module specification

This module develops skills in and critical understanding of writing and reporting on fashion across multiple platforms including magazines, blogs, social media and video content. Looking at the latest trends and influence in the industry, and covering editorial and commercial case studies, students will develop working skills in fashion journalism, blogging, broadcasting and photography.
Assessment will be through group presentation, a portfolio of work, a fashion blog project and tutor-moderated self reflection, using online journal.

1. To develop a working knowledge and critical understanding of each form of contemporary fashion reporting
2. To start an individual fashion blog, using feedback from peers and tutor to develop and reflect
3. To develop a critical understanding of the role of video and multimedia in fashion and the importance of images
4. To learn how to find/recognise trends and report on them
5. To cultivate a working knowledge of social media and its role in the fashion industry and a critical appreciation of its powers
6. To develop/improve practical skills including catwalk reporting, fashion photography, networking within the industry and presenting/reporting confidently in front of an audience and on camera

• Writing about fashion across multiple platforms – and a critical look at existing work
• Fashion blogging and vlogging; trends and influence in the contemporary industry
• Starting a fashion blog: creating a brand, formulating a business plan, identifying and understanding your audience, making a blog a success, working with brands, monetising your blog (practical skills and experience: working on the blog within the classroom environment); reflecting on own work
• Fashion photography – basic skills and practice; students’ use of/sensitivity to images will be important and celebrated
• Fashion video; the role of video and multimedia in the fashion media/retail environment
• Finding everyday fashion stories
• Working with PRs to find stories, build brand relationships, access samples and source up-to-the-minute information
• Finding/recognising trends and reporting on them, and a critique of the process
• Catwalk reporting skills
• Fashion opinion; the role of fashion columns vs blogs
• The logistics of the fashion shoot (for bloggers and journalists)
• Using social media as a fashion blogger and journalist

• Interactive workshops with a mix of teaching (with multimedia support), group work, individual learning and practical exercises

• Use of weblearn, including discussion forums, to share blog posts and peer-to-peer support, also to assess class contribution via journals and discussion boards

• Use of blogging platforms (wordpress/blogger) to host and deliver individual blogs

• Background reading, blogging/vlogging, fashion reporting and street style photography projects undertaken in students’ own time

• One-to-one tutorials throughout the module and small group-based shared learning/exchange of ideas/critique of texts

• Regular debate and presentations to develop confidence and social/audience skills

1. Be able to demonstrate critical understanding of contemporary practice and communication in fashion media, including images
2. Run an active fashion blog that can be used as a platform for future business and networking
3. Display the ability to predict future trends and patterns within the industry
4. Report confidently on fashion, editorially and commercially, across multi-platforms
5. Be able critically to discuss trends, social media, multimedia and photography in academic terms, with potential employers and within the workplace
6. Demonstrate ability to write in a range of styles for different lients/publications/platforms

To increase confidence, professionalism, teamwork and employability, students will engage in an assessed group video and presentation, individual coursework, a business-led fashion project and moderated self-reflection on participation and engagement across the module.
All work, even in groups, will be assessed individually.
Assessment 1 meets LOs 1, 4, 6
Assessment 2 meets LOs 1, 3, 6
Assessment 3 meets all LOs
Assessment 4 meets LOs 3, 5

• Bartlett, D, Cole, S and Rocamora, A (editors) (2013). Fashion Media: Past and Present. Bloomsbury Academic. London. [CORE]
• Blanks, T (2013). New Fashion Photography. Prestel. USA.
• Bubble, S and Oliver, W (2012). Style Feed: The World’s Top Fashion Blogs. Prestel. Munich.
• DK (2012). Fashion. Dorling Kindersley. London.
• Jade, L (2012). Fashion Photography 101: A Complete Course for the New Fashion Photographers. Ilex Press. London.
• Kubler, A and Oakley Smith, M (2013). Art/Fashion in the 21st Century. Thames and Hudson Ltd. London.
• Schuman, S (2009). The Sartorialist. Penguin. New York.
• Ziv, Y (2011). Fashion 2.0: Blogging Your Way to the Front Row - The Insider's Guide to Turning Your Fashion Blog into a Profitable Business and Launching a New Career, Vol. 1. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. USA. [CORE]

All content on these websites

• Bloglovin’: https://www.bloglovin.com/
• Drapers: http://www.drapersonline.com/
• Vogue.co.uk: http://www.vogue.co.uk/