Group Project on Androgyny & Fashion
Members names on Cover
Research and Proposal for an Androgyny & Fashion exhibition
Cultural and Contextual Studies
Year 2 for BA(Hons) Degree Fashion Media & Industries Course (Fashion Marketing and Management Specialism) LASALLE College of the Arts
2. Contents
Concept - 150Write up
Target Audience
Rationale for Museum choice
Gallery Space
Definition of Androgyny
Brief History of Androgyny
Androgyny in other cultures
Selection and Rationale of Designers and their iconic designs
Interactive Booths
Conclusion
4. Androgyny - THe World In Between
“Androgyny is not trying to manage the relationship
between the opposites; it is simply flowing between
them."
- June Singer
“I see fashion as a proclamation or manifestation of
identity, so, as long as identities are important, fashion will
continue to be important.The link between fashion and
identity begins to get real interesting, in the case of
people who don't fall clearly into a culturally-recognized
identity.”
- Kate Bornstein
Androygny – The world in between” exhibition acknowledges the
influence and importance of Androgyny and its influence in fashion.
Androgyny has been a common thread in fashion for decades; many
designers go into gender-bending collection even though they
primarily focus on designing for a certain culturally recognized
gender. Reason includes public fascination with the notion of
Androgyny, as it is often a taboo in Western culture despite it being a
gender-neutral word.
Iconic androgynous designs are taken from the works of acclaimed
designers including Yves Saint Laurent, Jean Paul Gaultier, Rad
Hourani, Ann Demeulemeester, Comme Des Garcon & John
Galliano.
The exhibition is broadly categorized into Androgynous
Womenswear, Unisex-wear and Mens-wear respectively. The
exhibition aims to educate the public of the influence of Androgyny in
Fashion and increase awareness of the works of the designers. Enter,
discover and enjoy the creative and fascinating collaboration of
Androgyny and Fashion.
5. TARGET AUDIENCE
Ages 18 and above
Mature and open-minded
Students who are keen in the arts and fashion,
gender studies, psychology, literature,
music, drama and theatre.
Anybody and everybody is in interested in this topic
6. Why National Musuem
Modern facilities, popular with visitors.
Galleries adopt cutting-edge and
varied ways of presenting history and culture.
Redefines the conventional museum experience.
Located in the arts and education hub in Stamford Road.
14. Defining Androgyny
As to the sexual orientation, an androgynous person can
be heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual.
Androgynous traits are those that either have no gender
value, or have some aspects generally attributed to the
opposite gender.
1. Physical (intersexual) - born with both male and female
genitals;
2. Psychological, combining both masculinity and
femininity as traits of a unified gender that defies social
roles and psychological attributes.
2 Definitions
Gender Neutral
Gender Symbols
Agyness Deyn
15. Brief History of Androgyny
During the ‘counter-culture’ revolution in the 1960’s, music and
fashion industries inspired a trend towards self-exploration
emphasizing individual freedom and self-realization.
The women’s liberation movement of the 1970’s refuted the
idea that women were naturally passive, emotional, and weaker
than men.
Men and women alike could dress freely as they liked,
disregarding social norms and culturally recognized gender
roles.
Rolling Stones in 1960s
Hippies in 1960s
Punks in 1960s
Women’s Liberation
in 1970s
16. Brief History of Androgyny
In the 1980s, androgynous musicians - Boy George, David
Bowie - made headlines as they captured the world's fascination
with sexual ambiguity.
Ziggy Stardust
(David Bowie)
Boy George
Andrej Pejic
Jo Calderone (Lady Gaga)
Androgyny is just as prevalent, if not more extreme in
today’s music and fashion.
As seen by Lady Gaga as Jo Calderone,
Androynous model Andrej Pejic and
Designer Marc Jacobs.
Marc Jacobs
19. Yves Saint Laurent
Acclaimed French fashion designer
August 1, 1936 – June 1, 2008
Astonishing versatility. In the 1960s he clothed women in
blazers, pin-striped trouser suits and smoking
jackets, and took risks by turning the workaday
parka, the trench coat and the pea coat into haute
couture. In the 1970s he dreamed up ethnic prints
and put shoulder-padding back into jackets.
20. Yves Saint Laurent
Description: Le Smoking tuxedo suit
Year: 1966
Collection:Autumn Winter
First of its kind to gain attention in the fashion world and
in popular culture
It pioneered long, minimalist, androgynous styles
21. Jean Paul Gaultier
French Fashion Designer born 24 April 1952
Inspired by none other than Walt Disney and the fantastic fairy
tales he created.
Gaultier's following collections have been based on street
wear, focusing on popular culture, whereas others, particularly
his Haute Couture collections, are very formal yet at the same
time unusual and playful.
24. Canadian Fashion designer born in June 15, 1982
Rad Hourani ‘RAD by Rad Hourani’
Focus on styles and silhouettes of the same unisex signature
look offered in different materials
Casual transformable fit
Conceptual direction is that all of his products are specifically
designed to be unisex
RAD HOURANI
25. Rad Hourani
Description: Rad Hourani Unisex short trench and
unisex combo signature legging
Year: 2010
Collection: Fall/Winter Ready-to-Wear
Description: Rad Hourani Unisex transformable wrap
jacket and signature leggings
Year: 2010
Collection: Fall/Winter Ready-to-Wear
26. Waregem, Belgium designer born in December 29, 1959
Eponymous label ‘Ann Demeulemeester’
Pays close attention to detail and use of cutting-edge
techniques and materials
Distinctive and recognizable
Draws influence from gothic, punk, and Japanese styles
ANN DEMEULEMEESTER
27. Ann Demeulemeester
Description: Black satin vest and straight cut
pants
Year: 2010
Collection: Spring/Summer Ready-to-Wear
Description: Light weight wool blazer and
leatherette pants
Year: 2010
Collection: Spring/Summer Ready-to-Wear
28.
29. John Galliano
British fashion designer born 28 November 1960. He was
head designer of French haute couture houses Givenchy and
Christian Dior. He also his own eponymous label.
Very experimental designer, known to mix themes and exotic
cultures in his dramatic designs and throw parties for his
runway.
Very loud and daring menswear designs.
30. Description: John Galliano pink suspender belt and stockings.
Year: 2009-2010
Collection: Men’s Fall/Winter 2009-2010
JOHN GALLIANO
31. John Galliano
Description: John Galliano pink suspender belt and stockings.
Year: 2009-2010
Collection: Men’s Fall/Winter 2009-2010
32. Comme des Garcon
(Rei Kawakubo)
(Rei Kawakubo)
Rei Kawakubo, founder and owner of Comme Des Garcons since
1969
コム・デ・ギャルソン (Komu de Gyaruson) in Japanese and
French for “Like Boys”
This name signifies how the merchandise the company produces or
uses a male-like theme and transforms it to female garments
Comme des Garcons specializes in anti-fashion, austere, sometimes
deconstructed garments, sometimes lacking a sleeve or other
component.
This style refused to obey accepted notions of silhouette and bodyline
to create dramatic and innovative designs: upside-down pockets,
de-emphasized shoulders and extra-long sleeves.
33. Comme des Garcon
(Rei Kawakubo)
(Rei Kawakubo)
Description: Comme Des Garcons Striped shirt, embossed
jacket, pleated skirt, petticoat
Year: 2009
Collection: Homme Plus Spring Summer 2009