Skeleton Inspired Body Paint Design

Having looked into the Skeleton Tribe I was sure I wanted one of my final looks to be influenced by the ferocious body paint they wear. I want to use a male model with a strong physique, using the skeleton as my main inspiration for design. Below are my own designs that I have come up with:

1. 2.

3.4.

5.

These designs would be for my final Editorial look, for which I want to create an organic image using raw body paint and strange fabrics - I want it to look as though it could have been a design taken straight from an exotic tribe. I don't want imagery to look too futuristic or modern, which is why I have decided against design 1. & 2. even though I really like the strong lines and warrior-esuq markings. Design 5. seemed too 'flimsy' for me. I like the design, but it's important my model comes across as formidable. I thought design 4. was too much, considering a warrior going to war probably wouldn't fiddle around painting on such precise detail on a large scale when design 3. says enough, whilst allowing the body to talk for itself. I like how the design almost looks like a sheet of armour across the chest and heart, and I think teamed with the right face design it could be a really dramatic look.

GOLDEN GODDESS

I love the idea of creating a Golden Goddess look, so to get the ideas flowing I have made myself a little moodboard.

 

Having looked at my collected images, I know for sure I woud like to at least use gold as a highlight for one of my final looks. Unlike the image in the bottom right hand corner of the woman sprayed entirely gold, I could use a gold pigmant to select desired areas, such as in the image of the 'Vogue' front cover, and the middle top Image which was a look created by Alex Box. Both these images have selected the inside corner of the eye and it is a really dramatic effect. I love also middle bottom image, where its appears a selection of gold leaf and gold pigmants have been used to create this modern look. My favourite aspect of this however, is the gold highlight used to highlight the top lip and filtrum of 'Cupid's Bow' area. 

The central image of Kelis is a snapshot from her music video 'Acapella' which I have discussed in my earlier post, HERE. I love the use of facial jewellery as it instantly adds a tribal concept, even to this glam look.

Rankin & Rosie

Ten Times Rosie is the beautiful collaboration of photographer Rankin and head designer at Thomas Wylde. The book showcases 10 seasons of Thomas Wylde designs, using various different influences to showcase the diversity of model, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. I have included this post as several of the images have a definite tribal link, but I also had to share it because I think it's a brilliant example of how when using the same model, the makeup and styling can result in such incomparable images. The video explains a little more about the book:

Here are some of my favourite images of the collection that relate to my Wild Kingdom project:

Concept: Life After

I have selected the above images because of the sheer beauty of them. The focus here is all on the model and the simplicity of the images helps not to detract from the main attraction. The skin is flawless, and especially in the close up shot, appears to be really glowing. I am interested in how luminous skin can give the imression of an inner glow, inner power and integral breauty. It's a possibility I will explore fro my final looks.

Concept: African Highlander

The African Highlander consists of several of these stunning images, where this time it is not so much the model speaking for herself, but her adornments and decortion. Texture plays a huge part in these pictures and I love the organic feel that has been created by mixing paint with sand or a product similar to Fullers Earth. These images definitely have a very tribal feel to me, especially with the marking of red. I like the use of red under the chin, on the fingers and in the hair partings. This has undoubtably been influenced by various tribe markings as these are all places I am familiar with seeing painted. The colour red also brings a 'warrior' type feel, with the obvious asociation of blood.

Tribal Accessories

Spring/Summer trends of 2011 led to an explosion of tribal influence in pattern and accessories in the fashion world. All of a sudden, bold accessories in the form of cuffs and chokers using materials such a rough coloured metal, rope, bead work and feathers were everywhere. Below is a moodboard I have created to look at tribal jewellery both in other cultures and how it has been interpreted for modern fashion.

I was particularly excited by this trend so I have included some images of my own jewellery that I believe suits this theme. By doing this I can begin to think about how I would like to accessorise my final look.

Bone bangle, examples of bead work and silver bangle with fish skeleton design - this is one of my favourites, love the use of natural pattern design.

I would love to include the use of natural stone in accessories such as this  necklace from Accessorize.

Last year I loved the one-feather-earring look and here are a couple from my collection. I particularly like the pheasant feather and think this could work well in the hair also.

Starting from top to bottom these necklaces are purchases from Acessorize, Dorothy Perkins and The Vintage Jewellery Store. Chokers ofter have a tribal feel to me. Weather singular or layered I think they can give a really elegant edge to any look.

These anklets are both purchases made during my travels to India. 

Given to me by my Grandmother, this necklace is a fine example of Native North American bead work.

A purchase of mine from H&M last year, the top section of these earrings are enamel-like and the lower section is a panel of leather. I love the mix up of texture and they are a nice modern take on tribal influence, as well as managing to look sort of vintage at the same time!

The small droplet earrings are handmade by a friend of mine, using enamel. Her influences were design within nature and their rustic quality would lend itself nicely to a tribal look. The second pair are from Topshop and consist of strips of leather and metal. They are very long, touching my shoulders when I wear them.

These are both very recent purchases of mine as bold gold jewellery is a firm favourite at the moment. The circular discs remind me of a more dramatic version of delicate indian metal work, whilst the square, textured hoops look like bamboo that has dipped into gold.

