Tuesday, 10 May 2011

Final Major Project

I feel that my work has really progressed through researching to pattern cutting, here are some examples of my work.




Negotiated Project AD206

I feel I have learnt alot through doing this project, I enjoyed working with the photographer and learning how to edit photos. Here are some examples of work from this project, research, essay, contact sheets and edited photos.





Dose of Composure

With this week being my second time in RAFW, I felt like I sort of got the gist of what was going on as opposed to the fuzzy haze that my head was in last year, getting to grips with a foreign schedule and an opposing time zone.  Problem is this time round, I came laden with expectations, which can make watching key shows like Dion Lee a somewhat tense experience when you're crossing your fingers and your toes (which is quite hard to do with my big toed-trotters) for him, hoping that a second show in the same space as the Sydney Opera House would ignite the same feelings as it did the last time.  You'll probably have all seen the pictures from last year of course - the sunshine flooding in over pretty ink blot prints and layers of pleats that ignited an outpouring of love from press and buyers with Net-a-Porter as  a big coup.
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So what of this sophomore Sydney Opera House showing?  We definitely got sunshine and if we add 'in' to 'tense', that sums up the experience of what was ultimately a decidedly more aggressive show, consolidating what Dion Lee has built up over his seasons as a starry young designer as well as exploring new textural territory.  Mirrored catwalk plus MEGAWATT sunshine beaming into Sydney Opera House equals everyone fashioning visors out of press releases and at one point, Tommy Ton next to me used Phil Oh's lustrous hair as a shield (except… err… black hair just makes for a heat headache).  During the course of the show, whilst frantically shutterbugging and changing ISO settings, not knowing how the pics came out because I was squinting so much (I refuse to watch shows with sunglasses on - a) I'm not Anna Wintour b) does it not alter the shade of things?!). 

I came out seeing white lines fading in and out of my dodgy contact lenses and feeling like perhaps this was the best sort of sunstroke I had ever experienced.  Still, the collection needed shade and a showroom to really go up close and it's with this second viewing that I was able to form a more concrete opinion on Dion Lee.  Questions such as "Does Dion Lee live up to the hype?" seem a little irrelevant.  Yes, he's a hot ticket.  Yes, he's showing at the Sydney Opera House (which from Dion's point of view was a decision to maintain continuity).  Better to ask whether he is evolving his aesthetic as a young designer who has been somewhat crushed with press expectation but at this stage in his career, do we need to expect an explosive collection everytime? 


Essentially, Dion Lee looked back a little to what he has been honing into since he started which is tailoring with complex construction - cut-outs, darts, folds and pleats that are transseasonal (I've given up distinguishing between Southern Hemisphere's S/S 11-12 season and our A/W 11-12...) and are given an uplift by the cool palette of greys and light turquoise.  The beginning portion of the show felt like a strong consolidation of what Dion has been exploring from the very start of his career.  Metal cuffs and collars catching the rays emphasise the strong lines that have been drawn upon the body with cut and colourblocking...
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Then comes the bit which was a little lost of me at the show.  Saved by the showroom!  What looked like a glass-derived digital print was actually a scanned in bit of crumpled up packaging, something that Dion was looking at for this season with a vinyl coating on selective areas creating a PVC effect...
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It's this selective vinyl coating that really creates the sort of 'artificiality' that is definitely a shift away from the soft and organic fluidity of the last S/S 10-11 show...
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The fascination with synthetics continues into a pixelated rubber texture that looks like a spray paint effect from afar but up close feels like the surface of a rubber grips on a bike.  That sounds like a horrid description.  What I mean to say though is that it's certainly an unexpected texture on an impeccably cut dress and adds a new dimension to the digital print underneath which guides the way the rubber is printed. 
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Without the rubber, monochrome gradiations also create the illusion of texture on simpler pieces like this tailored jacket, a Dion Lee no-brainer if you will...
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A dose of sexy jelly latex is also used in the collection which was I definitely didn't catch at the show.  You're probably thinking I'm the most unobservant idiot but I really cannot emphasise how much sun was coming through and how DIRECTLY it was hitting the row we were sitting in specifically...
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The appearance of texture of silk, paper or plastic is distorted in such a way that the point is not to recognise what it is and here with more vinyl coating, you get the reverse effect of seeing something naturalistic - a warped vein in a slab of marble, crystal formations...
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Another no-brainer Dion Lee piece in the form of this turquoise side-cut-out jacket...
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Dion had some accessorising help on hand in the form of these simple rings and cuffs that 'framed' the models' fingers and arms...
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...as well as mirrored-wedges by Camilla Skovgaard to match the mirrored catwalk...  perfect refraction vehicle I tell you...
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Perhaps the breakway portion of the show was the final series of white dresses where the agression and tension was let loose a little.  It also showcased an experimental bit of pleating that Dion hopes to explore further as he used cardboard moulds to dictate the origami-esque folds in the pleats integrating metal mesh plating, another detail I remember from his previous collections.  Of course, here is where light helps with the sun filtered through the sheer organzas and chiffon portions of the dresses which looked more like the product of natural draping rather than ruler-like precision. 
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Just scrolling back up as I finish off this humdinger of a post makes me wonder how so many components (and I had to leave some of my shoddier photos out...) into one collection and still make it cohesive.  In a mix of solidification and experimentation, perhaps the message wasn't as one-noted and unified as last year's show but for me held more intrigue as to where these techniques will take Dion next when he's still at an early stage as a designer, although it may not seem this way when he's touted as Australia's fashion wonderkid....  Let's hope Composure doesn't turn to Over Exposure leading to Under Pressure.  Hah.  Laughing at my own lame one-liner there...




