This week I have been looking into Anorexia in further detail, I have trailed shape development on a fashion figure.I have also looked at Italian fashion designer, Elsa Schiaparelli's spine dress and have made my own version using tissue paper, pins and fabric on the stand.

As you can see using fabric, I made a sample sewing and pleating in the structure of the rib cage and spine. The fabric naturally bent, which is the case for some people with spinal difficulties. This interested me! I will now go on too research into spine deformities.

If you haven't read my past blog on my college brief, I have been conducting the design cycle for my final garment in preparation for the fashion show. I have previously looked at Tim Walkers, picture portraying half man half woman. I then researched into entwining, looking at Sheila Hicks; Os Bones textile sample. Which I then produced myself, placing it on the stand in various places. This then led me too look at things that have been tightly bound, which led me to Chinese foot binding.

I have researched into Chinese foot binding, pining fabric on the stand to replicate this and carrying out shape development. When looking at pictures of bound feet, the way in which they had been done so reminded me of pleats in fabric, which led to me creating a sample showing this. The tight pleats in the fabric, then reminded me of bones and the skeleton structure.

Pleating to replicate, the foot structure.

Page on Anorexia in my sketch book.

I am currently working on a design and textile brief in College. We have researched the design cycle and are going to incorporate this into our work. We are using the use of research into equality and diversity, to then pick a topic relating to this and research it in depth. This will provide inspiration and a colour scheme for our designs.

This week we have chosen a picture that we think portrays equality and diversity. I choose a picture by photographer Tim Walker, this displays an oriental looking half man and half woman that have been connected and entwined, like the leaves behind them.

Page from my sketchbook

I then looked at the leaves and genders entwining, and found a textile sample by Sheila Hicks called Os Bones. This represents cloth and cotton entwining. I then made this sample my self using scrap bits of fabric, and placed it on the mannequin in various places e.g. shoulder. I also using a technique learnt in one of my textile workshops, appliqued the bones.

Page from my sketchbook

This reminded me of, Chinese foot binding as there wrapped tightly and bound. For my next thread I am going to research into the impacts of Chinese Foot Binding.

These are my final images, for my secret shoot as promised! (if you have followed my previous posts) 

Overall I am pleased with my final outcome, however I feel the images could have been improved with better quality lighting and the use of editing.

These are the practise shots, I took in preparation for my secret shoot, which I explained in my previous post.  This ensured that any problems I faced could be problem solved.

I used dark, smokey makeup to create a eerie mood.

I put the hair in a high pony tail and wrapped tights around the bobble to create a dramatic bun.

I used paper clips on the face, to emphasise the idea that they are holding both genders together. 

I put fish nets over the bun to create a dramatic look.

As a independent task, I am going to complete a fashion story based on the word secret. After exploring different concepts of the work secret, I decided to base my shoot on secret sexuality. I have been inspired by various designers, photographers and stylists.

Robbie Spencer; Stylist

This picture fits in with my theme, as It looks like a jigsaw which Is how the person in my shoot feels. Its like they don't know where they belong, and don't know where they fit into. It could also symbolise that there falling apart, and are struggling putting themselves back together.

In my shoot I am going to symbolise this by putting paper clips on the face, like tears.

This picture inspires me, as it is like he is releasing all his anger, fear and upset. This theory links in with the phsycology of colour as green is  thought to relieve stress. The colour green referring to the psychology of colour reflects fertility which links in with my theme of sexuality.  

I think this picture reflects my concept, as his face is divided into two and the colours may represent different emotions. Just like in my story, where the model is feeling a range of emotions which he feels unable to let out.

Samuel Cirnansck; Designer

 This was part of Samuel's collection for Sao Paulo Fashion Week.His models where bound and gagged, this links in with my theme of my story in that the model feels restrained and trapped. The S&M concept also links in with the idea of sexuality which I am trying to portray in my story.

Herring & Herring; Photography

These pictures are from an editorial for Zinks magazine, on each picture the models have been restrained from speaking with props, and fabric. It appears as though they are being prevented from them spilling or telling a secret, alike the model in my shoot. These images have inspired me and provided me with idea's for my shoot, e.g. using fish net tights to cover my models head. This emphasises the trapped feeling.

I will update, with the final images from my shoot.

"WATCH THIS SPACE"