Final post.....

Summing up....well what a 1st year!
I defiantly could have written more on my blog, especially last year. I can admit I forgot about writing on here as I was too busy settling in and getting on with other work. Excuse excuses!! I found when I started writing on here, it got into a sort of habit and then I started to enjoy doing so. I liked customizing my blog with images, changing colours and fonts the most. Even though it’s the deadline tomorrow I will carry on blogging as it is a good way to write down my thoughts and refer back to.
(Picture on the top right is me, Izzy and Lucy outside our studio!!)
I can’t believe the 1st year is not far from finishing. It’s gone so quick!! I have really enjoyed the first year, as learning about all aspects in the fashion industry has been very interesting. I do need to start thinking about what path I am going to take as next year will be based on one or the other. This is design or promotion. I absolute love studying in Bournemouth, the Arts Institute is a fab place to be, the beach and clubs are a bonus! And most importantly i have really improved on all my skills and met some awesome friends!! I am already looking forward to the 2nd year!!

Hussein Chalayan @ Design Museum!

Whilst being in London buying fabric i decided to go to the design museum as i knew the Hussein Chalayan exhibition was on. It was so interesting....the garments he had designed were absolutely amazing! He is renowned for an innovative use of materials, meticulous pattern cutting and a progressive attitude to new technology! His work is motivated by ideas drawn from disciplines not readily associated with fashion, crossing between anthropology, history, science, philosophy and technology.

A design that really stood out to me was the 'Inertia'. (picture above) Speed has become the essence of every area of life! This collection was envisaged as a sequence, beginning with the clothes carrying images of a car components and body cavities. The body became the 'event' of a crash where garments caught in the midst of speed embodied the cause and effect of a crash in one moment, with garments bearing images of wrecked cars and number plates.

Hussein Chalayan is truely one of the most visionary designers working in fashion today!!

Fashion V Sport Sketch Book

Here are a few design ideas from my sketch book.....

Fashion V Sport

I have decided to collaborate with ‘ellesse’. I chose this brand because I don’t see there clothes or even advertisement of them anywhere anymore, so I feel they need something different to get them back in the game! I’m looking forward to creating my own brand and designing a logo, this gives me a chance to be really artistic and experimental.
First of all I started to look at Lascoste and Chanels spring/summer collections, its always interesting to see what’s happening on the catwalk! I then started to think about extreme sportswear so I decided to look at snow boarding as I have never before. I really enjoyed flicking through snow boarding magazines; I ended up buying one called ‘cooler’ as the images of the snow style were great for my research. The colours of the combat trousers and patterned hoodies really stood out to me. It’s the bright colour against the white snow, I think it looks amazing! During my research I decided that I was going to go with a neon theme- my chosen colours were pink/orange and yellow. I really like bright colours and thought it would be fun to bring something I love into my designs. Whilst flicking through my research I remembered that at the V&A exhibition I brought some neon shoe laces for my trainers, so instead of using them for that I am going to use them as a tie fastening for my top! This will create a gathering at the front!
My final design to construct, is a off the shoulder 2in1 top with a pair of pink neon leggings. My whole outfit will be made out of lycra.

Toile Review

Last Thursday i had my toile review which I was quite worried about it but I thought it went really well and I found very helpful. I now feel so much better about my design. I was having difficulty choosing the right fabric for my design but after speaking to my tutors I knew exactly what I was going to buy. I made one leg of leggings in neon orange and the other in pink to see what I prefer, actually looks pretty good as two colours go well together. Izzy trying on my toile made me feel excited and now I’m really looking forward to making the real thing! I do need to make a few quite simple changes to my pattern, which I will do this week. Also I need to go and get my lycra! I then can start making......
Here are some pictures of my toile!

Creative Design and Promotion

For our Creative design and promotion unit our final project is called Fashion V Sport. For this project we create our own brand identity, with collaboration between my label and an existing sportswear brand to design and make an outfit. I will be Using sportswear influences and performance fabrics into my design and final project.
Sportswear has become an essential part of the modern wardrobe. Trainers and tracksuits are often more readily worn than suits!! The V&A

exhibition explores the create connections between the two worlds of fashion and sport. I thought the time we spent at the V&A was really valuable to us so I used it very wisely. I decided to take a sketch book with me which was very handy when it came to making sketches and notes.

Key trends for SS09!!!

This past month i have been looking through different magazines and checking out style.com to see what the key trends are for the summer and i noticed there was a hell of a lot of the colour orange, i saw loads of sexy flaming sunset shades which i think looks great with a nice tan also orange is a feel good colour. I find when i wear it, it makes me feel happy! Theres alot of it also on the catwalk....Lacoste has got an amazing orange low cut all in one with a hood!

Another trend i noticed was metallics, from brightly shimmering satins and silks to glittering sequins and embellishment. Some of these outfits which i saw on the catwalk look like they are made from metal. Prada had a gold dress which looked really creased so it certain angels the dress looked 3D. I think metallic is a ultimate must have for evening wear this summer!

I also saw quite a few nude coloured outfits which i think creates a mood of innocence and romance which is not really my thing. Soft colours dresses look fab on the catwalk. The designer Giambattista Valli showed a absolute stunning bare dress that really stood out from the rest.

Last but not least there was quite a bit of pattern clashing which was stripes with polka dots. Also floral and prints from around the globe. Then some bright colours chucked in on top of all that! I thought this style was really quite wacky but so interesting to look at. Also massive bags are still sooo in...but just in a brighter colour like orange!!!