Photographer: Lucy Fulford (third year BVA Dunedin School of art, Photography)
Make Up: Sam McCarthy sam.a.mccarthy@hotmail.co.uk
Hair/Designer : Samuel Ralph sammyjon7@hotmail.com (1st Year Bachelor of Design in Fashion, Dunedin Fashion school)
Designer: Sam Thorpe http://pavementparade.blogspot.com/ (1st year Bachelor of Design in Fashion, Dunedin Fashion school
Models: Harveen Dhalwai & Rachel Chin.
Words: Hana Aoake
For this assignment first year fashion design students were permitted a colour palette of black and white and the use of cotton fabrics. Having such strict limitations would leave many with an array of emotions, probably centred on frustration at being so limited creatively. For Sam Thorpe, this challenge presented him with an opportunity to push himself further. The design of his trenchcoat was aimed at emphasizing a feminine silhouette and is reminiscent of the tailored sophistication and glamour of such women as Marlene Dietrich and Jacqueline Kennedy. He also designed a simple shift dress, evocative of dresses worn by the likes of Edie Sedgwick and Twiggy. The look he has created exudes cohesion and femininity. He also appears to have been influenced by designers such as Ossie Clark, Pierre Cardin, André Courrèges,Oleg Cassini and Hubert de Givenchy.
The look created by Sam Ralph illustrates an ability to manipulate and contort proportions, a focus on detail and is an accentuation of a look devised as an embodiment of innovation and the avant-garde. The designer has accompanied the highly embellished jacket with a flattering figure-hugging silhouette, the multi functional belt screaming high fashion. His look is couture, with a clear resemblance to designers such as Martin Margiela and Gareth Puget, yet also highly functional.
