YOU, YOUR FASHION,
AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Rebecca George
YOU, YOUR FASHION,
AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Rebecca George
LET’S EXPERIMENT!
Everyone has a view on Artificial Intelligence, or AI. It’s not my purpose here to debate the wider issues it raises. My aim is rather to show how we can use AI to explore our fashion identities, without filling our wardrobes with piles of unworn and unwearable clothing. AI empowers us to experiment with exciting fashions and styles without going to the trouble and expense of buying the outfits. And we can explore looks and styles that are beyond our means in real life.
EQUESTRIAN REBECCA
My first set of pictures are from the “too expensive for real life” category. For years I have been fascinated by John Galliano’s very sexy 2010 Equestrian Collection for Dior. I love the magnificently haughty models in their tightly waisted riding habits, top hats and floor-length skirts.
When using an AI app that combines your face and body with the outfit you want to explore, the choice of your starting image is critical. You are usually best served by a picture taken against a neutral background (such as a studio shot), or a striking background scene that the AI program will adopt as the background for the final image. I have modelled many times in London’s Victoria Park, and used images from these shoots for my Equestrian creations. These outdoor shots were combined with catwalk views of the Galliano collection; with the results you can see here. AI seemed to get everything right. I was able to see myself as a Galliano Equestrian model – and I must confess liked what I saw!
RUBBER REBECCA
Coming down a few notches in price, I have for some time been fascinated by the latex creations of Amsterdam designer Sebastian Cauchos. Cauchos promotes latex as empowering office attire for the ambitious woman. His designs recreate the cut and shape of high-end workwear, but in bold and colourful rubber fabrics.
To generate images of myself modelling these designs, I sought out strong, simple poses shot against monochrome studio backdrops. This made the latex colours and shapes really “zing”. The process was a little more hit-and-miss than producing the Galliano images, as the tight fit of latex clothing can look absurd when poured over a body frozen in an awkward or twisted position. The most successful starting points for the Cauchos fashions were a set of studio images exploring looks and ideas for Royal Ascot(!). The haughty, arrogant look I assumed for my Ascot shoot worked well with the latex attire.
PURE FANTASY…?
One of my boyfriends created a set of fantasy fetish outfits for me, digitally generated. They featured dramatic combinations of lace, satin and latex, in glowing and burnished jewel tones. I combined these fashion creations with a set of images taken from my “Party Girl” shoot from a year or two ago – studio shots taken against a black background, in which I flirted shamelessly with the camera lens.
When combined, the resulting images really seemed to “click”. In fact, the AI fantasy images looked more “real” than the original studio shots! The success of these images underlines the benefit of using simple backdrops. The AI algorithm doesn’t have to deal with a confusing superabundance of imagery – circumstances that can produce those images with three legs or two heads which all AI users have encountered…
THAT CERTAIN FEELING…
My final set of images I stumbled on almost by chance. I was aiming to create a lush, decadent, early-1990s couture look – the era of Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel and Gianfranco Ferré for Dior. I discovered by accident that a particular set of boudoir selfies from my redheaded days worked perfectly with the high fashion look I was seeking to emulate. One headshot (originally taken upside-down!) was used over and over again.
I don’t know if I succeeded in capturing the louche ambience of the early 1990s, but I was certainly pleased with the outcome. But that’s what happens when you experiment – with AI or with anything. You can’t always get what you want, but you do sometimes get something good.
Enjoy playing with AI. Just don’t take it too seriously! Fashion – real or virtual – can be a heuristic journey of self-realization. But fashion should also be fun!
Love and Kisses to All!
xoxox
Rebecca George