I wanted to do a Fashion Bot.  There were some technical errors that prevented me from getting very far into that.  So I went in a different direction.

It’s fashion month right now, where the big four cities–New York, London, Milan, and Paris–are hosting designer fall collections.  Style.com (and many other sites) reviews the shows.  They have a handful of writers, and I chose four collections reviewed by writer Nicole Phelps (for a fixed variable).  My goal was to create an algorithm to make my own little fashion show review.  I went through each of her reviews (the shows were: Givenchy, Stella McCartney, Acne Studio, and Kenzo.  I took out proper nouns such as brand or designer names).  I didn’t take every single word or sentence.  I had ten categories: Technical, Description, Positive, Negative, Influence/Trend, Model, Item, Place, Designer Quote, Connectors.  I made a word document, printed it out then cut the phrases out and put them in little piles according to category, face down.  I closed my eyes to pick.

My ordering was: Place + model + connector + description + item + connector + influence/trend

+ designer quote

+ negative + positive + description + item + technical + connector + description + item + influence/trend

+ positive

One of the most interesting bits was the negative and positive categories.  In one review, Phelps wrote “his avant-garde tendencies have held the spotlight in the past”, where the tone was negative I decided.  Although that phrase about another designer, or even a different collection by this same designer, could be in a positive tone.  In the first trial that phrase came up, and it has a somewhat neutral tone.  “When things took a turn for the surreal” also was a negative phrase in its original context, but in the third trial when that was picked, it took on a positive tone.

At first I was frustrated that my twitter bot didn’t work, but I’m pleased that the way I went allowed me to create something that was length-wise more similar to an actual fashion write-up.

1

The intimate setting the models glided around the Palais Garnier utterly unencumbered were borrowed from so crazy large pom-pom hats as would become clear a Twin Peaks flavor

he’d spent the summer learning to surf with his young children at his new beach house in Stockholm and on a trip to L.A.

his avant-garde tendencies have held the spotlight in the past they’d be an absolute kick to wear long, slouchy classic workwear shapes embroidered with thin strips of bronze and silver metal especially with the collection’s mood was slightly darker than what we’ve come to expect the silhouettes of the clothes Inspired by the movement of water

those easy-on-the-feet shoes

2

the large sculpture of a head in front of the camera pit the models looked quite fetching reinforcing her points about a glimpse of a bra underneath those clunky oxfords  It’s official earthy

This time it was about celebrating elegance and bon ton

When the clothes on their runway and the clothes in their stores looked as though they’d gone their separate ways, today’s show was much bolder Draped the body like beach towels rubber-soled flatform oxfords mountaineering rope formed squiggly embroidery and yet undulating screen prints on board shorts fall’s developing story about optic patterns

they’re all but guaranteed to be a massive hit

3

when you saw the runway they breezed past you down the carpeted catwalk it’s official the shirt collars that morphed into peplums classic workwear shapes reinforcing her points about fall’s developing story about optic patterns

We wanted to give our customer the ease and energy and movement we feel she wants from us

When things took a turn for the surreal he and his design team took bigger risks and reaped bigger rewards.  a graphic acid-yellow and black pattern tiny cocktail dress the shibori technique there was a moment so magnified it was essentially abstract anoraks a Twin Peaks flavor

they’re all but guaranteed to be a massive hit

4

(I added more instructions to this fourth one, for fun, so that the third paragraph becomes: + negative + positive + description + item + technical + connector + description + item + influence/trend+ item + technical + description + item + connector + influence/trend)

when you saw the runway they breezed past you down the carpeted catwalk were borrowed from psychedelic swirls paired with the evening pieces it was just as convincing as inspired by the movement of water

We wanted to give our customer the ease and energy and movement we feel she wants from us

his avant-garde tendencies have held the spotlight in the past a collection that connected on many levels long, slouchy the silhouettes of the clothes densely beaded sleeveless bodices there was also a glimpse of a bra underneath the pockets borrowed from the worlds of sport and loungewear the trio of dresses combined simple pleated black skirts pretty is laced with Jamie Bochert’s gown including he still has his eye on the street

They’d be an absolute kick to wear