I really wish i could afford these shoes to go with my collection - im not sure that the fact that theyre the right colours is reason enough to kill my overdraft however...Sunday, 11 April 2010
Accessorise!
Whilst thinking about accessories for my collection, i had a daydreaming five minutes looking at the 2010 accessories from some of the top designers. I fell in love with the Derek Lam Bucket bag and these amazing shoes from Viktor and Rolf... I really wish i could afford these shoes to go with my collection - im not sure that the fact that theyre the right colours is reason enough to kill my overdraft however...
I really wish i could afford these shoes to go with my collection - im not sure that the fact that theyre the right colours is reason enough to kill my overdraft however...
Quotes From The Top
I was taking a quick flick through style.com and found an interview with Julie Gilhart, the fashion director of Barney's, New York, and thought some of her opinions were really interesting. I thought i'd share a couple of snippets from the interview, especially those on the future of the fashion show (which i totally could have used when writing my essay) and on eco-fashion. She mentions designers who manufacture in New york or their home towns, something i wish would extend to the British fashion industry!
"That goes to the question of fashion shows and how important the live experience still is. Does the energy you see on the runway somehow boil down into the garment in a way that you can’t necessarily describe?"
It has to be well designed. You’re not going to get excited about a show that has great music, great models, and not great clothes. But if you have all three of them, you’re like, wow, this is great, totally inspired. It’s the $64,000 question. How valid are fashion shows?
If the Rodarte girls didn’t have a fashion show, would you be able to get the essence of that collection? You would look at it in the store and say, that’s really great and that’s really interesting and unique, but I always go back to that [Spring 2010] fashion show, and I’m like, wow, I loved all that smoke. I loved the way the models looked so goth and how they mixed in that plaid and the boots were all thigh-high and strappy. It gives you the feeling that these girls have a certain power, but if you were just to look at it in a store, it’s just a dress on a hanger. It came from that source, so it’s our job to express the power behind that. That’s where a Style.com comes in, [saying] that’s what we saw and it’s kind of amazing…I love Style.com, it’s the Wikipedia of fashion…It’s really like, just the facts, ma’am, please. Here are the pictures and here’s what we can tell you about the show and here you go. That’s one of the things that has changed fashion, Style.com…it’s like Xerox and the copier. Style.com is an amazing Internet engine. You put it up there with Google and all that other stuff. It’s pretty incredible—it’s changed a lot of things.Beyond Style.com, has the whole model, the whole way of looking at fashion shows, changed? It’s not about a top-down dictatorial approach anymore.That’s why I think some of the big brands are struggling right now. “What do we do?” They’re feeling it, they’re feeling the shift. And they’re all trying to figure out what to do.
"Talking of how things are made, you’ve been a vocal champion of eco-fashion, if that’s the correct term. I don’t know if you like that term. How important is that, going forward?"
I think it’s actually about being conscious. Green, eco, all those words—it’s just about being more conscious. [Take] somebody like Isabel Toledo, who’s doing everything in New York…and only buys fabric to order and knows exactly where everything is being done and pays fair wages and is doing everything in a very sustainable way, as much as possible.
It’s not easy to be completely conscious in the way of sustainability and organic and eco, because not all of the materials are available yet, and the resources aren’t there.
I just had this experience with Colin Firth’s wife, Livia, who’s amazing. She [was] trying to go through the whole awards season wearing clothes that are made in a sustainable way, and [was] having a really hard time…She has to be in something that’s designed well and is glamorous, but is actually very conscious—and it’s not easy, it’s very difficult. But I think it should become easier…If I’m going to work in fashion, I don’t want to be part of the things that are contributing to a worse environment. I want to be part of something that’s contributing to a better environment, and so whatever little we can do, I’m going to try to do that. So it means supporting people that you believe really want to try to do a better job in that way, and actually it goes back to some of the things that the customers really want. They want things that are made well, that are made in a conscious way, that have long-term values, that are beautiful. All of that is part of the story. It’s not just about eco and organic.
