has fashion photography changed since the 1950s?

[c.shallow]

does anyone think fashion photography has changed since the 1950/60? or is it society that has changed? I'm asking peoples opinions for a presenation im doing at uni. xxx

[JK2]

Have you actually looked at any fashion photography from the 50' or 60's? If so I don't think you would need to ask the question. It's very obvious visually that there have been changes. The 1950's photos were very formal, mostly very static and were always studio based. With the advent of Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton,David Bailey, Terence Donovan and the like, fashion photography became more fun & more daring and moved out of the studio into the street.

I don't think it is a question of photography or society that has changed - they both go hand in hand and in each decade the photography reflects the society of the time - and in some cases pushes at the boundaries.

[JK2]

P.S I have worked in fashion all my working life and modelled during the mid sixties.

[c.shallow]

Thanks for your comments.x

[c.shallow]

Hello JK, What job do you do in the fashion industry if you don't mind me asking?

[JK2]

I'm now semi-retired. I started as a designer in the sixties (when I also got roped into some modelling) - designing for the High Street - moved into buying (for mail order catalogues) and then back into manufacturing. In later years, was in sales & merchandising . Now work part-time for Italian fabric suppliers.

[c.shallow]

whow! I hope i'm as successful! x

[crosso]

Maybe your uni project would also need to take into account the trend for retro styling and tribute photography - many photo shoots even today bear tribute to the iconic shoots of the 1950s and even before (eg a nod to silent films, such as Biba styling in the 1970s). Is this derivative, or hero-worship, or laziness by the stylists and even designers relying on the cyclical nature of fashion? I often wonder. Is terms of photography, is innovation so important when dealing with fashion and beauty?
Your mention of society hints that you might have to take into account sociological notions such as the concepts that hemlines, use of fabric, etc, change according to flourishing economies and economical declines.
I hate to contradict but many 1950s photoshoots were street-based or even reportage (although that term was not really used until 1980s) , including many shoots for iconic designers eg Dior, and they were not always static (walking a lapdog was a favourite theme - just like the so-called It-girls nowadays eg Paris Hilton). The '50s impression is more staid because of the constrictive nature of the clothing, corsetry and the heavy use of cosmetics. After the 50s the models were not necessarily much more 'common' (as was the current word), but 60s media coverage conspired to make them seem more racey and there was an apparent (not real) breakdown in class boundaries, maybe owing to rock influences and advances in feminism (often attributed to the wider availabilty of the Pill) . . JK2 is definitely right to say that fashion photograph pushes at the boundaries...as even now in the controversy surrounding the lovely Kate Moss and her personal image.
Good luck with the presentation!

[c.shallow]

thanks crosso, have you studied fashion? You seem to know your stuff!