Robbie Spencer x POP Magazine. by Isabella Antoniazzi

Image one Macho Leanna Photography - ISABELLA Image Two Champ Leanna Photography ISABELLA Image Three Daring Leanna Photography ISABELLA Image Four Bold Leanna Photography ISABELLA Image Five Spirited Lanna Photography ISABELLA

Isabella Antoniazzi POP X Robbie Spencer MIRROR MIRROR A5604 I picked out of a hat a stylist and publication. Based on the stylist and publication I chose, I have been asked to create an editorial response within the narrative of the publication using the signature of the stylist. I picked the Stylist - Robbie Spencer to collaborate with the publication - POP magazine. Firstly I began researching the publication POP and stylist Robbie Spencer to gain a better understanding of the storytelling used within the context of their work. Robbie Spencer is a contemporary and street stylist from Swindon, a town in the West Country of England. At the age of 19, Robbie Spencer went to London to pursue his studies and complete a degree in fashion promotion. After completing his degree, he was soon offered an internship with Dazed Magazine. Robbie Spencer is now a stylist for Dazed Magazine and a former creative director. He has styled numerous covers for magazines such as Dazed, Another and Vogue, as well as freelanced and worked alongside numerous designers, such as Simone Roche, Craig Green and A cold - wall. I began looking at Robbie Spencers’ Images, looking at the semiotics and observing the symbols and stories behind them. From this initial research I came up with ten words on how I would describe him and his work. Robbie Spencer focuses on being creative - he wants the viewer to see his work in a new light - he wants to educate and enlighten the reader to new ideas. In Addition, Robbie Spencer’s work is Cultural and visionary, he is looking at what is going on currently, and the social behaviours in our society. He then pushes boundaries, thinking about how our future society might look, using his imagination to demonstrate a new age of work. In numerous images, Robbie Spencer has identified how trousers and skirts no longer signify the male or female wearer. “I realised that clothing is actually a tool that you use to create an image or to tell a story.” - Robbie Spencer uses his styling to find the beauty in the unexpected.

In addition I looked into Photographers that Robbie Spencer has worked alongside, he has collaborated with both Tom Johnson and Oliver Hardlee. Both photographers allow memorable characters to come to life before their lens. They both explore the energy of the person being captured, with the desire to tell their own individual story. Tom Johnson has worked with POP magazine on numerous occasions, this has allowed me to see the links and similarities between the photography demonstrating Robbie Spencer’s work and POPs editorial. POP Magazine is a British fashion magazine co-founded in 2000 by Ashley Heath and editor Katie Grand. The main concept behind POP magazine was for it to be “really jolly and pink”. POP mag is a women’s magazine, who aren’t afraid to enjoy fashion in a non-traditional and feminist way. They aren’t afraid to push boundaries, taking catwalk looks and shooting them in different and unexpected ways. POP is all about female empowerment. The magazine focuses on promoting women’s self-worth, and their ability to determine their own choices, giving women the right to influence social change for themselves and others. POP Magazine has its own individual visual identity. POPs identity is unique and stands out from other publications. The publication has a good graphic identity, the brand’s message is communicated through its logo, design, images, colours and typography. I explored POP magazine’s use of negative spacing, a technique that POP uses throughout their magazine. Negative spacing is the background or the area that surrounds the subject of the work. negative space directs a viewer’s attention and contributes to a seamless reader experience. Through initial research into my stylist and publication I have been able to identify similarities between the two, creating my editorial in response.

Looking at my stylist Robbie Spencer and POP Magazine, they both use gender in semiotics. Identifying how clothing no longer signifies the male or female wearer. Taking this into consideration I will be exploring distinct themes of gender fluidity, androgyny and genderless dressing. I began investigating androgyny models and celebrities. Through the lyrics “You’ve got a mother in a whirl. She’s not sure if you are a boy or a girl” from David Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel” the picture of a breakdown of gender norms and fashion is beautifully painted. Taking inspiration from the 80s and the new romantics era - all about gender blurring. I looked into David Bowie and how his style influenced the future of Fashion. In addition, I looked into the New York Dolls. I Then went onto look at current influential models and celebrities, taking on a blend of male and female characteristics. I took inspiration from Model - Stella Tennant and Grace Jones. The move towards genderless clothes has been fast expanding in the fashion world and the talk about creating inclusive designs and collections that are directed at both boys and girls seems never-ending. Unisex designs are fast becoming an emerging trend that will only become more popular in future years. The idea is to remove all old rules of fashion, so only one rule remains: be yourself. My editorial is looking at the sense of ‘freedom’ that surrounds youth, looking at males’ and females’ ability to transform, mould and adapt to their own identity, social group and sex. This will be appealing to the fashion industry - which prides itself on change. This is also appealing to both Robbie Spencer and POP, who look into the future of fashion. Robbie Spencer concentrates on contemporary and street style. Street style is a contemporary approach to fashion. Street style includes styles that intersect and are different from current fashion trends. It is based on individualism. Identifying my market level has allowed me to keep a distinct theme running through my editorial. Robbie Spencer styles fine art photography, POP magazine also uses fine art images in its publication. I have used fine art photography within my editorial because the method is used to portray an idea, message and emotion. In the selection of my final images, we see the androgynous brave and bold qualities of girls heightened by the manly styling that deliberately portrays masculinity. I have used fine art photography to convey this in my work.

The colours I have chosen are keeping with the editorial response and style. I created a mood board with a selection of colours that are associated and kept in theme with my editorial. I used strong colours, such as red - to convey strength. I used blue to demonstrate freedom. In addition, I used bright and vibrant colours that are joyful and feminine. Taking on board Christopher Shannons’ advice, I wanted to shoot my final editorial in unusual and unexpected ways. I wanted to make the images obscure. Robbie and POP have the same energy, they like to push boundaries to the next level. My model is showing strong stances and shapes. I had Leanna stand in a posture that associates with being powerful, in the hope of people viewing the image as more assertive. In keeping with POP magazine’s strong brand Image, I have been consistent with the brands’ visual identity, not just stopping with the logo, throughout my final editorial, I have been in keeping with POPS personality. I have used the same fonts and layouts. I researched Men and women adjectives, where men are presented as strong, brave and bold whereas women are presented as soft, delicate and gentle. My Editorial is about making women equal to men. Demonstrating women as strong, brave and bold. Last, I will talk about how social media and technology could change the future of fashion communications and how fashion magazines should be adapting to the new media. Technology and social media have affected different aspects of fashion tremendously. Expanding on my Research from the “Life on Mars” Project, the fashion industry is going to be intertwined between physical and digital realities. Consumers in the future will experience fashion more diversely and instantly through technological advances, such as AR, VR and AI. Seeing brands like Fabricant already becoming more popular among consumers. Consumers are now looking for a 360 experience, they want both physical and digital participation. The Magazine’s website needs to have the same feeling of luxury and glamour as flipping through a glossy magazine. Researching POP magazine and Robbie Spencer I have been able to identify the importance of coherence and simplicity in communication design. Keeping the styling and editorial simple and straightforward is the key to communicating a message and story to the reader.

MACHO