"That goes to the question of fashion shows and how important the live experience still is. Does the energy you see on the runway somehow boil down into the garment in a way that you can’t necessarily describe?"
It has to be well designed. You’re not going to get excited about a show that has great music, great models, and not great clothes. But if you have all three of them, you’re like, wow, this is great, totally inspired. It’s the $64,000 question. How valid are fashion shows?
If the Rodarte girls didn’t have a fashion show, would you be able to get the essence of that collection? You would look at it in the store and say, that’s really great and that’s really interesting and unique, but I always go back to that [Spring 2010] fashion show, and I’m like, wow, I loved all that smoke. I loved the way the models looked so goth and how they mixed in that plaid and the boots were all thigh-high and strappy. It gives you the feeling that these girls have a certain power, but if you were just to look at it in a store, it’s just a dress on a hanger. It came from that source, so it’s our job to express the power behind that. That’s where a Style.com comes in, [saying] that’s what we saw and it’s kind of amazing…I love Style.com, it’s the Wikipedia of fashion…It’s really like, just the facts, ma’am, please. Here are the pictures and here’s what we can tell you about the show and here you go. That’s one of the things that has changed fashion, Style.com…it’s like Xerox and the copier. Style.com is an amazing Internet engine. You put it up there with Google and all that other stuff. It’s pretty incredible—it’s changed a lot of things.Beyond Style.com, has the whole model, the whole way of looking at fashion shows, changed? It’s not about a top-down dictatorial approach anymore.That’s why I think some of the big brands are struggling right now. “What do we do?” They’re feeling it, they’re feeling the shift. And they’re all trying to figure out what to do.
"Talking of how things are made, you’ve been a vocal champion of eco-fashion, if that’s the correct term. I don’t know if you like that term. How important is that, going forward?"
I think it’s actually about being conscious. Green, eco, all those words—it’s just about being more conscious. [Take] somebody like Isabel Toledo, who’s doing everything in New York…and only buys fabric to order and knows exactly where everything is being done and pays fair wages and is doing everything in a very sustainable way, as much as possible.
It’s not easy to be completely conscious in the way of sustainability and organic and eco, because not all of the materials are available yet, and the resources aren’t there.
I just had this experience with Colin Firth’s wife, Livia, who’s amazing. She [was] trying to go through the whole awards season wearing clothes that are made in a sustainable way, and [was] having a really hard time…She has to be in something that’s designed well and is glamorous, but is actually very conscious—and it’s not easy, it’s very difficult. But I think it should become easier…If I’m going to work in fashion, I don’t want to be part of the things that are contributing to a worse environment. I want to be part of something that’s contributing to a better environment, and so whatever little we can do, I’m going to try to do that. So it means supporting people that you believe really want to try to do a better job in that way, and actually it goes back to some of the things that the customers really want. They want things that are made well, that are made in a conscious way, that have long-term values, that are beautiful. All of that is part of the story. It’s not just about eco and organic.
Friday, 9 April 2010
Piers Atkinson - Headwear
For my collection i have to research, design and create headwear pieces which stand out and make a statement. Whilst researching, a friend emailed me these pictures from Piers Atkinson.... i give you bizarre headwear....
A small part of me wants to go this weird.... ;)
Collection - Fabric
I'm so excited to have finally bought my final fabric for my collection. I thought my choice of a mnochrome colour palette would make this part of the collection really easy, but god was i wrong! During my toile review we decided that in order to make the monochrome work it would have to be bright white and the darkest black i could find, which was sensible but hard to find.
In the end i bought a silk dupion in black and white which has a vintage feel and look to it, which im loving. to make the over skirt of one of my dresses, i found a shimmery jewlled organza which was a lucky discovery in a random side street in Carnaby street. It's perfect though.
I decided on brightly jewel coloured linings to contrast with the black and white outsides of my dresses, which only the wearer will know about. This also fits in with my theme of turning things inside out - The skelton is on the outside and the decorative skin is inside, hidden.
