Out of my design coma

Ah how refreshing it is to...momentarily hang up the towel, so to speak. The past month was definitely an interesting one. The fashion show went down. Have some photos!

Photo Courtesy of Sarah Cassidy

Photo Courtesy of Steve Norton

Photo Courtesy of Alice Eaglestone

As I came to the end of making this collection, I really started to hate it. Why? I don't know, may simply be because I kept looking at it nonstop. I guess I can compare it to eating the same thing over and over again for a week. You just get tired of it, right? However when my mate Helen came to the rescue with male models, and I put my outfits on them, everything just clicked! I loved everything I made and my models were absolutely fantastic with all their swagger.

Footage Courtesy of Monty Kimball-Evans

It was a tiring two days, really. The venue was gorgeous, but there was no air circulation so all our models were practically dying and such of the heat. But they were all awesome! Mine were so amazing, in fact (and I felt so guilty for making them wear Autumn/Winter in the summer) I bought them all ice cream and nice cold drinks and insisted I bought them all a round later on at our after party. I cannot stress how amazing my models were. They knew exactly what they were doing, they knew what they were wearing, they didn't mind that I gave them wet socks because there wasn't enough time to dry them properly for the third show -- They were just amazing.

After our show in Bristol, some people were chosen to show their whole collections at Graduate Fashion Week in London and some others were chosen to bring their garments along. I brought my big distressed coat with me because that seemed to be one of the favourites. That same coat is actually going to New Designers as well so that will be interesting. I had no idea I would have been chosen to show my work at either show in London, but I'm honored that I was! More later about New Designers! Stay tuned, people!

C-c-check it out.

Hello. Peruse my wares, why don't you.




A sneaky sneaky peek of more of my collection. It honestly is all coming together and I am thrilled out of my mind. The fashion show is coming up and that means a whole mess of stress and confusion, but I am so very excited for the whole experience.

Here's yet another sneak peek of all the mayhem I went through to make my 2D work very loverly together. Art just isn't art without a bit of a messy bed and a kitchen table filled with drawings and various forms of caffiene.





Fancy huh? I'm working on getting my new website up and running at the moment, so lots more to juggle. How exciting. Now to prepare for my [mock] interview for my assessment. More soon, my lovely readers!

Oh what was that? I have a blog you say?

Whaaaat, hello blog, long time no see. It's not that I haven't forgotten about you, I just didn't have any time for you, ya get me?

But yes, hello readers, miss my rambles about final year? I'm pleased to say that [what I hope is] the hardest part is over! I've successfully made 6 outfits and handed them in on time and my tutors appeared to have been impressed by it! Ah what a relief! Have a peek of four of the fly boys that modeled my stuff. (Oh dont worry, you'll see the whole lineup later, relax!)


Who's pleased!? I am! There are still more things I need to do though like lengthen the red top under the blue cape and to burn the green jacket some more but that's all fun stuff! The guys who modeled for me were absolutely ace as well! Couldn't have asked for better models :)

Seriously though, I feel like I've learned a helluvalot over the past 3 months...Menswear was something completely new to me (because I'm not the biggest fan of my last "collection" ha) and I think I just about pulled it off! Goodness I can't even fathom that it took 3 months to make everything, what?! This definitely wouldn't have happened without the support of my coursemates though. We are the luckiest year, I think...simply because we're so keen to help each other and we really do look out for each other. There's no stererotypical fashion bitchiness in sight, which is phenomenal! I wouldn't have asked to go through all this manic panic without the Fashion Textiles girls of 2011!

Now its all about the 2D work and everything else ever...technical drawings, illustrations, samples, sketchbook...the FASHION SHOW!?! A whole new can of worms. Oh hay. Lots more to do, but thank goodness the hardest bit is over.

And as the pose suggests, "Yay, bitches!"

And it begins!

Fo' shizzle, mah nizzle.

Shit just got real. We were given until next week to knock out 3 finished toiles. My day is on Wednesday and I'm like whoa. I'm pretty confident that I'll finish though. I did so much deconstructing of shirts and things to recreate my designs and I'm pretty pleased with them!


I was given a few shirts and I draped and played and got some interesting silhouettes and great ideas for patterncutting :) I was having some difficulty getting shaped that weren't directly taken from history because that was my issue last time. I needed to be a bit more innovative and fresh with my ideas so hopefully this is going in the right direction. However, I still don't think that my stuff is a crazy cool as everyone elses...maybe cos I'm more commercial? I'm thinking that may be it. I've kind of moved away from the really avant garde stuff...but will my normal stuff get me noticed? Ooo thoughts in my mind!

