Wednesday 25 February 2009

London Fashion Week...

24/02/09

House of Holland



The house of holland AW09 collection can be described as nothing but stripey! Taking last seasons "colour blocking" Holland has made this the theme of the latest collection and is constant throughout! Jumpsuits Fur and buttons are present as seen in other catwalk shows! His pastel colours are completely effective in a gradient stripe from head to toe - everything from black to green and in between!!

Tuesday 24 February 2009

London Fashion Week...

23/02/09

Luella


Luella's AWO9 Collection is very utilitarian inspired. Lots of Layers, Lots of Pockets and lots of buttons. Great military details – epaulettes, brass buttons – zip detailing at the bottom of cropped trousers and delicious accessories. Luella's trademark prom dresses with an edge came in stripes, metallics, florals and silky fabrics.

Erdem


Erdem Moralioglu Autumn/Winter 09 Collection has "propelled him into a place where he could be the new Christian Lacroix of London" says style.com. His short, doll-like, Empire lined dresses with puffed-up skirts were a step away from his floaty romantic summer collection - "I thought, She's not running free and romantic in the meadows this season," he said. "Now she's visited nightclubs and gone home on the bus."

The cutout black lace applied dramatically to red duchesse satin, and stylized red, purple, and black chrysanthemums or tiny yellow violas embroidered by hand were most certainly entrancing.


Monday 23 February 2009

London Fashion Week...

22/02/09...

Christopher Kane



Christopher Kane's collection had a running theme of bold stripes and ruffles, whether in tartan print or embellished with sequins they were constant pretty much throughout. Kane does Monochrome, blazers and over size jumpers beautifully, with ruffles and pleats contrasting the basic shaped jumpers/jackets to give some volume and beauty.

PPQ


Ruffles, stripes and checks all piled together - PPQs latest collection is probably one of the more colourful collections for AW09! Mismashed in places with clashing of tartan and stripes. Stripey all-in-one looks quite prison suit inspired! PPQ clashed unthinkable orange and mint, Amy Molyneaux and Percy Parker took last seasons colour block trend and updated it with colourful shoes and accessories. Tartan made a reappearance as a cute pinafore dress teamed with a stripy jumper and orange tights, which was much more girly and fun compared to the punk edge which tartan was associated with two seasons ago.

The standout piece in the collection was patchwork quilted coat, which I couldn't imagine anyone wearing in real life, but it is undeniably fabulous. Along with the coat came a string of patchwork dresses which have a vintage feel to them, teamed once again with the colourful tights , made a nice change from the utilitarian neutral look being shown by other designers.

Thursday 19 February 2009

London Fashion Week...

Seeing as I am not dressing at London Fashion Week I thought I would still follow the weeks events by looking at various websites and doing my own mini reports.

So I've compiled together a few images from some catwalk shows into photoshop and put together a few notes...

TOPSHOP UNIQUE...21/02/09


Some of the trends that really stuck out were the huuuuuge chunky knits! Big cowl neck snoods (scarf/hood) the parka jackets, the jumpsuits (obviously). The harem pants are still making an appearance, now the bagginess is incorporated into other items such as dresses, jackets etc using rouches, pleats and folds, even feathers and tassles here and there for decoration. As for colours a lot of bright and pastel colours are on show, ranging from lemons/peaches/lilacs to baby blues and on the darker side we have mustard, and grey, also a hint of grunge as black is back.


Charles Anastase...21/02/09


Charles Anastase's Autumn/Winter 09 collection has a "good girl gone bad" feel to it. He has plunged into grunge by having a rock soundtrack, lots of leather and even tattooed boy models. The show opened with striped blouses, quilted hunting jackets and cord coats with Geography teacher elbow patches, all including the Anastase trademarks of half-mast sleeves and high-slung Martingale belt. Leopard Print Strikes again as seen in Temperley's NYFW catwalk show. And there is an element of Patchwork quilt like fabric - waste not want not, we are in recession after all! A lot of chains, ropes and dirt. Even the word "dementia" embellished onto t-shirts. The shoes were chunky, clunky, platformed and studded. Trends for this season are looking to follow a hard times call for hard looks sort of vibe with the current state of the world and economy.

Wednesday 18 February 2009

Alice Temperley at New York Fashion Week AW09...


These are a few outfits from Temperley London at NY fashion week... Harem Pants and Leather are still featuring, mixing it up with the contrasting Floral and Leopard prints. Reds and creams compliment each other nicely with blacks being detailed with geometric shapes! Pom Poms and toy soldier-like hats give the whole collection a bit of a bedtime story feel to it!

Monday 16 February 2009

Sunday 15 February 2009

Sportswear Pattern Cutting


So I thought it was about time I updated this blog with some of my work...I've uploaded a few pictures i took whilst pattern cutting - modelling on the stand - for my final design.

My final design. Jersey Jumpsuit (Harem Pant Style) with Cropped blazer/shrug.


I've used the loose fit T-shirt block and modified it to create the thin straps and racer back. The t-shirt will then gather into the waist band and i've used the ladies trouser block and used the cowl technique to create bagginess in the pockets.

Adidas Originals...

Keeping up to date with the sportswear project i've been keeping an eye on all the trends. Adidas Originals have released their Spring Womens 09 look book shot by Rodrigo Braga.





