'Celebrating Curves'

Here are my two final dress designs for my theme celebrating curves, looking at my two designs I will be using quiet a variety of different fabrics. I have drawn the front and back of the garment and before I start being to make my dress I will need to problem solve for e.g.

What is the best material to use?

How much material will I need?

Is there aspects of the dress I am going to need to change?

And will I have enough time to complete my final garment?

Here are a few images I have selected that have helped inspire me...

Looking at modern day fashions inspired me I love the new shapes that are coming in this season.. this dress goes perfectly with my theme the way the pleats fold but fit very tightly to the dress showing off the woman's waistline.

I love the idea of the netting hiding the bust line but in a away this almost enhances it to the eye.

Cleopatra inspired me to create layers to my garment and looking through a range of the theatre costume's the colours used are very similar to my colour pallet.

This Gilbert and George painting inspired me to play with the neck lines on garments. This can make a big impact on the overall outcome. In my final design I have a very low cut back- line to my dress again going with my theme ' Celebrating Curves'

Looking at illustrator's blogs...

Elaine Bliss is one of the feminine illustrators I looked at for her feminine graphics. As I was doing my research on her I came across her blog it was very easy to interpret where here inspirations were sourced.

So where did her inspirations come from?

- Highly influenced by style and sophistication of her own mothers fashion designs, Elaine saw the growing need to create corporate identities that featured a softer, more artistic side rather than heavy lines.

http://elainebiss.blogspot.com/view/snapshot

Above is a useful link to her blog she had a page full of snap-shots of various things that had inspired her. So it was easy to see how one particular image lead to her creating a certain type of illustration....

- Looking at the collection of images posted on Elaine's blog gave the overall outcome that they all convey sophistication, elegance, and a french look. The snapshot images reminded me of how I as a student looked at images to create shape development on a silhouette and looked a similar images I found in books/magazines to source my inspirations very similar to what Elaine has done here.

Sourcing Materials

As part of the end of year fashion show we were asked to research into a diverse range of fabrics so taking this on board I took a trip to Manchester Abakan with my colour pallet so I knew the exact colours I am using in my final garment.
Above is a picture of a fabric that matched my colour pallet perfectly it had tints of gold and dark outlining on the flowers.
The woman in the shop listed the price as £8.10 per metre and gave me a sample of the fabric although I couldn't find all the details of the fabric's as long as I have the samples I can take this to any Abakan store and be able to source the fabric. Above is a bundle of the fabrics I have found samples of (sticking to my colour pallet)
- I also got some cream coil to use in my final garment I felt this would be a attractive feature to add to my garment maybe on the shoulders? Here are some of the samples I collected, listed on them I have the price per metre and the item number so I can ring up in advance weather they have the product in stock.
Whilst in Manchester I also took a trip to Afflecks Palace where they now sell fabrics I collect a few lace samples for my rich colour pallet.

Materials Techniques and Processes

Artists, craftspeople and designers use a broad range of materials techniques and processes in their work this is what are new brief is all about. I am currently looking at a diverse range of fashion illustrators that convey femininity.

Whilst looking at these illustrators I will be looking at.

- The techniques used

- The messages that are portrayed to the appropriate audiences.

- What mixed media is used?

One artist impartially Manuel Rebollo...

He gives life to his figures that become true characters with their emotions and their moods. He accentuates the eyes to intensify their expression. He brings light to a lot of their faces which suggest their thoughts.

My Final Theme- Sexuality

I have been given the theme sexuality for my final fashion show garment and over the past few weeks I have been looking more closely into sexuality. To source different shapes from my research I put the shapes on a silhouette for my shape development this help me source inspirations, shapes and colours for my final design.

Above I have put together a colour pallet for my final design this is going to help me whilst looking for fabric swatches etc.

- From my colour pallet the colours I am taking forward to my final garment are...

- Golds

-Blacks

- Browns

- Grays

and beige...

I have taken these colours from my Cleopatra research (heterosexually) I thought Cleopatra would be a prime example as she conveys femininity and sexuality. My theme is all about celebrating curves I have taken this rich colour pallet to compliment that.

Introduction to new brief...

As part of my new assignment I have been given a theme for the end of the year fashion show Equality and Diversity. I understand it is important to understand the meaning of Equality and Diversity before I can look into the subjects related to the topic...

Define Equality: Equality is all about creating a fairer society where everyone can participate and has the opportunity to fill there potential. An equalities approach understands that our social identity – in terms of gender, race, disability, age, social class, sexuality and religion – will impact on our life experiences.

Define Diversity: Diversity literally means difference. When it is used as a contrast or addition to equality, it is about recognising individual as well as group differences, treating people as individuals, and placing positive value on diversity in the community and in the workforce.

Once i had looked into the meaning of Equality and Diversity I selected a range of different subjects that i can link into my theme...