I also found the perfect shoes - the style name is actually "Harriet" and so fate kind of took over - i love it when a plan comes together!
Shoe link: http://www.dorothyperkins.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=true&catalogId=20552&storeId=12552&categoryId=51585&parent_category_rn=51581&productId=1637698&langId=-1
In the end i bought a silk dupion in black and white which has a vintage feel and look to it, which im loving. to make the over skirt of one of my dresses, i found a shimmery jewlled organza which was a lucky discovery in a random side street in Carnaby street. It's perfect though.
I decided on brightly jewel coloured linings to contrast with the black and white outsides of my dresses, which only the wearer will know about. This also fits in with my theme of turning things inside out - The skelton is on the outside and the decorative skin is inside, hidden.
I also found the perfect shoes - the style name is actually "Harriet" and so fate kind of took over - i love it when a plan comes together!
Shoe link: http://www.dorothyperkins.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=true&catalogId=20552&storeId=12552&categoryId=51585&parent_category_rn=51581&productId=1637698&langId=-1
collection - Fourth Dress
The fourth dress in my collection is proving to be the most difficult to construct - although i have learnt to love a challenge! In my mind and design the dress's skirt is highly structured and a very rigid shape, which is proving hard to maintain. So far i'e used spray starch, interfacing and boning in various places to try to maintain it. I also tried to create a suitable underskirt with both metal and wooden rods in the hem to keep the skirt shape intact. Although these worked to begin with, after being modelled for a while, it was clear they wouldnt stand up to the pressure of a catwalk and were discarded.
So the earch is still on...
Wednesday, 7 April 2010
Collection - Inspirations
For my final collection i'm using inspirations such as building foundations and interiors, the xo-skeletons of bugs and the human skeleton to create my dresses. I feel i've moved away from looking at the outside of objects and im now looking inside to find beauty in the breakdown of items.
Below are a couple of images i've used in my sketch books and theme boards:
Thursday, 1 April 2010
C.V - Fashion
As i'm applying for placements again at the moment i thought i put a copy of my c.v onto my blog - take a look, make a comment...
Harriet Crome
Date of Birth: 18/09/88
Nationality: British
Email: harriquinn@hotmail.co.uk
Education & Qualifications:
2008 – Present
The Art’s Institute at Bournemouth, Poole
FdA Fashion Design (Year One)
2005 - 2007
Brockenhurst College, Brockenhurst
International Baccalaureate: Chemistry, Maths, Philosophy, Art/Design, Spanish and English.
Total points awarded after examinations: 25
Information Technology: Certificate of achievement for Illustrator and InDesign.
Grade: Merit
Work Experience:
Date of Birth: 18/09/88
Nationality: British
Email: harriquinn@hotmail.co.uk
Education & Qualifications:
2008 – Present
The Art’s Institute at Bournemouth, Poole
FdA Fashion Design (Year One)
2005 - 2007
Brockenhurst College, Brockenhurst
International Baccalaureate: Chemistry, Maths, Philosophy, Art/Design, Spanish and English.
Total points awarded after examinations: 25
Information Technology: Certificate of achievement for Illustrator and InDesign.
Grade: Merit
Work Experience:
July 2009
Antonia Pugh-Thomas
Two weeks work experience at a couture fashion house, where I gained experience in both the design and technical areas of the industry. Duties included creating toile’s, constructing garments and making alterations to both patterns and garments. I also gained experience in creating fastenings and trimmings.
June 2009
Peclers Paris
Assisting with theme boards and presentation books. Sorting photographs for trend boards and creating fabric and wool samples. Also ordering wools and threads from manufacturers.
June 2009
Temperley London
Experience working in the pattern cutting and construction department. Assisting with creating patterns and toile’s for the future collection. I was also given some experience in draping and the construction of ruffles.
May 2009
SpendThrift
I worked backstage at the debut Fashion show for the new collection from Falguni and Shane Peacock. Responsibilities included dressing models, Organising the front of house and helping the Designers.
