In What Senses Can Fashion be Understood as Iconic - Assignment Example

Fashion icons Fashion means the change in what individuals prefer and their changes in taste from time to time, decade-to-decade and century to century. These changes may be great or very little. It involves turning one’s creativity into something visible like clothes, cars, and even shoes. It involves changing of style and inventing a new ways of coming up with different items. It does not mean that everything in fashion should be expensive (Werle, 2010:56). It accommodates different cultures, preferences, needs, and attitude too for one to come up with a fashionable piece. It never gets old and it is never wrong or right, and is rather recurring with time. Fashion is as old as man is and some of the earliest fashion designers include Christian Dior, Dolce, Tommy Hilfiger, Mui Mui, Marc Jacobs, Giorgio Armani and many more. It is all about what is released latest and is different from the previous. Fashion minds of what we see but not how expensive it is. (Buxbaum, 2005:21). People every day try to look better by embracing new trends in the markets. The best dressed with the trendiest outfits tend to draw much attentions and are even referred to as fashion icons. They are people to admire and see what fashion should really be like. Isabel Lucas, Taylor Swift, Emily Blunt, Kristen Stewart, Kerry Washington, Elizabeth Olsen, and Michelle Williams are among some of the icons in fashion today. These are individuals, greatly admired because of their gorgeous, stylish, and know how to dress appropriately. To be a fashion icon one does not need to expose so much skin but should rather be interested in following new trends. One also needs to know how to dress their bodies in the right manner to show off what they got in a decent manner. The works of photography that captures their trends enable this fashion icons act as role models and this. Professionals who know the dos and don’ts of this photo works give out professional photography work. These are very important people in fashion since they need to have the touch of talent and sacrifice all together (Werle, 2010:56). Today’s best image-makers include Betset Johnson, Angelo D’Agostino, Steve McCurry, and Euan Danks. Steve McCurry. Steve is recognized universally with his works and taste in fashion. He has won some top photography awards due to his recommendable work and his distinguished ability to capture the essence of man. He has been in photography since 1986. He has also worked in different areas including areas experiencing civil conflicts like Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Philippines too. Most of his images are grounded on people, waiting for the most unguarded moment and when the soul is peeking out on one’s face to capture the perfect image. His work is among the outstanding ones with reflections of human passion and their amazing experiences (Gundle, 2008:51). Steven McCurry has incredible photos forming a legendary iconic collection; which is beautifully presented photos that form amazing collections. It shows the works of a committed photographer who is capable and ready to venture into their work (Buxbaum, 2005:241). . Some of the magnificent images reflect religious obsession completely consumed into another world making them technically accurate. Some of his captions are a picture of the Afghan girl, with green eyes, looking depressed and seems to be in great poverty. The tattered clothes show how shattered her dreams may be by the wars in her country. This image captures the absolute conditions that people in Afghanistan have to confide. Due to his work, he has come up with classes to help other upcoming photographers in understanding the concept of photography in a better way. His work is among the commendable ones in the world today. His works have also been set on displays in several workshops around the globe (Holt, 2003:46) Other commendable individual who has done great jobs is Angelo D’agostino. He has captured summer rush images that are quite amazing and that have quite a professional touch. He spend his childhood in South Korea and Germany, and then later studied Fine art and art history at University of Vermont. After college, he moved to New York to start his shooting career and he worked with others like Greg Kadel and Mathew Rolston. (Manlow, 2007:82) Larry Clark is also regarded as one among the most influential and important image-maker of his generation. His work has featured in controversial films with themes on sexuality, drug abuse, corruption, and violence. His book Tulsa drew so much attention from the public that marketed his works. This book explores son economic and social issues on youth culture, looking deep into vulnerability of the youths in the society (Werle, 2010:56). Clark was born in Tulsa, his mother was a photographer and through managing his family businesses, he began shooting amphetamines and with time, he started producing beautiful and remarkable pictures that were later published in his article: Tulsa. Through his works of explorations and recording teen challenges, he managed to capture the effects of ill family relationships and thereby creating awareness to the masses. To address these issues he used images of drug use and violence, he used quite unforgettable and unimaginable actions to pass his massages. His works have been quite of great influence to the society and raised discussions on controversial issues like pornography, censorship, and teen violence (Eceiza, 2010:734). This book published in the 1971, combines narrative sequences and documentary style