Final written report

At the beginning of the project, our group has searched a few brands’ information. And we finally consider analyzing & forecasting Comme des Garcons. Then we find the data, photos and investigated on them.

The designer is studied fine art and literature at Keio University in Tokyo. She is greatly influenced by these and is following the Japanese art theories : beautiful but are unsymmetrical & imperfect. In her mind, she will not express the women' s body shape. So, her brand is called Commes des Garcons, in French that mean 'like a boy'. She also like to present the Japanese and the street culture.

Besides, as we have found 2005 to 2008 Fall/Winter collections' information. We find that there have some similar points among these collections. Also the pattern of using color, design of the clothes.

Analysis
For the COLOR's part, she uses somber colors; achromatic; monochromatic colors; analogous colors; similar levels of value & chroma. And she always uses the Principle of resemblance. She also used vivid colour with high chroma in some of the collections, e.g. in 2008, the red, red- violet; 2006, the dark blue, violet.

For the INSPIRATION is about the things influenced her daily life and she is looking for something unrealistic. Finally, let them happen in realistic. For example, in 2006 present the concept of mixing feminine with the masculine & the operatic drama.

Rei Kawakubo' s every collection's theme have some relationship with the thing happened in that year, e.g. 2005 Memoirs of a Geisha. And the color of collection also affected by these events, Geisha's makeup (white); the opera's costumes; AmyWinhouse's back to black. Moreover, i found that these events are all related to the culture & arts: music, movie, drama. So, i think the following collection will follow this trend.

Forecast on the trend
So, i choose George Frideric Handel and his work for the inspiration in 2009 F/W. It is because the year of 2009 is the 250 of his death anniversary. Handel was a German-born Baroque composer who is famous for his operas, oratorios and concerti grossi. Strongly influenced by the techniques of the great composers of the Italian Baroque. During the baroque period composers and performers used more elaborate musical ornamentation; made changes in musical notation, and also established opera as a musical genre. As i use this as the inspiration, the Italian opera and Baroque music are the keys of the collection. After the observation, the colors used are red-orange, white and beige with some golden; and in red but in different value. And give us a gorgeous feeling.

Inspiration & Trend
As a result, in the collectioni will use the designer's favorite color: achromatic color (Black, White, Grey) and the colors related to the theme ( Red, Red-orange & Golden). And for the design, also use many ruffles and the lace. The make up also use red and golden color. I hope the color using and the design can present 18th century and the baroque's feeling. I will try to make such feeling inside the collection, from untouchable to realistic. Let people feel the gorgeous and grand from the collection.

However, when I draw the outfits, i think that i should think deeper for the theme, not only the superficial part. It is because Rei Kawakubo's collection not only influenced by the inspiration/ events, but also adds some of her ideas about the event. So that i would like to think more from the inspiration. I want to know what is behind ' GORGEOUS'.

After the brainstorming and research, I found that many blue bloods or high-class people seem like having a good quality of life, but they may not rich in their heart. They may feel alone.

The theme wanted to present things that behind gorgeous that is mystery, alone. So, i will keep on using the Red, Red-orange and Golden that represent when they are facing the others ( warm, love, energy, happy); Black, Grey color, but change white to beige, and they are going to present their lonely life. And the reason that I changed to beige is because white is equal to joy, hope, but now I ant to use the achromatic color to show the sad feeling, so I think beige may be better. And it still using the Principle of resemblance, the achromatic, analogous that always apply by the designer.

The theme
My theme is called 'On Show'.
That mean the nobles's daily life in 18the century. They show a wonderful life in front of the others, acting like having a happy life, but is lonely when they back home.

The collection
The 6 outfits are full of lace, ruffles and have ribbon. I hope these details can help to create a magnificent collection. The pattern that the designer always apply, like the heart, dot is also included. And i have colored 18 sets of the collection with different combination in the color family. I choose this as i think they are the most like Rei Kawakubo's style and the resplendent one.

