Functional Fashion, Thursday, Period 1

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

"Good day, class," Lulu said, as she sat down on the lawn in front of the school, where her students had handwavily been informed to meet; she gestured for her students to do the same. "I thought we'd take advantage of today's nice weather to talk outside, since this first class is going to be mostly discussion anyway.

"This workshop," she continued, "is on what I like to call 'functional fashion'. What this means is clothing that both serves a specific function while appealing to aesthetics. Take, for example, my skirt." She stood, letting the belts fall together, shaking them slightly to get them to settle properly. "This is an example of non-functional fashion -- it looks pretty, but there's no purpose to it beyond that visual appeal. My bodice, however," and here she gestured to her huge... tracts of land, "is designed to be visually appealing while also keeping my breasts from falling out. This is even more of a concern," she added, "when one's gift for magic requires one to swoop --" and here she demonstrated, her arms dipping forward as she bent at the waist [there are a few examples of it in that vid, when she casts the 'Waterga' spell], "-- forward as part of the casting. While it's only actually good design, several of my friends still swear that I must use magic to keep from... accidentally putting myself on display for all to see."

Lulu settled herself back on the ground, folding her legs beneath her. "We'll start today with introductions," she began, "so that we can all get to know each other, and then what I'd like to ask of you today," she said, "is to pick one article of clothing that you are wearing, and explain how it is either functional or non-functional. Also, if you have any questions about the syllabus," which she now handed out, "or anything in particular that you would like to see added to it, feel free to bring that up as well."

At the end of class, before everyone could get up, Lulu called their attention to her again. "There is one last thing," she said. "As it says on your syllabus, over the course of this term, I'm going to be asking each of you to design three outfits, The outfits must fit a theme of your choosing -- and yes, all three outfits must fit the same theme. This project will not be due until the last day of class, so you will have plenty of time to learn more about fashion before then; still, it might be worth starting to think about it now."

[Plz wait for OCD is up! I'm around a while longer tonight, but then tomorrow day I'm finishing up my move into my new place and the working 4-close, and then I'll be around for at least a few hours after 10 Eastern, I hope, if I can manage to get out of work at a decent time.]

Comments

Introductions

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

"My name is Lulu," she began, "and I'm from the isle of Besaid on the world known as Spira. My interest in fashion began when I reached puberty, and had... ample challenges with which to deal." Follow the drill: name, class, where you're from, and what got you interested in fashion.

Re: Introductions

[not-fangirl.livejournal.com]

Temari crossed her arms over her chest, planning to murder her brothers for this.

"Temari. Senior. Sunagakure. I have no interest in fashion."

Re: Introductions

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

"Welcome, Temari," Lulu said, smiling softly. "I take it, then, that you are not in this class by choice. I hope that, nonetheless, you can find something interesting to take away from it. Where is Sunagakure?" she asked, continuing. "Is it, like Spira, another world from this one?"

Re: Introductions

[not-fangirl.livejournal.com]

"Another world," Temari said far more easily than she belived she would at the beginning of this. "In the Wind Country."

Re: Introductions

[scary-jeff.livejournal.com]

"I'm, er--"

He couldn't say anything. He just couldn't say anything. He had to say something.

"Breasts," Jeff blurted, "Cleavage. Frontal bumper. Bazookas." He made a desperate gesture in an attempt to scramble-- "...Lumps."

Re: Introductions

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

Lulu raised her eyebrow, eying Jeff. "... Funbags?"

Maybe if she spoke to him in his own language, he'd understand.

[Totally using 'Icon of Boob' for this one.]

Re: Introductions

[scary-jeff.livejournal.com]

Jeff made more wild gestures, many of which, oddly, seemed to be delineating roughly the width, dept, and height of Lulu's busom.

"Happy pillows," he said, desperately.

Re: Introductions

[imac-kenzie.livejournal.com]

"My name's Mac," she started. "I'm from California, and... really not that big a fashion enthusiast."

Re: Introductions

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

"No?" Lulu asked. "Then why, may I ask, this particular workshop? Or is this another of Fandom's infamous paperwork mishaps?"

Re: Introductions

[imac-kenzie.livejournal.com]

"Mostly," Mac admitted. "But, I did take a goth fashion workshop last summer, and I liked that so..." She shrugged, "Maybe it'll grow on me eventually."

Re: Introductions

[senor-chado.livejournal.com]

"Uh, I'm Yasutora Sado," he said. "Everyone calls me Chad; I'm, uh, from Japan. And Mexico, and I started to get into fashion I think it was last summer when I took a modeling class. I'm kind of trying to...you know...do that. So you gotta know about fashion. Well, you don't gotta. But you should."

Re: Introductions

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

"Indeed," Lulu said. "It's always important to understand what it is you're dealing with, rather than simply going along with what other people tell you. I hope that you learn how to think about fashion in this class, rather than just wearing it."

Re: Introductions

[senor-chado.livejournal.com]

Considering that Chad was wearing one of his infamously loud button-down shirts today, he might have a long way to go before just wearing it, but he nodded with an affirming grunt.

Re: Introductions

[gameknowsgame.livejournal.com]

"Blair Waldorf," Blair said. "I'm a junior from New York City and my mother is a fashion designer."

Re: Introductions

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

"What sort of fashion does your mother design?" Lulu asked.

Re: Introductions

[gameknowsgame.livejournal.com]

"My mother is Eleanor Waldorf," Blair said. She felt that anyone who knew anything about fashion would know her mother's name.

Re: Introductions

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

"Hyuuga Hinata, s-sophomore, I'm from Konohagakure a-and I don't know why I-I'm in my class o-other than my F-Father signed me up for it."

Re: Introductions

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

"There seem to be a few people who are here unexpectedly," Lulu said, smiling softly, and, she hoped, encouragingly. "Konohagakure -- is that anywhere near Temari's Sunagakure?"

Re: Introductions

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

That got a nod of her head. "W-we're not that f-far apart. But it's i-in a different country."

Re: Introductions

[dojima-hime.livejournal.com]

"Dōjima Yurika, senior. I'm from Tokyo, Japan, but half a step over from this reality, and I don't remember a time I wasn't interested in fashion," Dōjima answered. "I love shopping, and I love the chance to try out new things."

Re: Introductions

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

"Well, Dōjima, it sounds like you'll be a pleasure to have in this class, then." Lulu smiled at her. "You say a half-step over? One of the alternate Earths, then. What makes yours different enough to comment on it?"

Re: Introductions

[absolutesnark]

"I'm Summer Roberts," Summer began. "I'm a senior and I'm from Newport Beach, California. I've been interested in fashion since I was born. Sometimes my old school even had fashion shows."

Then she added almost as an afterthought, "For charity."

Re: Introductions

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

"And you participated in these fashion shows?" Lulu asked.

Re: Introductions

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

Cassandra's voice was quiet but fairly clear, "Cassandra Cain. Senior. Most recently: Bludhaven. The first time I tried to fight in a skirt."

Who invented those things anyway?

Re: Introductions

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

"Fighting in skirts can certainly be a challenge," Lulu agreed. "Thankfully, I don't have to worry about fighting physically, normally. Even my dolls work to protect me, when I need it. Do you find yourself in a number of situations where you need to fight?"