Frock Me! Vintage Fashion Fair
an individual poster project for a visual communication design course, requiring two versions of an informational poster promoting the same subject, one incorporating photography, the other using only graphics and illustration. both posters needed to answer the core questions of who, what, when, where, why, and how, while reading as a cohesive series through shared color, type, and design style.
Objective
design a two-poster series promoting an informational subject of my choice, with one poster built around photography and the other built entirely from original graphics and illustration, both sharing a clear visual relationship as a series
Client
class project, SMAD 332: Visual Communication Design, James Madison University
Target Audience
vintage fashion enthusiasts and london locals/visitors interested in antique clothing, textiles, and fashion history
Final Products
program used: Adobe Illustrator
Horizontal Poster Approach
the horizontal design centers on an assortment of vintage clothing, accessories, and antique objects, arranged to highlight the wide variety of what visitors can find at Frock Me!; not just garments, but jewelry, textiles, and other collectible pieces. this version leans into variety, giving a sense of the treasure-hunt experience of browsing the fair itself.
Vertical Poster Approach
for the vertical poster, i was drawn to the idea of using a dress form as the central visual, both to emphasize the event's fashion focus and as the natural home for the photography component of the assignment. by using the head of the dress form to contain the event information, it creates a visually intriguing focal point that balances out the otherwise simple layout, with the vintage dress style reinforcing the antique and fashion-forward focus of the fair.
About the Event
Frock Me! Vintage Fashion Fair was established in 1997 as the first vintage fair held in london, as well as the entire uk. it now brings together dozens of leading vintage and antique dealers from across the uk and beyond, with pieces spanning all the way from the victorian era to more recent pieces from designer labels. the fair has become influential within the fashion industry itself, drawing designers and costume departments looking for historical inspiration.
Big Idea
i chose Frock Me! Vintage Fashion Fair as my subject after attending multiple of their events while studying abroad in london. i've always loved vintage and antique items and clothing because every piece carries its own history and individuality; Frock Me! captured that feeling perfectly. it is more than just an event, it is a truly one-of-a-kind experience, and through this project, i aimed to capture that uniqueness and authenticity in both poster designs.
Creative Approach
my general approach was to visually communicate what it actually feels like to attend Frock Me! Vintage Fashion Fair in person; the variety, the energy, the sense of discovery. i chose a range of clothing, accessories, and other antique items to show that the event, while clothing-heavy, offers far more than just fashion. designing one poster horizontally and the other vertically was an intentional choice meant to reflect the event's versatility, while also challenging myself to create two designs that felt cohesive as a series. in order to tie the two together, i illustrated a vintage-style mirror as a recurring visual element in both posters, along with a consistent color scheme and typography. i designed the mirrors with an ornate, antique energy, the kind of "getting ready at grandma's vanity" feeling or like a woman preparing for a night out in another era, which felt true to the spirit of the event itself.