For these 6 outfits, the achromatic colors are use, which must appear in evey seasons' collection of Comme des Garcons. Also, the monochromatic color, e.g. black, grey; analogous, e.g. red, red-orange. And i also use some high chroma & vivid color, such as red & red-orange. These color using pattern are using in each season. So, i follow it. Principle of resemblance is also applied because there is little differences between the colors. And as i menstioned before, i also use these colors to present gorgeous and mystery.

the 6 outfits

Here are the 6 outsits that 1 choose.

colored the outfits

I have colored the collection with different color combination. And i think this one is the best one.

It may be different to look at them in details, but i will post a larger size of it.

Franc Franc

These are the Christmas poster of FrancFranc. The color used is mainly in red, in a high saturation and not too bright. The red color gives me a warm and love feeling. It is pleased when we look at them in the cold weather.

I like this X' Mas tree so much!! The red tree matching with the white star and bear, it is a special christmas tree. It is very eye catching even we haven't put the light on the tree. Apart from the christmas poster, i think FrancFranc products' color are very attractive, they are so colorful.

color of the print ad (no.4 miumiu)

Analysis of the print ad of MiuMiu again

This ad and the previous one that i have analysed are also used blue color for a large proportion. And in this ad, although the picture is not taken outside, without the beautiful sky, it can still give me a relax feeling.

It is because the brown & blue color. According to the principle of familiarity, the colors are based on nature. They are the nature color, so it look harmony.

6 outfits of the collection

These 6 outfits are for the Comme des Garcons 2009 F/W collection.

And most of the outfits' details have ruffles and lace as the material.

COLOR Con

This is Freshkon' s product -- color contact lens. Now, Freshkon offering 9 different colors in the market, including sky blue, baby aqua, cool green, hippie chestnut, warm hazel, misty grey, romantic violet and two new colors: perky brown & groovy green.



I have seen my friend wearing freshkon's color con before, it is very beautiful and natural. I think it is because Freshkon's color con has 3 layer of colors.



This picture showing freshkon's sky blue contact len. We can see that the outer circle is in dark blue, and than is light blue, the pattern look like diamond. (the outer & middle part is in the monochromatic arrangement) And the inner circle is a little bit brown & yellow.

So, on the right hand side, we can see the model's eye has 3 colors. It is so attracting.



Another color--hippie chestnut. We can clearly see that it also has 3 colors in a contact len. The outer circle and the middle part is in the monochromatic arrangement.





The following picture is another brand's product, a Korea brand called CIB.

CIB also has different colors offering in the market. But we can see that this brand's contact lens only has 2 colors.



For example, this is the blue color's con. We can see that the outer & inner circle's color are the same--dark blue. And the middle part is in light blue. (also in the monochromatic arrangement) As a result, the eyes are not as charming as Freshkon's and look like more 'fake'.


This is the brown one, it has golden & brown color.




I found that most of the color contact lens in the market are only have 2 colors. As a result, Freshkon's "3 layer colors" is the most attractive!

think MORE on the theme

As mentioned before, i choose Handel's 250 death anniversiary as the inspiration. So, the baroque music, Italian opera will influenced a lot. But i think that i should think deeper for the theme, not only the superficial part. It is because Rei Kawakubo's collection not only influenced by the inspiration/ events, but also add some of her ideas about the event.


For example, in 2008 F/W, the inspiration is from rock music stars, and the collection's name is the same as the Amy Winehouse's album” Back to Black “. She may think that their style are skittish, rebellious. So, in the collection, the clothes's cutting, color are not just as these rock star ( in archromatic). She will also add the red, red-violet, cotton candy pink in order to repersent the style of skittish. In 2006 F/W, she also make a mask to the model to present the concept different ways we present ourselves to the world; the cutting in this collection also dress + trousers.


As a result, i would like to think more from the inspiration.