I found this on another blog and found I am very inspired by this collection, it has given me a insight into a runway show from another country and shows the clothing in detail it is intersting to see the fabrics and techniques used.
"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."
Coco Chanel

Monday, 9 May 2011

BRITISH FASHION DESIGNERS....BY HYWEL DAVIES

British Fashion Designers
Hywel Davies
The first book to embrace the whole of the UK and its creative influence on international fashion, this book is aimed at industry professionals, students and anyone with an interest in fashion. Both inspirational and informative, it will also appeal as a coffee-table book, being visually inspiring and modern.
The UK is a creative and cultural melting pot for international designers to develop their creative identity. London Fashion Week is renowned for showing an edgier breed of fashion designer and for celebrating cutting-edge couture that pushes the boundaries of convention.
This book focuses on the British designers since 2000 who have made their influence resonate globally: designers such as Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Hussein Chalayan, Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano, Julien Macdonald, Giles Deacon, Matthew Williamson and Paul Smith. Each chapter is devoted to one designer and defines visually how Britishness informs their work, showing final collections, process work and studio space. Text in the form of questions and answers or running text illustrates each designer's British influence and distinct style.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, it embraces Britishness I have found it very inspiring and informative.






Thursday, 28 April 2011

London Fashion Week: autumn/winter 2011 designer preview - Telegraph

London Fashion Week: autumn/winter 2011 designer preview - Telegraph

Editors' Choice: Fashion Designers for 2011

Editors' Choice: Fashion Designers for 2011

DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLS

I feel that my skills have developed through the projects I have compleated especially through the design and CAD oriantated modules my illustrations and designs have improved and will help me in the future when going on to another course or when getting a job as they look for people with good drawing skills, also my CAD skills will help me to gain a job or work placement as fashion design companies always look for someone with good knowledge base of CAD.

Strengths & Weaknesses Project By Project.......

 AD202 DESIGN APPLICATION (CAD)

STRENGTHS - I have good skills using the pen  
            tool
          - I am confident with scanning

WEAKNESSES - I need to become much more
             confident when editing pictures
           - Also when using the colour fill
             tool

AD203 ART & DESIGN METHOD

STRENGTHS - I am good at designing & sampeling

WEAKNESSES - Could have used a wider variety
             of fabrics when sampeling

AD205 ART & DESIGN APPLICATION

STRENGTHS - Designing
          - Drawing skills
          - pattern making

WEAKNESSES - I struggled when writing my own
             proposal
           - Finding the correct target market

AD206 NEGOTIATED PROJECT (PHOTOGRAPHY)

STRENGTHS - I am good at working with others
          - I learnt the importance of fashion
            photography

WEAKNESSES - I needed to gain a better
             understanding of how to edit
             photos on CAD

AD207 WORK BASED LEARNING

STRENGTHS - I learnt how to put on a fashion
            event
          - I gained experiance of how to over
            come and resolve issues with the
            arangement of venues for the show

WEAKNESSES - I would like to do a work
             placement within a fashion design
             company

AD208 SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

STRENGTHS - It was good to work with a
            successful established designer
          - I learnt how to show my style
            while designing a garment to fit
            with another companys design
            asthetic

WEAKNESSES - Chosing the right fabric to fit
             in with the brand

Saturday, 23 April 2011

D&G WOMAN FASHION SHOW SUMMER 2011



I have been researching into fashion shows, music, lighting, running orders and various other things
for my final show.