- Mental health

-Size

-Gender man/woman equal rights

-Social class

-Sexual Orientation

-Faith and belief/religion

-Age discrimination

-Race

Packaging inspirations

For my Communication throughh Art and Design Unit I was given a checked bra i had to think of my potential client I could market my product at, what sort of lifestyle is the consumer living? and how would help me develop my brand identity. As part of the brief we had a range of options to advertise visually by using Photo Shop etc or to create packaging for our product. I chose to do packaging and found various inspirations whilst researching...

My initial thoughts on my product were not very positive as the bra was very plain and boring. But sticking to the brief I had to develop ways of packaging my product to make it look better than it actually is I suppose that's what sells every product we buy today... Many of my final inspirations came from my research i came across Japanese Sweet Lolita the colours of the bra were very similar but gave me a bundle of ideas to create packaging from... What is Lolita?

One of the major Japanese fashion movements is the Lolita movement. It's not a movement about a sexual style. In point of fact, there is less skin showing in this fashion style than in most others worn by young people.

The young men and women dress in a fashion related to the Victorian era, in a style that the dolls of the time were dressed in. There are a number of categories of the fashion, but frills, lace, petticoats and half-dresses are common elements.

This is related to the concept of Kawaii or cuteness which can be related to a desire to return to a more innocent past time, a sort of reaction against the psychological pressures of present-day life that the young people have to contend with. When one thinks of the Victorian era one thinks about politeness, courtesy, grace and a refined approach to other people, all traits that are sadly lacking in today's world. the overall thought of this 'cute' 'harmless fashions' Sweet Lolita conveys the message i want to put across with my final packaging design.

The Japanese girls are wearing frills with checks this conveys a overall innocent sweet look.

There are many different fabrics used in these designs netting's, lace, checks bows etc. This gave me the idea to create my packaging out of fabric rather than cardboard or paper.

Shower caps as fashion? oh please think i'll keep that for the shower...

The Sarah Burton look upon fashion. But first who is Sarah Burton?

- Sarah Burton is the british fashion designer who took over as creative director for Alexander McQueen after his suicide. Sarah has put together recent collections including a shower cap?. Sarah baptized her collection in lightness rather than sticking with the darkness of Alexander McQueens work. Sarah's work has influenced many designers Prada and Victoria Beckham's collections its all about the shower caps !!

The Prada runway there all doing it... Fuzzy shower caps aside,of course.

John Galliano whiped from the face of fashion..

- John Gallino has been the face of Dior for a number of years creating fantastic innovite designs throughout his collections he has been one of the most influenctal fashion designers of all time. His collecetions were renound for the romatic dresses that added a romantic mood/theme om the fashion runways.

SACKED?
This is massive news for the fashion industry one of the most well known designer brands has had their had designer eledicly making racist comments..

This is the final straw for the fashion house Dior after rumours John Gallinao declaired his love for Hitler. Christian Dior has sacked John Galliano for "odious behaviour" after he was accused of making antisemitic and racist insults in a drunken rant. The flamboyant Briton, who has been the Haute Couture house's creative director for 15 years, is under police investigation. This is shocking news for the fashion industry as there brand is a part of the Couture market with alot of cultural influences and forigen buyers this could result in the fashion houses name being dismissed by a number of Couture buyers.

Dior has said ' Zero tolerance' towards racism. In my personal opinion he was a great designer and I have been inspired by a number of his dresses His 2010 fall collection stood out to me the most with the french looking dresses and romantic theme. However the fact the designer has flew around racists comments I think Dior have made the right decision on sacking him from the fashion industry. Fashion should be about cultural influences no matter what race/religion you are and for a chief Dior fashion designer to turn round and throw racists comments i,m sure will have effect on the number of Dior's sales.

Different marketing techniques

As part of my Fashion and marketing unit we were asked to look at ranges of brands and look at how they advertise there various products. From reaching into each individual brand weather its a food item or a pair of designer sunglasses each brand has a way that sells there product. The consumer wants to feel confident buying into the brand.

Paul's Boutique?
The brands advertising techniques are fantastic !! This brand name stood out to me the most by the very particular things Paul's Boutique does to make you feel part of the brand name. The website in particular was very smart very different to anything I have seen before. Paul's Boutique creates stand out one off pieces with a different badge every time you buy a bag the clever fact that no one else in the world has the same badge creates the feeling of buying a one of Couture piece.

Each bag has a name for example ' Olivia ' with a series of a similar style bag but with different colours or different patterns I found this was a very clever way into to separating products into categories so its clear to consumer.

Even the clothing range Paul's Boutique
is put into categories and colour coordinated.
The bold colours and cute designs
are very popular with the current teen market
in the fashion industry. The famous "PB" sign
its almost a instant reaction to Paul's Boutique.