WATCH THIS VIDEO!!! Its the Adidas House Party Advert, featuring david beckham, katy perry, missy elliot, estelle, redman to name a few! set in a house in amsterdam, they are literally trashing it! And they look amazing doing it!!

Friday 13 February 2009

Illustrator-ing

And here is my jersey t-shirt a la Illustrator...Flat drawings on illustrator are so fiddly, especially when you are on a lap-top! But i'm pleased with how it turned out! This is for the lectra unit, to put on my pattern envelope!

Photoshopping

I've been playing around with Photoshop for the FIRST time ever this morning and take a look at what i made...

I've been playing around with layers, and paths and masks and all sorts and this is the outcome, a collage of pictures of some of spring/summer 09 trends. It's just the start, there's plenty more where that came from.

Wednesday 11 February 2009

Sex and the City...


...Sequel confirmed for 2010!!!! So many rumours already, including Britney Spears being Carrie's niece??? and Miley Cyrus as a young Carrie (hmmmm..interesting). Can't wait to find out wether Big and Carrie last the distance!!!! But even more exciting will be Patricia Field's styling, she is so so so so amazing at styling sex and the city, i can't even wait!

Boohoo.com

So being a poor student and all i don't really buy half as many clothes as i would like..no wait, want....no wait...NEED to!! But I discovered www.boohoo.com, now there are some pretty good finds on this website and for anyone who does purchase...10% discount code is NUS001


The top one is a really slouchy printed top, in red and cream and black patterns, its loooooovely. and the second one is just a black knitted mini dress which im equally in love with!!

Oslo Fashion Week...


This is the 11th Oslo Fashion Week to be held since
Mr. PÃ¥l Vasbotten established it in 2004. Sponsered by Max Factor, these are some screen shots of the hottest up and coming make up trends for autumn winter 09. Its all about Dark lipstick, sexy purple and smoky eyes!!


Monday 9 February 2009

M.I.A at the Grammys...

The "paper planes" singer performed at the Grammys with Kanye West and Jay-Z on her actual pregnancy due date....now call me old fashioned but A) that could have been potentially messy and dramatic and B) surely thats got to be a bit damaging to the little one's ears???

M.I.A is known to be experimental with her fashion choices - kind of liking this....quite ladybird-esque!! Although something screaming within me is saying -someone get the bump some ear muffs, protection or something????

Sunday 8 February 2009

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button....



I went to see Benjamin Button after hearing a lot of luke warm reviews but was still really excited to see it, its a bit haunting and strange but enough about the film the wardrobe is fantastic!!! Cate Blanchett has got some A-MAZING costumes in it. As does Brad Pitt. Costume Designer Jaqueline West designed the costumes through era's of 1919 to 2005. She was nominated an oscar for the best acheivement in costume design for her work and she really deserves it!








Yellow and Black Dogtooth High waisted trousers - so beautiful!


Jaqueline West refrained from using too many accessories on Cate Blanchett because she felt her skin ...is like pearls. She is luminescent. Let her skin be the jewellery.

Thursday 5 February 2009

My favourite looks of the day...




Fashion Capital

So... I've been a poorly girl and as a result missed the Fashion Capital presentations, SO i've decided to do my own. I've given myself MILAN because I've never been there and all i really know is that its in northern Italy. Shame on me...



...Now I know that Milan banned this poster from a French Fashion house for religious reasons...
...It has a poster which has a mechanism inside that measures decibels to see how loud the city is!

All major Italian fashion designers have their main ateliers and shops here: Giorgio Armani, Dolce&Gabbana, Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Kenzo, Krizia, Prada, Valentino, Versace, Vuitton or Zegna.

Fashion District in Italian is
"Quadrilatero della moda"


Lectra


The computer version of pattern cutting! Its great. Its crazy, but great. Really like how you can make sure its accurate before you print it out. I'd never heard of it before but I could definitely get used to using it!! Its a lot quicker than i am at drawing out patterns - I suppose thats why its so popular in the industry, for time and quality! Major retailers have been using lectra for 30 years and its constantly evolving in the competitive field of fashion!


STAMPD LA launch party

New footwear brand STAMPD LA had their official opening on the 30th Jan. The walls of the pop up shop in Hollywood were painted by Chris Stamp, in one of the signature graphics of the first season.





This really really caught my eye for the Sportswear V Fashion project because i've been looking into Artist Keith Haring's work. Which looks very similar with the line drawings and bold shapes and colours.

Keith Haring

Clothes Show Live...

06.12.08

I went to the Clothes Show Live and it was absolutely amazing. I've been a few times before but this year's show was great. Its so fun and really gets the adrenaline going! There were some amazing outfits everything from swimwear to Dayglo retrosports wear and outerwear. I managed to take a few pictures and videos - be warned I am no photographer!!


Dave Berry with Max and OB from Hollyoaks

Alesha Dixon performing "the boy does nothing"


Gorgeous models wearing pure white dresses and suits








I also got the chance to see Hillary Alexander (Telegraph's Fashion reporter) introduce the collections of Jean Charles Castelbajac, Christopher Kane, Burberry, Gucci and Kenzo. Which made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up being so close to those beautiful clothes - literally 2 meters away!!!!! My camera ran out of battery - so alas no photos.