Saturday, 18 May 2013

2013 Finals

I have just completed my second year of university. This last semester has been so busy! The amount of work I've had to do compared to last year is so contrasting, I did not expect to have this much work. Along with my practical work I was also on placement so I've been super busy for the last 4 months!

For my final I had to submit two outfits - each with two garments with toiles as well as finals and all the illustrations, technicals and specification packs etc!

My First outfit was a Jersey top and a leather skirt. I love working with jersey, just overlocking all the sections together, its really fast and simple to do. Then the finishing isn't too hard either, cover stitching all the hems and binding the neck line. I wish I could have all the industrial equipment at home. I would make so much just for myself. I had a few issues with the skirt. I made the waist of the skirt very tight, I wanted it to be really fitted and as a result it did not go on to the mannequin. I slightly cheated and pinned the front and back on to the mannequin hence why it looks a bit funny!

My second outfit was a leather dress and a cape! For my university work we had to have a technology in our garments. I chose laser cutting and made embellishments using this process. The embellishments were octagon shapes. I wanted to incorporate them more into my garments, not just as embellishments so I attached them to the front and back sides of the dress so they hold the dress together. 




I stitched the embellishments together. I thought they looked really unique in my garments, I've never seen anything like this anywhere! 

The cape has the embellishments on the collar! 



I really enjoyed making this cape. I pleated the top and rolled hem stitched the edges. This was the most expensive material I bought, at £15 a meter - Silk Organza!







I learnt a lot this year and my technical ability had really grown. I can't wait to do personal work this summer and make clothes for myself! 

Wednesday, 13 February 2013

Oscar De La Renta AW13 - 14


For an autumn winter collection there are many vibrant colours! Oscar De La Renta's collection had the amazing gowns as it normally does but with a mix of colour, fur and velvet. This collection had so much texture. 

I love the dresses in this collection (who couldn't!). The neck lines are very similar, simple but flattering. The sheer top inset to the first outfit gives detail to a simple silhouette. I love velvet in any season or collection! I love the white detail in the second and third dresses, goes perfectly with the monochrome trend! The fourth and fifth dresses are sheer with black detailing, the details cover nothing but it looks really great. I love how the fifth dress has no pattern on the shoulders. Its a busy dress so a plain section works really well. 


The vibrant teal goes great with the black accessories. The third outfit has such a mix of colours but goes well; teal, green top and gold jacket with fur trim! I love the jacket to the fourth outfit with the gold detailing.

These four outfits just sum up what I have been seeing in all the AW13 - 14 collections. Vibrant colours, gold tones and fur!

Tuesday, 12 February 2013

Wes Gordon AW 2013 - 14


For the past few days I have been going through the New York fashion week pictures and this is the first collection I have liked enough to post about. The colours throughout this collection have caught my eye. At first it was the yellow that I loved, as I went though the collection I saw these vibrant golds. The colours in the collection are all over the place; yellow and two shades of gold along with red, purple and blue! If this collection was slightly refined it would be almost perfect. The garments in the collection are also very different, some designers use one garment multiple times to connect the overall collection, or replicate a similar feature. I do like this collection however I dislike aspects. 


Two different shades of gold here, both shades are really nice colours, one being more vibrant the other being quite dull. Here the designer has connected the garments by using the same accessories; shoes and the fur collar (which I have been seeing a lot of throughout the AW13-14 collections).



Vibrant gold! I love the gold in this collection and how it is used. The first dress has a lot of volume and this gold material has helped create that. Only the side of the dress is gold, this works really well with the bold shape of the dress. The third and fourth outfits both contain gold garments, they look as if they are fringed and give a lot of texture. All the different sections reflect the light differently. I love the purple velvet shoes with the fourth outfit. Has to be my favourite in the collection.


The purple velvet shoes again, they're a really good contrast from the yellow. There is leather and feathers in this collection I didn't really notice it at first only once I had gone thought the collection a few times. Overall I really like this collection with the vibrant colours, just wish it was slightly more refined. 

Saturday, 9 February 2013

Busy Busy Busy!

Currently I am so busy! London Fashion week is right around the corner so you can imagine all designers and fashion houses are super busy. I have recently started an internship for a Designer, this is towards my degree as a credited module. I am also doing three other modules at university. I am unbelievably swamped with work, trying to keep everything to a good standard. I am so excited for fashion week. All I will be doing is going through the shows pictures and seeing what the designers are doing for AW13-14. Fashion is so complicated! Im currently designing a range for one of my modules and the season is SS14; all I'm going to be surrounded by is AW13-14!

I have been way too busy to post but hopefully I can get back to blogging and sharing what I have been up to!

Saturday, 19 January 2013

Alexander McQueen Mens AW13-14


This collection reminds me of the 1920's; the slick hair waved back and all the fitted tailored suits. I love the modern twist on a classic silhouette. The picture above shows four outfits from the collection, all with pin stripes. However throughout the collection is patchwork detail. In the second outfit it is very subtle but the blazer and trousers are made using the process of patchwork, hard to notice because the material has been cut so well, the pin stripe is all in the same direction. The fourth outfit it far more obvious, however they haven't made the pin stripe in a random order; it is contrasting but works so well. 


The patchwork process runs throughout the collection. These suits have a variety of fabrics. The first outfit has similar colours, the second and third outfit is more contrasting. 


When I think of a 1920's suit, I always imagine them wearing a velvet blazer. I love how in the first, second and third outfit from the picture above contain velvet. The first outfit uses a variety of velvet, from red to maroon. The second and third outfit use it slightly, around the collar, I like how they have used it here, it hold the structure of the collar and borders the blazers well. They also contain patches of quilted material  here they have added another texture to the blazers. The fourth and final outfit from the collection contains patchwork with gold print. 

The only splash of colour throughout this collection is red! 

You have to admire the detail and quality in these blazers. The patchwork isn't random. It has been well throughout and planned. Imagine having to make the pattern for these blazers!

Wednesday, 2 January 2013

Fit me make-up!


Maybelline Fit me! I have recently bought this make-up range. I love how they have the foundation, concealer and powder to match. I got my concealer a few shades lighter then the foundation and powder. 

I have used this make up a few times and I really like it so far. In cold weather my skin gets dry, if I use moisturisers and make-up primers foundation always looks cakey on my skin. However with this foundation it went on really nicely. It matched my skin tone perfectly. When I was buying the make-up and looking at all the different shades, the one I bought had a very different tone to the others. I have no clue why all of the others were in such a different tone but this one does fit my skin tone perfectly. 

I don't usually use concealer but I did like this one and the powder. I really liked the powder. I have read and watched YouTube reviews on this and a few people have said their skin goes oily after having it on for a few hours. I found it to be fine on my skin, however I have always used it with a primer on my skin first. It may be different if I don't use the primer. 

Overall I really like this range!