com/p/CGM2As6Fdqs/ Figure 40: https://bentoms.co.uk/#a-magazine-simone-rocha Figure 41: https://ginza.doverstreetmarket.com/ben-toms-untitled Figure 42: https://www.dazeddigital.com/photography/gallery/18835/11/ben-toms-archive Figure 43: https://www.artpartner.com/artists/style/beat-bolliger/ Figure 44: https://www.artpartner.com/artists/style/camilla-nickerson/ Figure 45: https://fineartamerica.com/art/still+life Figure 46: https://www.creativeboom.com/inspiration/back-to-our-roots-artist-goes-back-to-nature-to-take-a-deeper-look-at-our-spirituality/ Figure 47: https://wordsworth.org.uk/blog/2020/07/29/sensation/