Inspiration
1. Handel

2. Baroque Music


3. Italian Opera


the flourish period in 18th century

-->

gorgeous = theme


-->


(i think need to think deeper & more about the theme)


-->


wt is the things behind ' GORGEOUS'


-->


mystery, calm, sorrow, alone


-->


theme: in the collection


a. color: ( because white = joy, love, hope. but now i want to use the achromatic color to present more sad feeling, so i would like to change white color to beige)


-->


Black, Beige, Grey, Red, Red-orange, Golden



Black, Beige, Grey = 1. the designer always use these color & her favourite color; 2. behind magnificent is calm, alone, these colors can present the feeling


Red, Red-orange, Golden = gorgeous


-->


b. details: ruffles, lace can be included



********************************************************************
Now, the theme is wanted to present things that behind gorgeous, that is mystery, alone. So, i will keep on using the Red, Red-orange, Golden, Black, Grey color, but cange white to beige.

Consumers' lifestyles & mass customization

class exercise no.6
Consumers' lifestyles & mass customization

This class exercise need to analyse others' lifestyles & mass customization, and then identity their color preferences. It is a very funny exercise. If i have time i must identify more friends' color preference!!~

Kids Wear

Yesterday i went to ShaTin and saw some kids wear's boutiques.

I found that, most of the kids wear's boutiques are in white color or the pastel color e.g. pastel blue, pink. Lightness in value; saturation are low. Also the color matching are using the principle of resemblance, the colors are harmonary.

Color also affect our emotion, WHITE: joy, hope, purity, innocence, love...BLUE: peace, gebtleness.. And the pale color give harmonious, restful and relaxing feeling to the customers.

Besides, most of these boutiques are the foreigen brand. I think the interior design also based on their culture. In the Western culture they have always believe white is good ( e.g. angel). So, these color is apporiate to be used for the kids wear.

Nicholas & Bear


Toonsland


Kingkow

chicco

Blues bear

Sanrio Kids

But there is one exception, ChickeeDuck.

In the past, Chickeeduck also used the color like the above boutiques. Now, their shops used brown as the major color, in high chroma. I think it is because they want to matching to their brand image and the marketing stragety. Nowadays, they want to promote a grand image to the customers. So, they changed their interior design and color into more darker. Also, brown can give us a feeling of warmth, friendliness. And use high saturation of color.

ChickeeDuck

41st anniversary

Last night is the tvb's 41st drama awards.
Many artists dressing beautifully in the show. But I found that most of the artists' evening gowns are in achromatic color arrangement. Especially for the male.

Black, white, grey
These colors appear many times at that night. Is it because it is more safe?









These 2 ladies's evening gown are in light blue. Also not the shape color

(left) light yellow with small proportion of grey.

(right) on the left hand side, the artist wear a colorful dress. At that night, this is the only one dress that have more than 3 colors

Only these 2 ladies are dressing in red and purple. And these 2 colors are in high saturation, chroma. They choose these 2 colorto attend the 41st drama awards, may be related to the Chinese culture, red & purple are the lucky color.

( left ) On the right hand side, he is the only one gentelman who wear clothes on golden color, it is sparking~!

It is quite funny to see that most of the artists weaing achromatic color in this "big" show.

Andy Warhol

Today, the cover of the "Headline Daily" is mentioning the printing of Andy Warhol. It said that due to the economic downturn, we may use nearly $80,000 to buy his painting.



He was an American artist and a figure in the movement known as pop art. Warhol became famous worldwide for his work as a painter, avant-garde filmmaker, and public figure known for his membership in wildly diverse social circles that included bohemian street people, distinguished intellectuals, Hollywood celebrities and wealthy aristocrats.


Here are some of his work.

We can see that these 2 pictures' color used is very attractive, use the bright color. All the colors used are in high saturation and lightness. 1 & 4 are in complementary color, 2 is using the analogic arrangement. I think these bright color can give us a energetic feeling.



1 & 2 is in the complementary color, orange & blue; green & red.
3 & 4 is also in the complementary color, but the portortion and the contrast rate is less than 1 & 2.



The following 2 pictures are 2 celebrites. It use the same profile in different colors. Their saturation are low and in medium level of brightness.



This picture is in pale color.