building up emotional intensity. Some of his other publications include Skaters and teenage lust. Despite the fact that he never went through any formal training, he has done commendable work in describing the past lifestyles and therefore contributing into fashion. Some of his photo has been featured in lifestyle magazine and several fashion magazines too (Betts, 2011:45) During his times in Tulsa, he always walked around with his cameras and friends and therefore, this created much exposure and experience too. Larry Clark has worked with Lady Gaga is a true fashion icon in this generation. His works influence other photographers including Terry Richardson. His perspective in the capturing of ideas and images are never out of time and are not passed away by time and fashion (Gundle, 2008:51). Their works are great aesthetics and they have great fans allover the globe. His shorts had so much life in them. His works have laid the base line of how visual works in films, magazines, fashion, art, and books should be done (Manlow, 2007:32). For one to produce commendable jobs and works on fashion they have to understand that, fashion is everywhere. From the manner, we usually present ourselves to communicate of our politics, mood, social status, wealth, sexuality, and even profession. Larry had a touch of fashion that is from the manner that he presented his lifestyle in Tulsa (Eceiza, 2010:34). Larry has worked with some fashion icons like Katherine Hepburn, Richard Chamberlain, and Chloe Sevigny. Katherine is also an actor with an eccentric touch in films and Chloe who is also an actor. Lately, Larry has also come up with other works showing today’s generation youths and some of the abuses on drugs, sex, and violence too (Eceiza, 2010:734). This is a prove that his works have the not lost the touch of fashion thereby they are not outdone by time. He has taken photography works of youths in other parts in violent actions and therefore, this helps the audience get to know that this are things existing but did not only happen in the past. His works have been differentiable from other photographers since his have both a touch of life and originality. The images captured have the right technical touch and therefore, this draws any viewers’ attention. (Polan, 2009:264) Other than the scenes he portrayed of Tulsa today, he portrays that of today’s dysfunctional society. He captures very intimate moments and action of individuals (English, 2010:45).. In August 2012, he captured an adolescent beauty who had laid a victim of sex and drugs abuse. This gives a radical and a realistic picture of the world we are in. He still maintains magical closeness with the documented individuals who are under unimaginable situations that unlike other photo taking professionals who are taken as aliens. This also shows the great interest that he has in his general society and takes himself to be part of the protagonists. This has created awareness on the need to uphold our morals (Gogerly, 2006:34). To learn more, he was interviewed on the reason why he had so much passion he argues that he wants to show children’s perception on certain issues like partying, living life at the moment and also experimenting due to curiosity to see how things turn out to be at the end. He wanted both parents and other viewers to get the feeling in reality but not to rather see it like it is in a movie. He passes the message that kids have a different perception on issues in life. The influence that Larry Clark had the existing generations and other image-makers who came after him is quite great (Polan, 2009:264). To conclude, fashion is an inspiring tool that passes ones opinion on certain issues, and it is a circulation of the past designs refreshing with time. Fashion does not get old. Fashionistas consider all possible alterations on an already existing piece to produce a new more desired one. (Gogerly, 2006:34). These changes of trends in clothing, music, and lifestyles are believed to bring up a modern and more decent society. Fashion icons are the legendary individuals and works that remain valued in fashion despite the changing times. The available photographers, who put it into record have therefore, enhanced its referencing even after ages. Therefore, fashion gets new each day and never gets outdated (Holt, 2003:46) Bibliography Betset Johnson. Retrieved on 31st October 2012, from http://www.betseyjohnson.com/ Betts, K. (2011). Everyday icon: Michelle Obama and the power of style. Buxbaum, G. 2005. Icons of Fashion: the 20th Century. Munich: Prestel. Eceiza, L. (2010). Atlas of fashion designers. Beverly, MA, Rockport Publishers. English, B. 2010. Fashion: the 50 most influential fashion designers of all time. Hauppauge, N.Y., Barron's. Gogerly, L. 2006. Fashion designers. London, Hodder Wayland. Gundle, S. 2008. Glamour a history. Oxford, Oxford University Press. http://public.eblib.com/EBLPublic/PublicView.do?ptiID=415382 Holt, D. B., Muñoz, L., Cunha, R. D., Sousa Coutinho, M. D., Cacegas, L. D., & Herbert, M. E. H. (2003). How brands become icons: the principles of cultural branding. Boston, Mass, Harvard Business School Press. Manlow, V. (2007). Designing clothes: culture and organization of the fashion industry. New Brunswick, Transaction Publishers. Passariello, C. & Sonne, P. (2010). British Fashion Designer Alexander McQueen Dies. The Wall Street Journal. Polan, B., & Tredre, R. (2009). The great fashion designers. Oxford, Berg. Werle, S. 2010. Fashionisto: a century of style icons. Munich, Prestel. Werle, S. and StäUble, C. 2009. Fashionista a century of style icons. Munich, Prestel. Read More