University Choices!

As it is that time of year, I have started looking into university choices,

attempting to find out where I would like to go to continue my studies!

Stress stress stress!

As part of my decision in attempting to look for courses,

I stumbled across college's top-up creative practice year where

a friend and I went along to a talk about the course where I got some useful information!

• 8 month course
• Project proposal - 3,000 words
• Project planning - 3,000 words
• Viva (presentation on work)
• Development & Realisation portfolio (annotated)
• Dissertation - 7,000-10,000 words
• Would leave with a BA Hons creative practice in retail

AD208, SWOT Analysis.

Strengths -

·        What strengths did I have that others don’t? – My strengths were my time keeping, starting the project early on, allowing myself plenty of time to get the project complete and regularly updating my diary allowing me to create an honest evaluation.

·        What do people see as my strengths? – My time keeping was a strength, allowing me to finish the project days before hand in and coming to decisions quickly when having to change aspects of the design.

·        Which of my achievements am I most proud of? – I am most proud of completing the garment on time and was pleased with the end result of it, after weeks working on it and changing aspects of it.

·        Which section of the work did I complete well? – I feel as though I completed the written diary side of the project well and being more confident when sewing, allowing me to be more free and take more time on creating a successful garment.

Weaknesses –

·        What tasks did I avoid? – I mostly avoided the written side of the project as I feel more confident with the creative sewing side.

·        What do others see as my weaknesses? – My weaknesses are in my sewing skills, as I am not that confident, having to ask for help a lot to make sure I’m doing the work correctly.

·        What held me back? – What held me back was not having the confidence to tackle more tasks on my own when sewing and not researching more into the embellishment placement, as I wasn’t pleased with the outcome.

·        What are my negative work habits? – My negative work habits were leaving the written side of the project until last.

CAD Update!

For the past 6 weeks or so I have been dedicating a

huge chunk of my time to the CAD module!

So far, I have managed to amaze myself with how quickly I have

picked the skills up again, managing to create successful pieces of work!

Even watching youtube videos of how to do certain elements on illustrator

has got me all excited, learning how to create my own zip brushes to add to my final sheets.

4 final sheets down, 4 left to go!

As they say, practice makes perfect.



Work Placement - Primark

After speaking with my tutor, I have decided to also use

my part time job outside of college as my work placement

as there seems to be a lack of work using just

the fashion show event planning.

For this, I will look back over my weeks of working at

Primark and keep a weekly diary of the work I do

during my shifts. I will also produce evidence of the company,

the work I am involved in and my position and contribution to the company.

Week 1

·        Had introductory day - at federation brewery - 9-5 - got paid - talked about company, worked in groups learning about each other’s interests, what the perfect employee looks like - clothing etc.

·        Got trained on how to use the clock in machine - done by hand

·        Talked through staff handbook

·        Got given contract – 8 hours over the weekend – 4 hours per day

·        Told where and when to arrive to start job

·        Made new friends - enjoyed the day

·        Nervous to start!

Week 2

·        Trained on how to use the tills - found it really difficult - had to go through manual by self to learn how to use it - difficult to remember everything

·        Managers and people really nice

·        Worked with managers to put stock out - sweets around the till banks

·        Got tour of the building

·        Got introduction on fitting rooms - how to work on them - procedures

·        How to use telephones etc.

·        Worked with supervisor on the underwear department to create a display unit – helped choose the underwear to be displayed and was asked to choose accessories to match it with – really enjoyed doing it! – got to use fashion side as part of it

Week 3

·        Started job properly! - store opened

·        Was put straight onto a till - serving customers - impressed with how well I managed to remember how to use the tills after a few weeks

·        Helping others to bag pack behind the tills when there was a lack of customers

·        Helped on department 8 – womenswear – had to work with colleague to tidy the vest rails – put in right size order, make sure it looks neat and tidy, all hangers facing the right way, pick up the stock lying on the floor – very time consuming

·        Agreed to do overtime until Christmas – only on Saturdays – working an extra hour until 8pm.

People Into Enterprise..

As part of my college course, we have been introduced to

Jane Shaw from People into Enterprise,

where we have carried out sessions with her regarding

creating a business for our work placement module.

During one of the sessions, we were split into groups after discussing what

sort of business we would like to create.

As part of my group, we decided upon creating a pop up shop in

Newcastle town centre, where we would create and sell our own garments.

After deciding upon this we created a list of things neccessary to carry it out.

