The artist of fashion.

Early christmas gift????? Anyone..... :)

Yohji Yamamoto: Pure Genius

I am very excited to see this film.

This week in fact, I am in london attending Graduate Fashion week which will be fab! but whilst I'm in london, I might try and go see Yohji Yamamoto at the V&A, has anyone seen the exhibit? Thoughts?

Yohji Yamamoto: This Is My Dream from Hintmag.com on Vimeo.

Fashion Promotion with Styling: Class of 2011

As we have finished our university year, and also my university life, as a creative group we have a class of 2011 Tumblr with each of our contact details alongside our imagery, please visit it.

Style Icon: 3D Collages

As part of an older university brief we had to style a still life fashion shoot, based on a style icon, which we then had to make into a 3d collage, my style icon i focused on for the brief was the ever so lovely 1960's beauty Anna Karina. Below is the final 3d collage, not only was it based on the fabulous Anna Karina, but we had to reference trend for a season, I chose to look at S/S11: with all it's gorgeous camel tones and feminine shapes I thought this was perfect.


To enhance this story and to further my portfolio direction, I am now in the process of producing a menswear story of the same format, only referencing a male style icon, the handsome and 'King of Cool' Steve McQueen, alongside reference to the A/W11 season. This week I shot the photography of all the clothing I will feature in the collage, here's a sneak peak of the style of imagery and still life pieces for my final 3d collage. I have to now focus my mind on creating these 2d images into a 3d collage.

White as white

WOW!!

This all white couture-esqu dress is incredible. The collar detail is just fab.

Coming soon to ASOS.com

'The Housekeeping Society'

Last night I went to a great album launch for a three man band: 'The Housekeeping Society'.

Before I went to see the launch I had an idea as to how the night was going to go when regarding an album launch, but I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.

When thinking about music, specifically nowadays, people don't give time to think about the work and credit that goes into producing a song, let alone an album, so i just loved the fact that the guys had made a 10 minute film clip together for us to watch before the actual gig, it was really great to see what concept the band focused on, the idea behind their reasoning and to also see the band producing the songs and the album. You understand the amazing support that the band has from family and friends, but you also understand the passion and drive for each member from the band when producing this album.

The idea behind the album is one that looks at the lives and times of a community in a North England Mill Town, back in the 1880's. If you want to read further about the inspiration for the album, from the band yourself, visit here. You can also see a more personal side for each band member at their blog.

The gig was a great success, each song is fab, my favourite song has to be 'Little Boy Lost' it's just beautiful. I find the album a great easy listen: the band has a very folksy feel and is really right for the time.

In terms of fashion-wise each guy wore shirt, jeans and some sort of cover up-I noticed one waistcoat and a long coat, because of the concept of the album I would love to style the guys up in 1880's attire. Their look would be very dapper, very traditionally 1880's dress-top hat, lapels, cravat. Each guy did have his own style, I would keep this in mind, but by styling them as a whole band, I think there look would become more exclusive and complete.

I had such a great night last night and I'm really glad I have a new album to add to my music collection.

To see more of 'The Housekeeping Society' visit;

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Black Swan

Wow.

Just wow.

I saw the eagerly awaited film this afternoon and it really is incredible.

Natalie portman is just amazing, her portrayal of both the white and black swan is just mesmerising.

I loved the costume throughout the film; the ballet tutus, the shrugs, the perfect pink ballet shoes and the contrast of the monochromatic theme that is adamant in every scene is stunning. The colour changes throughout the scenes as Portman's character, the ever angelic Nina, begins to mutate into the dark, black swan.

Nina is a ballerina in a heavily competitive ballet company in NYC, her life is dance and nothing else: never has the saying, born to dance, been so right for this woman, this woman who strives for perfection so much so it becomes part of her downfall.
Nina is given the main character of the Swan Lake performance, the Swan Queen, a part she has wanted and worked for for such a long time, yet she hasn't got the role as she wants it completely, when Lily (Mila Cunis), another dancer in the ballet company, is always over her shoulder. The role for swan lake requires a dancer who can play the virgin like, ethereal white swan yet one that can turn and switch into the dark, sexy black swan. At first Nina seems to struggle with the formation into the black swan but after a night with the personified black Swan, Lily, she grasps the role and doesn't let anything get in her way.

Visually the film is just stunning. You understand certain choices of camera placement, fashion choices, lighting ideas: everything about the film hints at comparisons and the sheer starkness of black and white- the two sides and differences.

There were certain parts in the film that my eyes couldn't move from the screen, and others, where my eyes were covered with my hands. The film was everything I expected, Portman's portrayal of Nina is astonishing, and like I said visually this film is by far one of the best I have seen in a long time.

GlobalCool: 'Turn up the Style, Turn Down the Heat'

So this tuesday evening I was invited to the lovely GlobalCool, 'Turn Up the Style, Turn Down the Heat' event in leeds, at the Remade in Leeds studio, right by Hyde Park.

The night was fun, full of yumminess and plenty of gorgeous sweaters and fab fashion trimmings.

I took my seamstress/designer friend, Ewa, with me incase I needed a little help with my sewing technique- which I did because I think I chose one of the hardest fashion trims to attach to a gorgeous merino wool, navy in colour, sweater, provided by the yummy vintage shop- Blue Rinse, in leeds.

We walked into a warm,cosy room full of amazing fashion pieces from Antiform, designed by Lizzie. I was greeted by Rochelle, a lovely, down to earth woman who helped in organising the event- she showed us where the cupcakes were so we became best friends :) ...myself and Ewa had a yummy coffee from the cute, vintage cups and saucers, in an amazing room: it was surrounded by materials,fabrics and fab vintage table cloths.