We get first years soon to assist us with our collection. We get to abuse them! Just kidding! It will be awesome to have a first year helping us all out. I hope mine is incredibly helpful and will have a nice grasp on Holly's patterncutting methods! *dramatic pose* Yess!

Some more toiles...I can't wait til I start making my final fabrics!



Oh! And in case you couldn't tell by the hunky male figure I'm using, I'm doing menswear, ya'll. Wish me luck as I've never done proper menswear before. I keep getting told that I'm hella brave but...am I? Isn't making clothes for men the same concept as making clothing for women? We shall see! Peace, ya'll.

Holidaaaays

Hello hello.

How you all had a Merry Christmas and a kickass New Year! My Christmas holidays consisted of excessive shifts at the Hippodrome and having this years pantomime, Dick Whittington, drilled into my brain, but it was alriiiight! I enjoyed every shift - the people that I work with are so lovely. :)

My sketchbook was touched a total of four times over the past two weeks:
1. To put it in my bag
2. To take it out of my bag
3. To work on it on boxing day (minimally, I might add)
4. To put it back in my bag

I also told myself I won't make any resolutions this year because I rarely keep them, let alone remember them a week down the line so I'm going to share with you my er...own personal accomplishments over the last year!

1. I've become more comfortable with myself! The shyness is slowly going and I feel my ever-surpressed true self coming out more and more each day.
2. I've found something different and more interesting to do with my hair. Yay curls! Bye straight hair styles!
3. I'm (mostly..?) fully supporting myself this year. No rollover loan money this year - just good old fashioned working!
4. I've met a crapload of new people which is great! And I've also managed to still spent time (even though its so little nowadays!) with my old ones.
5. I've managed to lose a bit of weight without thinking about it! Yippee!

Yep that's about it. =D I am proud! Now to focus again and do this final collection - although to be perfectly honest, I don't have much to show for tomorrow's tutorial. My bad. :)

Deuces!

Another week, tick tock and the time's slipping!

I had a vaguely productive weekend then. I did end up getting various versions of tweed and some wool and silk at the fabric store. Sad thing is, I didn't tackle my dissertation like I originally wanted to, but ah well. I still have a week to pop out 1500 more words.

I watched Misfits a bit too much this weekend - how many times can you watch the same episode without looking like an absolute fail face? Cos I think I've gone way past that limit. I just keep having to watch Future Simon O_O I can't help it! I suppose it may be because I missed Monty so much this weekend that I had to watch Misfits excessively. Ha. I'm such a sad person XD

Aaaanyway, I've burned (well singed, really) pages of my sketchbook last night, tweaked my boards again today, attempted to find fabrics that I wanted to order (only to find out that ALL the ones I wanted for my main fabrics have been discontinued!!! RAGE!) and I am now trying to focus on designing my line-up now. I went through the uniform books in the library to find some inspiration and think I'll mix the whole uniform thing in the Victorian era as well as everyday wear too.

I was advised by my tutors that I should choose whether to do menswear or womenswear, abd that it's difficult to do both, but I don't see why I need to choose....Why should I? 3 mens outfits and 3-4 womens! Argh. Seeing as we don't have any support from the tutors at the minute, I can design for both now, I suppose. I need a teensy bit of guidance even though this is a heeeeeavily self directed course. :/ Meh.

Have a gander at some of my inspirational images:

Peace.

Happy Saturday, ya'll

Ah what a Saturday morning. A nice lie in til noon and a bit of constructiveness by attacking a bit more of my dissertation. Didn't get much done though, not gonna lie.

I've been sooo into researching this week it did feel quite slow though, to be honest....the week freaking dragged! But it was quite good cos I managed to get quite a bit of work done. I finished my Moodboard, Marketboard, Colourboard, and Brief and I'm currently trying to bulk up my sketchbook, which is working out nicely. I feel quite positive about my work so far. Monday I shall look at and order fabric with hopes that it will get to university by Wednesday so I can attempt to get some textile swatches done. Oi vey. -_-; Need to go to town tomorrow I think. Actually I may go now so I can kill two birds with one stone and go snooping around for other local fabrics for this project before I head off to work.

Oh my account will have a nice dent in it. :) Off I go! x

P.S. I need to go Christmas shopping...and make a list for myself! D= So much to do...