• Event on Facebook (free advertising)
• Business proposal on Facebook
• Promote within college - help - connections
• Get local businesses involved
• Show other students work from college
• Hand leaflets out - get graphics students to make
• Contact Newcastle Council
• Photos - photograhy students
• Create a lookbook
• Live window
• Till, venue, float, shop fittings, bags etc
• Invite teachers from universities
• Polls - find target market
• Budget
• Create a blog
• Hold during Newcastle Fashion Week for publicity

During another session with Jane, we were asked to

work as part of a team and create a drawing of what an enterprising

person should be.

This is what my team came up with:

Just another productive day!

Overall, I have found the sessions with Jane really interesting

as it has allowed me to assess my own enterprising skills, and

gave great knowledge on what it takes and skills neccessary to create such an

event/business in the industry.

Heres to hoping the pop up shop will soon be up and running!

Dress Making Continued..

After having spent 5 weeks on the Little Black Dress Manufacture project,

I have almost completed the dress, with only the hem left to do!

Over the past week I had added binding onto the neckline and cuffs of the

lace top, ironing the binding in half, placing the lace between the layers and sewing

with a top stitch, to give a neat end result and see what effect I would achieve.

I encountered some difficulties when sewing the skirt onto the corset,

which resulted in many moments of using the unpicker..

When pinning, I matched the seams up perfectly, yet still

managed to create small tucks, lining that hadn't been sewn down

and seams that didn't line up.

After resolving the problems, I placed the garment onto a tailors dummy

and was really impressed with what I had managed to create.

I decided to add a small stitch into either side of the middle of the neckline

to create a more squared effect so that the neck piece would glide over successfully.

After adding the zip into the dress along with the rest, I pinned and sewed 

the beads onto the lace top, trying to create the shape of the flowers, but

not quite convinced that it looks effective.

Now only a hem left to sew!

Binding

Sewing skirt and corset

                                                                     Pinning for beads

Dress front

Dress back



Work Placement Theme

As my work placement, I have joined forces with a member from an event company,

and will help to create my year's final fashion show!

We have already viewed last years fashion show, discussed the key factors, what could have been

improved/what worked well, began talking about the location where we will

view a room in Blandford Square, near college and have decided on

a 'white' theme, where everything in the venue will be white and hopefully

even the guests clothes!

After the session, we luckily stepped into a construction site which will be turned

into a nightclub/restaurant by the end of the month and have been offered to

have an afterparty/actual event at the place for free!

After researching into the white theme, I gained many ideas for the venue

such as, having pillars/walls covered in white origami pieces,

white birdcages with candles in, white chandeliers, white roses, bright white

spotlights, a 'white' red carpet, white rose petals on the catwalk,

white seating, white goodie bags, hanging vases with flowers in and white origami invites.

After gaining many ideas, I am extremely excited to start organising the event!

I gained some ideas from Chanels Spring 2009 Couture show

which you can view below:

AD202, CAAD Work

After having already done 3 weeks of CAAD work, I 
am pleased with how quick I have managed to pick up the skills again.
For this project, I am asked to create 8 A4 spec sheets of designs,
and in the past week, we have started the first sheet!
To begin, I drew around the outline of half of the dress with the pen tool
and reflected half. I learnt how to profile lines, turning the
gathered lines into triangles to fade them off so they become less harsh,
I drew the rest of the details onto the dress and after what seemed like hours
of attempting to draw in the zip, I found a brush tool which creates the same effect.
I also learnt how to do hem lines, using the brush stroke and adding dashes in it,
using double lines for hems.
I find the lessons really successful and quickly getting to grips with illustrator again!

AD208 Dress Making

After just 2 days of having started making my final dress

I have managed to amaze myself at how quick it seems to be coming on, with

only a few things left to sew together!

I began the sewing process by heat pressing interlining

on the corset panels, sewing them together and adding boning which proved

to be quite difficult, as it was tricky to get them in the right place and make them stay there.

Next, I sewed and overlocked the skirt panels and gathered side parts, adding a top stitch

the hold the lining and cotton together securely whilst gathering. I had some

difficult when sewing the neck panels as it kept twisting when trying to turn it out,

so even as frustrating as it is, I unpicked, unravelled and re-sewed again.

I managed to sew the darts in the lace top which was a challenge in itself

as lace is not clear to see tailors chalk at all, and after much practice on scrap material,

I sewed the panels together on an industry machine which sews and overlocks

the panels at the same time.

When gathering the side panels, I had to use a normal sewing machine,

pushing gathers through with a pair of scissors as the gathering machine decided not to work.

To make sure they were the right length, I pinned on the skirt where the ends should go

and made sure the panels met at the pins.

