My research interests have been a tangled web for me while looking back on my past projects. Looking at my projects over the past few semesters, I have always explored hyper-detail in garment making, paying particular attention to embellishment and play with color. Additionally, I have looked in-depth at the circus as a source of inspiration, researching freak-shows, old poster designs, and more. The circus as it existed in the 1920s has had particular influence on both the visuals as well as the attitude of my work. These two pillars in my design work have played off of each other, and for my thesis year, I would like to combine my attention to detail with my love for the circus. My research questions as of now are:
- How does detail make meaning in garments? What is the “sartorial semiology” of different embellishment methods (beadwork, rhinestones, embroidery etc.)
- How am I related to the circus fantasies I have? Through what vehicle can I incorporate/ write a research paper on the circus?
Details:
Researching garment details throughout one historical period, or of a specific type, could prove to be a very interesting paper with in-depth visual research. I believe this would be feasible by examining one type of embellishment (ie. rhinestones) and researching the associated meanings or connotations of the garments with this embellishment. One might look at the way rhinestones have been used in romantic and luxury garments, and then how they have traveled and become widespread as a symbol of “trashy”, dollar-store taste. A broader look at themes would be possible by looking at how brands with certain embellishments present their identity/ collections. In terms of academic research, I could use fashion studies readings and their anthropological analysis of daily dress to extrapolate on my visual research.
Circus:
The circus would be a very fun research topic that I already have some experience with. The challenge as well as the fun part of circus research is how widespread it is as an icon, which means it has been represented and retold in countless ways and it can be difficult to draw specifics from all these different representations. Luckily, I have been interested in the American circuses of the 1920s, and this specificity will inform my research into the topic. I would like to learn more about the design history of the circus and how some of its iconography developed over time, looking at certain icons like the clown, the striped circus tent, and the performers’ costumes. In terms of research feasibility, I am confident there are countless books exploring the histories of many circuses, and I also think looking into pop culture’s portrayal of the circus would be meaningful. Finally, I have to ask myself how I fit into the dream of the circus in my head, and consider why it is relevant to speak about in fashion today.
Overall, I would like to negotiate a middle ground between these topics for my thesis year and if that is possible through my research paper, I would be very happy.