Seem Chopra Wig Specialist

Seema's miniature wig creations

I was lucky enough to meet renowned wig maker Seema Chopra, when she gave a guest speech and workshop at Southampton Solent Uni earlier this month.  You may be familiar with Seema's work if you have seen the recent Diet Coke 'Love it Light' campaign where she created miniature wigs for the puppets used. Other than this Seema has worked alongside fashion houses such as Zara, Agent Provocateur, Bordello, Louis Vuitton, Dior and DKNY as well as creating wigs and hair pieces for famous photographer Rankin and feature films such as Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter.

I would like to take a look at a selection of images created when Seema teamed up with photographer Madame Peripetie:

1.2.

3.4.

Seema created each hair look for this shoot and the strong tribal influence is apparent in her creations. I especially like the use of afro hair in looks 1. and 3. and although wigs are not something i had previously considered for my final shoot, its the dramatic final affect of these kind of images that has got me thinking about it! Speaking with Seema, looks such as number 1. don't have to be that hard to create - this one requiring several colours of fake hair and some glue! I also like the use of braiding and wire in look 2. Adding movement to the hair in this horn-like way creates a very animalistic feeling and I cant help but think back to my previos post NATURAL FASHION where I discuss the images of Hans Silvester, many of which look similar to this.

As I have always imagined myself creating some sort of up do for one of my final looks, during the workshop with Seema I decided to explore the possibilities of adding texture and colour to the hair using some crepe hair I found in the studio. Here are a couple of snaps of what i ended up with:

To create this look I used a stocking stuffed with cotton and then shaped like a doughnut to form the centre part and shape of my look. I secured this to the back of the head using curby grips and then brought the hair through and around it, making sure to cover all parts of the stocking. At the same time I introduced the crepe hair in red and yellow, securing as i went along to make this up-do. This was a very rough attempt but I am pleased with the results and this is definitely a possibility that I could develop further for a final look.

Another possibility I was able to explore was ready made wigs. Below are some images of my time in the studio with my guinea pig Minnie who usually has jaw-length brown hair! First of all, I sectioned the hair and pin-curled it to the head using more curby grips. I then used a stocking to stretch over the hair and keep everything secure, as well as prividing a surface for the wig to sit on securely.

Here is the final result, love how wigs are such an effective way of dramatically changing a look within moments. :

References:

http://www.girlinthecityglasgow.com/2011/01/diet-coke-glamorous-varnishes-and-grace.html
http://seemachopra.com/Volker-Koch

Skeletal Influences in Fashion

Having looked into the Skeleton Tribe, I thought I would look further into how the body's support structure has influenced fashion. 

Firstly, I would like to look at another Rodarte collection, SS09 (pictured on the right). The influence behind these pieces is obvious and I love the appearance of a rib-cage like dress hugging the outside of the body. 

Hisui's SS09 collection below was also one to draw inspiration from the skeleton. Large bone like pieces are used in the image on the left for a very Flintstone-esque look whereas the image to right has a much more sophisticated style. I like the more subtle suggestion of the breast bone, achieved using chains across the chest area.

The other thing I like about this is the choice to do the brows so wild for the catwalk. It adds a raw wildness to the overall look, showing a strong kind of beauty that doesn't rely upon perfection, similar to many 'tribal' looks.

The next statement piece are these Adidas high tops with leopard print material and faux bone decoration. Apart from being brilliant these trainers definitely are inspired by the Wild Kingdom!

 Here are some shoes that somebody has hand customised to create this really effective bone design on. Appart from being perfect for a fancy dress idea, I think these shoues have a real high fashion appeal to them, especially considering the outburst of Gothis inspired fashion we have recently seen. To learn how to make your own click here.

Here's an example of the kind of high fashion influences we have seen recently. Known as skeleton shoes these hit the runway with big success and have since seen a huge reproduction of cheaper equivalents. I like how a shoe's heel has been taken so literally in it's use of a support structure, and this spine like extension is really attention grabbing.

RODARTE

Rodarte Fashion House had been know to draw on natural/tribal themes to inspire their collections, with examples from their Spring/Summer 2010 collection. Inspired by Death Valley and the tattered, winged scavengers that live there, the clothes expressed a sort of burnt out, singed look with minimal colour except for some reds and greens.  

However it wasn't the clothes that really drew me to this runway, but the models and their body decoration. MAC's Senior Artist Chantel Miller was the brains behind these beautiful arm and neck designs, saying that it was the Maori tribe who had influenced her the most. Miller says, "The idea for the tattoos stemmed from the designers desire to celebrate make-up as art not only for the face, but also for the body in a similar was that Indian culture uses henna. They want women to look at make-up as an accessory for an outfit the way you would a bracelet or a necklace."

Here I have had my own go at creating so designs:

1. 2. 

3. 4.  

I think my favourite is design no. 4 because the patterning looks very organic. I decided to experiment with geometrical design on deign no. 2 but felt like this was too rigid an image to translate to skin. If I am to re-create tattoos such as these, I think I will steer away from anything similar to number 3, mainly because I feel like this look is far too similar to many tribal tattoos you see in today's western culture which now bring about a different and very non-tribal association. I like the simplicity or design 1, although it does remind me a little bit of Pocahontas! All these designs are my own and have been done freehand.

References:

http://www.fashionologie.com/Rodarte-Inspired-Death-Valley-Vultures-Go-Goth-Tribal-Warrior-Spring-2010-5009728?page=0,0,0#35

http://www.primafashionista.com/2011/02/blonde-like-basinger.html