After we were warmed up with good coffee, and unbelievable cupcakes (provided by The Marvellous Tea Dance Company) we walked through into the workshop studio (through a fab room, absolutely covered in manuscript paper).

There was en excitable creative atmosphere in the room, I was really excited about refashioning my chosen sweater...so with the camera's rolling, GlobalCool introduced themselves, as did Lizzie and then we became our own fashion designers and began to redesign our knitwear.

I chose a plain, v-neck navy merino wool sweater to refashion and make into something a little more stylish rather than very classic and chic. I was drawn to this type of knit because...oh my...so soft! Also, I have this type of knit in my wardrobe but I don't think I would ever pick it out of my wardrobe and start sewing, cutting and adding trimming to it, just because I would feel a little anxious to work on this amazing fabric, but with this event, it gave me the confidence to get on with it and start redesigning the sweater. I knew I wanted to add a collar-like piece to the knit, to emphasis the neckline, so I chose a gorgeous vintage looking doily to attach around the neckline: the big flower shapes and lacing added real excitement to the simple navy knit, the sweater looked fab once finished: I'm going to wear my new design to university, to show my fashion friends and without a doubt this sweater will be on my back for a long time, if i could wear it in the shower, I would- the soft knit, the colour and that little extra detailing is just gorgeous and very me.


Ewa, picked an army printed sweater and wanted to make it look a little sexier- she added black lace right done the centre and a cute sequinned bow tie at the neckline- it looked fab!







The event was brilliant, i'm very grateful for the invite: the music was fab, the people were friendly and very helpful, the cupcakes were incredible, the sweaters were amazing, even more so when we each got our fashion hands onto them.....

GlobalCool has another event in Brighton on the 25th January: all my Southern readers if you can get yourself to the event- you will definitely enjoy yourselves- if you love to customise clothes, if you have always dreamed of becoming a fashion designer, and you would like to save money (lets not forget the reason of the event- to turn down the heat and grab your sweater, and save on heating bills) this event is for you!

Thank you GlobalCool for inspiring me to go through my wardrobe and do some amazing customising to some of my clothing, for helping me with giving me great ideas to save cash, and for the fab evening.

Loved it.

The Black Raven

This fashion film I saw today on SHOWstudio.com is absolutely beautiful. I kind of felt like I was in a trance whilst watching it, it's stunning.

Billie Piper, you see in another light altogether, her delicate movements and direct face really enhance the film and add to it's fascination.

The narrative of the film I love: the beginnning showing us the raven herself getting dressed, then onto 4 different looks, until the very end look and the blackest of black raven turns into a different shade. The director, Jez Tozer,
is just incredible.


A/W 2010 » Editorial
Taking inspiration from Negredo - a 'black blacker than the blackest black' and first element of the mythological process of alchemy - this film is a melancholy and emotional evocation of the dark mood of the A/W 2010 collections.

Hussein Chalayan

Does anyone else agree that Hussein Chalayan is the Damien Hirst of the fashion world??





'Hussein Chalayan' is at the Lisson Gallery, London, now and also at Spring Projects, 'B-Side' from 17th September

The Runaways

Who is excited to see The Runaways? starring Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie and Kirsten Stewart as the androgynous Joan Jett. After watching the trailer and seeing countless images in newspapers and the internet...I cannot wait. The fashion really resembles most of the catwalks for fall/10.






If you wanna read a fab article on the films costume designer, see here.

AW10 Wardrobe lusts

I'm really excited about the new season pieces. The trends this season I love too, especially the camel colour palette-it's absolutely gorgeous. Some pieces i'm gonna buy into for AW10 will hint towards the ladylike trend-mainly the box ladylike handbags and some kitten heels but then on a complete opposite I wanna buy a heavy, chunky knit sweater in a nude tone and belt it with a skinny tan belt. I'm gonna buy some key simple knits too and style them with pearls or gold trinket necklaces too. In regards to keeping my feet all snuggly I'm gonna invest in some super soft loafers and some shearling trimmed booties.

What you guys gonna buy into for the new season?

Boxy Lady Leather bag, Topshop, £50


Brown Loafers, River Island, £39.99


Ribbed Tunic, Next, £30


Fine Knit grey sweater, Next, £16

Triumph Inspiration award 2010

I love to see students' work, not only to check out my competition but also to see the new designers and creatives of the world of today. I love to learn about peoples influences and how they come about certain ideas, so when I checked my internet world today I read a fab article about the 'Triumph Inspiration award 2010'.

Young designers from many different countries and many different backgrounds, have created some amazing lingerie designs for their entry pieces for this award. The pieces are incredible. Rankin has photographed the entries while Helena Christensen has modeled each design: the images are recognisably Rankin- shot on a clear background, very focused which is key because the pieces speak for themselves. Overall, there were 27 entries I saw on LOOK Magazine's webpage. Whilst looking through the images I seemed to be more drawn towards the block coloured, more masculine looking pieces, this is my personal preference though really: alongside the masculine pieces there's some cute feminine designs too and I spotted a few futuristic pieces, channeling the late Lee McQueen's work(see france and china entries).

It's great to see the different entries from around the globe because you get to understand the designers inspirations and you get a sense of their country: the atmosphere, the attitude and style. I believe a persons surroundings, wether consciously or not, forms part of their design. Physically- regarding the fabrics and materials used but also metaphorically.

Out of the 27 entries featured, I picked some of my favourites.

Bulgaria


Finland


Great Britain


Greece


Spain