February 2009
ON/OFF – London Fashion Week
I recently got the chance to work backstage at the ON/OFF shows at London Fashion Week, which was an incredible experience. My role included dressing models, organising and steaming garments and the general organisation of the backstage area. This opportunity allowed me an exciting insight into the life of a designer and educated me on the methods of show production.
January 2009
Beau Couture, Poole
Role included assisting with photo shoots for new collections and the finishing off of garments. The placement gave me a great insight into the industry and the promotional side of being a designer.
September 2007 – December 2007
IDEX (Indian Network for Development Exchange), Rajasthan, India
Role included teaching young children and adolescent girls, in the undeveloped area of Shiv, Rajasthan. Responsibilities included teaching basic I.T skills; Microsoft Word and Excel; to eight adolescent girls in the village and providing support for teachers in local primary schools. Also arranging and managing English language classes for children who usually carry out manual labour. I also carried out weekly community visits and meetings and achieved a certificate from the company verifying my participation. The role also allowed me to experience the culture and sights of India.
Interests:
My foremost passion is for fashion, especially Haute Couture, designing and the industry as a whole. The idea of creating garments and styling them has been a fascination of mine since a young age and since starting a fashion design course at the AIB I have extended my interests into pattern cutting and trend forecasting.
I am a keen musician, studying the Cello and Piano, and I have studied Ballet and Character dance from a young age, following the Royal Academy of Dance examination. I also have a love of travelling and love learning about other cultures, which was furthered during my gap year when I visited India, Western and Eastern Europe and North Africa.
I am also the Student Representative for the FDA Fashion course at the Arts Institute and a Student Ambassador for the University.
Awards:
Peclers Paris
Assisting with theme boards and presentation books. Sorting photographs for trend boards and creating fabric and wool samples. Also ordering wools and threads from manufacturers.
June 2009
Temperley London
Experience working in the pattern cutting and construction department. Assisting with creating patterns and toile’s for the future collection. I was also given some experience in draping and the construction of ruffles.
May 2009
SpendThrift
I worked backstage at the debut Fashion show for the new collection from Falguni and Shane Peacock. Responsibilities included dressing models, Organising the front of house and helping the Designers.
February 2009
ON/OFF – London Fashion Week
I recently got the chance to work backstage at the ON/OFF shows at London Fashion Week, which was an incredible experience. My role included dressing models, organising and steaming garments and the general organisation of the backstage area. This opportunity allowed me an exciting insight into the life of a designer and educated me on the methods of show production.
January 2009
Beau Couture, Poole
Role included assisting with photo shoots for new collections and the finishing off of garments. The placement gave me a great insight into the industry and the promotional side of being a designer.
September 2007 – December 2007
IDEX (Indian Network for Development Exchange), Rajasthan, India
Role included teaching young children and adolescent girls, in the undeveloped area of Shiv, Rajasthan. Responsibilities included teaching basic I.T skills; Microsoft Word and Excel; to eight adolescent girls in the village and providing support for teachers in local primary schools. Also arranging and managing English language classes for children who usually carry out manual labour. I also carried out weekly community visits and meetings and achieved a certificate from the company verifying my participation. The role also allowed me to experience the culture and sights of India.
Interests:
My foremost passion is for fashion, especially Haute Couture, designing and the industry as a whole. The idea of creating garments and styling them has been a fascination of mine since a young age and since starting a fashion design course at the AIB I have extended my interests into pattern cutting and trend forecasting.
I am a keen musician, studying the Cello and Piano, and I have studied Ballet and Character dance from a young age, following the Royal Academy of Dance examination. I also have a love of travelling and love learning about other cultures, which was furthered during my gap year when I visited India, Western and Eastern Europe and North Africa.
I am also the Student Representative for the FDA Fashion course at the Arts Institute and a Student Ambassador for the University.
Awards:
I was recently awarded the Beales Scholarship Grant, which will aid my future collections and enable me to fulfil my ambitions of working within the Haute Couture industry and fund my research into British Fabrics.
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