Challenge 9: Image is Everything.
For this challenge, we were working with male models to create garments suitable for a member of the Canadian rock band The Sheepdogs. The idea was to create something iconic and unique to that band member. We had 24 hours to complete this challenge.
Iconic and unique? Sigh. What can you create for a retro kind of rock band that is iconic and unique and yet not like a costume? You don’t know? Yeah, me neither.
Introducing my model, Stefan
Most of the guys I know in rock bands prefer to wear jeans and that certainly seemed to be the case with these guys as well. I have a friend who rocks a kilt every now and then and considered going that direction but wasn’t sure that any of the members of the Sheepdogs would be willing to put themselves out there (so to speak) like that. So, I stuck with jeans. Wow, let me tell you, tiny little doll sized jeans take a LOT of work. I started out with some bell bottoms to add some of that retro flair but they never turned out looking right so I went for a straighter leg. The majority of my time on this challenge was spent on the jeans, trying to get the fit just right. I added some distressing and cut off the bottoms and frayed them a bit. (Gosh, I remember spending hours doing that to my jeans as kid!).
For the top part of the garment, I went with a classic tshirt (in a light gray jersey) topped with a red check shirt – no buttons as it is meant to just hang open and sleeveless so he can show his arms and keep them unencumbered so as not to interfere with the instrument he plays. This is a pretty classic, standard rocker look but I added a long sleeveless vest/tunic to try to vary it just a little. Honestly, beyond that I had no idea what to do that would still fit with the image of this band. I added a pair of Steve Madden Jax boots from the men’s section of the Piperlime wall. I had a red piece of a really light wool type fabric that I created a scarf out of to wrap around his neck – adding another little splash of colour and texture to the look but it made him look like he had no neck so I discarded it.
The judges felt I played it too safe (I agree) and that other than the tunic/vest, felt I had referenced Springsteen too literally (I agree). They were, however, impressed with my construction skills (personally I think this is the best construction job I’ve done so far), particularly on the jeans. I think I may bear a little in common with Olivier (oh no!!!) in that I work better on a model that is fairly straight up and down and flat….i.e. there aren’t breasts to work around.
Now, if only I could have figured out something to do with that horrible Bieber-esque haircut on my model…………
Pinkzilla says
I tried to stay true to the look the band already had too. Frankly I didn’t understand where the challenge was going since they already seemed to have an image they were happy with. Your jeans turned out fantastic! Well worth all that work 🙂
Tawny says
Hehehe yup that Bieber haircut needs to go! I think you did a terrific job. The band members would have liked it. I don’t think they would go for anything too flashy (even though that’s where I took it). And your outfit is miles above anything the real designers put out there. The red is just the right amount of colour.