Friday, 22 April 2011

Weekly Aims & Objectives

Monday 13th September

Art & Design - start research
             - Intro to project
Work Based Learning - Intro to module
                    - Look into work

 
                      placementsMonday 20th Septmeber
Art & design - Continue research &

Work Based Learning - talk to work
               moodboards
 
                      placement teamMonday 27th Septmeber
Art & Design - Start sampelling
             - Start figures /

               Blanks
 
               thumbnails / bodyMonday 4th October
PPD & Blog - update online blog
           - set goals for my future
           - think about uni options
Art & Design - Start design
 
               developmentMonday 11th October
PPD & Blog - Gather info for PPD

Digital Application - Intro to final
                      Brief
                    - Recap on Adobe
                      Illustrator &
                      Photoshop

Art & Design - Continue design

  
Monday 18th October
PPD & Blog - Develop Research Skills

Digital Application - Recap on CAD
                      Skills &
                      Practice

Art & Design - Finish designing
             - Start pattern cutting

Skills Development - Start pattern
                     Cutting &
                     Documenting
                     Through photos
                     & notes
 
Monday 25th October
PPD & Blog - Skill set work

Digital Application - Do some drawing
                      Exercises on CAD

Art & Design - Continue pattern
               Cutting

Work Based Learning - Tutorials for
                      Work placement

Skills Development - Tutorials
 
Monday 1st November
PPD & Blog - Write personal statement

Digital Application - Recap & practice
                      Scanning &
                      General CAD
                      Skills

Art & Design - Start making garment

Skills Development - Start making
                     Toile & document
 
Monday 8th November
PPD & Blog - Complete UCAS application

Digital Application - Practice tracing
                      On CAD

Art & Design - Continue making final
               Garment

Skills Development - Documenting of
                     Toile
                   - Toile crit
 
Monday 15th November
PPD & Blog - Continue with personal
             Statement & UCAS
             Application

Digital Application - Practice adding
                      (Details /
                       Stitching /
                       Buttons ect) to
                       Garments on CAD

Skills Development - Start to make
                     Garment whilst
                     Documenting
 
Monday 22nd November
Skills Development - Continue making
                     Garment whilst
                     Documenting

Monday 29th November
Skills Development - Continue making
                     Garment whilst
                     Documenting
 
Monday 6th December
Skills Development - Continue making
                     Garment whilst
                     Documenting
                   - Do final speck
                     Drawing
 
Monday 3rd January
PPD & Blog - Work on interview skills

Work Based Learning - Assessment &
                      Tutorials
                    - Visual records
                    - Photos &
                      Sketches
                    - Aims &
                      Objectives of
                      The company
 
Monday 10th January

PPD & Blog - Put together my CV

Art & Design Application - intro to
                           Brief
                         - Start
                           Research
                         - Start shop
                           Report
 
Monday 17th January
Art & Design Application - Start
                           Proposal
                         - Start
                           Development
                           Work
 
Monday 24th January
Art & Design Application - Continue
                           Development
                         - Continue
                           Sampling
 
Monday 31st January
Art & Design Application - Continue
                           Development
                         - Continue
                           Sampling
 
Monday 7th February
Art & Design Application - Start
                           Pattern
                           Cutting &
                           Toile
 
Monday 14th February
Negotiated Project - Start working
                     With photographer
                   - start research

Art & Design Application - Continue
                           Pattern
                           Cutting &
                           Toile

Monday 6th February
Negotiated Project - research
                     Photographers
                   - look for location
                   - meet with
                     Photographers

Art & Design Application - Continue
                           Pattern
                           Cutting &
                           Toile
 
Monday 28th February
 
Negotiated Project - Photoshoot

Art & Design Application - Start
                           Making
                           garment

 
Monday 14th March
Negotiated Project - Edit photos &
                     Write essay


Art & Design Application - Continue
                           Making
                           Garment
 
Monday 21st March
Negotiated Project - Individual
                     Tutorials

Art & Design Application - Continue
                           Making
                           Garment

Work Based Learning - Assesments &
                      Tutorials
                    - final review Of
                      progressing
 
Monday 28th March
Art & Design Application - Continue
                           Making
                           Garment
 
Monday 4th April
Art & Design Application - Final
                           Showing of
                           garments
 
 
 
 


Skills Development - Project intro
                   - Garment selection
               development

Wednesday, 13 April 2011

Capsual Collection

 GARMENTS.....
 I have finished alot of garments for my capsual collection. I am extremely happy with the out come of them. Here are some of the toiles and final pieces from my collection.....


Highwaisted Hotpants 3rd toile


Highwaisted hotpants 1st toile (back)


Crossover front gathered top toile


Draped top toile (back)


Leather look PVC hotpants (back)



Final leather look PVC hotpants


Leather look PVC cut out swimsuit



Crossover back waistcoat



Final dress






Dress toile



Bikini top toile