Few Recent Designs

Eveningwear for the older lady

Since graduating

I have got myself a wonderful new job working for Van Mildert which is a north east based company also owning Tucci and Aston as well as managing Cruise.

I feel like I am learning so much more in this job and there is room to grow and progress.

Especially working with designer labels!

I did persue for a Vivienne Westwood placement in London for 3 months which I couldnt persue unfortunately for personal reasons.

I emailed every single manufacturing/design company based in the North East (that I could obtain email addresses for) and got nothing back except for one woman who wanted me to design eveningwear for her. Unfortunately I would of had to manufacture as well as design which is something I cant do due to lack of equipment, time and help.

Fashion Show

Bit delayed due to commitments and loosing all of my backed up work but nevermind........

My end of year Final Fashion Show was a huge success. Even though some issues did arrise with regards to models, hair makeup etc everything went according to plan. I thought the venue was a bit small and the music slightly annoying and repetitive in places I was so proud to see my eveningwear and final major collection hit the cat walk. My eveningwear was equestrian themed (slightly out of season but an elegant winner!) and my beachwear was patchwork themed. I concentrated on making it key on trend for the summer using sea blue and tangerine orange. The fabric I used was a patchwork silk expensive but gorgeous! So thats it……. An end of an era…… Bring on the next one!

The Final Four

Below are my final four images for AD206

I choose to use a combination of black and white, enhancing and colour filters.

My favourite one is the black and white headshot. I think Claire looks lovely here its very soft and elegant and with it being in black and white I think it gives it more of a tone.

My Bollywood Outfit for The Miss Newcastle

I decided to save me time and hastle to order a premade top from the internet.

So I headed straight to eBay where I found this lovely 'bellydancing' fancy dress top.

It has been made in China and I paid extra postage to have it shipped over extra quickly in time!

The whole thing cost me about $13 dollars including the postage so about £8 pounds altogether.

I just love the colour and style and looks like it will fit my model perfectly as well.

 I had an idea to have a light turquoise colour with the blue in the way of a shawl...... Its still a work in progress.

I had a few difficulties with getting the fabric for the pants. The yellow chiffon I ordered turned out to be a bright luminous yellow so I had to quickly come up with something else. I got theidea to use pink from the stylising up my blue playsuit with pink jewellry. Fenwick didnt have any pink chiffon so I bought a georgette fabric instead which is sligtly denser and heavier.

Yes She 'Will' - The Fairytale Dress

After months of speculation of the big day arrived and the unvailing of Kate Middletons wedding dress. The white and ivory dress, in satin gazar, was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, reportedly in consultation with Middleton herself. The lace applique for the bodice and skirt was handmade by the Royal School of Needlework, with individual flowers hand-cut from lace (in shapes of roses, thistle, daffodils and shamrocks). The dress is made of ivory and white satin gazar with a skirt in the shape of an opening flower. The satin bodice, narrowed at the waist and padded at the hips in a McQueen signature, is based on Victorian corsetry. The back is finished with 58 gazar and organza covered buttons.
The veil, made of ivory silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers, is held in place by a 1936 Cartier tiara, lent to Ms. Middleton by the Queen. (It was bought for her mother by the Duke of York and presented to Queen Elizabeth on her 18th birthday.) Ms. Middleton’s earrings shaped like oak leaves with a pave set diamond acorn suspended in the center are by Robinson Pelham. The shoes are also by McQueen.”

 I was very surprised at the dress. I was expecting a very simple floating A-line style very much like her sister Pippas' matron on honors dress. However I love it and think its perfect! Not too much fabric yet enough to hold a 2.75M train. I'm also not the biggest fan of lace but its very delecate and works well for the top piece of the dress.

Back In The Day

The 1930s-1950s have greatly influence me thought my years of doing fashion projects.From the comedy styling’s of Laurel and Hardy to the renowned 'dancing' legs of Rita Hayworth both fashion and personality have shone through.Here are a few classic images of such.Audrey Hepburn

Ava Gardner

Barbara Pepper

Bette Davis

Chorus Girls

Joan Leslie

Judy Garland

 Linda Darnell

Maria Montez

Olivia de Havilland

Get Bollywood Inspired!

For the Miss Newcastle this year the theme is Bollywood and naturally I went straight to the movies!

First one being Moulin Rouge (2001)

The grand finale show in this film is an Indian based story made into a musical.

This is the opening song. Note the Bollywood fashion garments and costumes throughout!

Watch Here!

Another is Sex and the City 2 (2010)

The girls jet off to Abu Dabi and there is a scene where they are in a bar and there are bellydancers and other holiday makers in Bollywood themed fashion.

Watch Here!

This is another movie that has an indian belly dancing theme. Note the garments they are wearing. Carry On Spying (1959) It maybe old but it such a classic love it! This shows Barbara Windsor and Bernard Cribbins dressed up to get information from a suspect.

Watch Here!

My Playsuit

I did have several difficulties creating my playsuit pattern.

When I began I used the playsuit pattern block which didnt work well. 

So I used the pattern off my crop top and a trouser pattern then a dress sleeve block all of which were altered to fit in  together to create my cropped playsuit.

I also created a waistband and cuff to be elasticated in.

The fabric I've chosen to use is the exact same patchwork silk but in a gorgeous sea blue colour. There was also several problems when putting the garment together, the top hem had to be elasticated in to prevent it from gaping open. White elastic looked too harsh so I had to use black instead. Also when cutting the sleeve out I realised that I cut the unslashed one os it was tiny! Luckily I had just enough material left over to cut out the correct piece even though I had to move the piece around and crop it slightly. Never the less I am thrilled with the outcome.

 My Finished Playsuit

I really do love this garment more then my top and pants! I may even wear it myself!

Harvey Nichols

Although I did have problems with my hotel while staying there It was the best time! In a nut shell learnt a lot and have a direction in life for my career path!Helped out with several displays including floors G-3 escalator. Lanvin wall and ceiling using floral envelopes and baubles. General cleaning and tidying of the main window displays as they are all about perfection! I even got the opportunity to pop along to head office to meet the head graphic design people who gave me a sneak peak to a window sign design that will be put up for the royal wedding. I also asked for a copy of the escalator plan from the deputy display manager in store who was only to nice and gave me it as it will look great in my file.

Since returning I have applied for the exact same job for a well known department store and have emailed several others about placements or even pat/full time jobs!

If only Newcastle had a Harvey Nichols!

Here are some photographs I took of my working in the store.

The floral envelopes I made.

Valentino shoes picked out for one of the escalator displays.

Main knightsbridge window displays at the time of my visit.

One of the finished esculator displays I helped out with.

My Photoshoot

Well the day finally came! I didn’t end up with my miracle bloodhounds and fox hunting horses after trying many equestrian centres and even approaching a fox hunter himself! But never mind. The weather was on our side very much so for this shoot. I used a friends stables and her horses all of which were very lovely and well behaved. I have to admit i am quite scared of horses so tried my best to get over the fear a little which I did! Claire’s hair and make up were fab and she looked very vamp and beautiful! Below are some shots taken I can't wait to see the rest!

Sneaky Peak At My Photoshoot Ideas

My dress is equestrian themed so I've been racking my brains to think of an effective elegant shoot design. I've been emailing Gosforth Racecourse to try and get in but no reply unfortunately. So its plan B my friend owns 3 horses and we can use her stables as a setting. She also has access to loads of relevant horse equipment so I think thigs are starting to look up.

Below are some images of how I would like my photos to look.

This one is a bit more impossible to achieve but the idea is there!

The next two are a lot more achieveable using the actual horse and equipment in shots.