After a lucky lunch break, I realised I hadn't sewn the neck panels onto the corset

as I was just about to sew the lining onto the cotton, so I pinned and sewed,

placed the corset top on the stand, and am very pleased with the outcome!

Adding boning to the corset lining

Joined skirt panels

Gathering, hanging side panels

Darted lace top

Corset top with neckpiece

Sewing lining onto corset

Final Dress Toile!

After having discussions with tutors, I began altering certain pattern pieces after placing the toile

on a stand and seeing what could be improved.

I decided to take the corset darts in a bit at the top as it had too much fullness,

add more ease to the sleeve, taper the skirt in at the bottom to look more like a pencil skirt,

take 1cm off the back skirt panel, as it was too long and didn't match up

to the front when sewn and make the lace top middle part into a square

so the neck piece can go over the lace easily.

Before beginning the final dress, I decided to cut the new corset bodice pieces

out in calico fabric, re-sewed them and placed it on the stand to see if

it was more successful.

After doing this, i arrived at my final pattern pieces, ready to create my final dress!

Beginning of toile making

Corset alteration

Lace top alteration

New corset piece

Final Toile Front & Back

AD208 Little Black Dress Manufacture

After finishing AD203, the initial research for the LBD, I was introduced to AD208,

the manufacture of the dress.

For this, I have been asked to create a final dress, toile, paper pattern, costing sheet, final flat spec drawing, and a sketchbook documenting my journey from pattern cutting, to toile making, to the final garment, commenting on my feelings, successes and failures in a weekly diary format.

Over the past 2 weeks, I have started the project, where I have recently finished creating the pattern for the dress and have began creating the first pieces of my toile.

Although I have had some setbacks in the project, I have managed to overcome them in time and created a better design to construct and excited to get sewing!

Beginning on pattern cutting and toile making:

Little Black Dress Final Design

After weeks of designing and researching, I finally arrived at my final design!

Final Design

Final Fabrics -

Lace, Tulle, Cotton & Lining

I chose this design as I wanted to include the hip padding, corset, bow

and tight fitting silhouette of the 1950's, which I feel I have

managed to accomplish.

The design consists of a corset, a lace overlay top with 3/4 length sleeves, a belt around the waist,

a tight fitting skirt, gathered hanging waist panels, a zip on the back and a neck panel

coming from the corset which pulls through over the lace top and ties at the back as a bow.

When I construct the final dress, I have decided to use fabrics from the 50's,

such as cotton, lace and tulle and I will also add lining to the dress.

Cotton: Corset and skirt

Lace: Overlay top

Tulle: Neck piece

Lining: Inside of the dress

AD202 CAAD & AD207 Work Placement Briefs

Over the past week, I have been introduced to AD202, the CAAD module,

where the work I will produce will be generated from the Little Black Dress projects.

I have been asked to build on previous experiences of CAD from first year, using my skills and a provided template to construct 8 A4 technical specs of my ideas. I have also been asked to produce an evaluation and a 300 word essay on my understanding of the role of digital applications within the fashion industry, such as flats, illustrations and pattern cutting.

After having one session already, I feel like I have learnt alot, although im still unsure on it, from having lost my grip on it from first year.

I have also been introduced to AD207, my work placement module,

where I have been asked to complete 120 hours of work placement.

For this project, I need to provide evidence of the company I will work for,

aims and objectives within the business and a file documenting my experience whilst on placement, things that I have learnt, experiences, my contribution to the company, design work produced, notes/photos/sketches from meetings, live briefs, problems encountered, visual images of work participated in and my personal achievements.

After many decisions of where I would like to go for work placement, after hearing that help is needed to create our final fashion show next year, I decided that this would be a good opportunity for me.

For this I have been asked to help organise the final fashion show, where I have recently been asked to come up with themes and venues where it could be held.

Alexander McQueen Spring 2012 RTW

Once again Sarah Burton has managed to create a beautiful masterpiece that is

the McQueen Spring 2012 show.

Inspired by the three G's; Grès for the pleating and draping, Gaudí for the architecture and Gaia for the sense of ocean life that gave complexity to the clothes.

The clothes were of a translucent soft palette colour, almost like the inside of a shell, which featured shell detailing, barnacle pattern jacquard, ribbed oyster print chiffon, oil slick looking 

leather and gold pleated organza to give the sense of real life pirates treasure, with

the models walking like how "jellyfishes walk in the sea".

Burton really does bring the queen out of McQueen.

Watch McQueen's 2012 show below:

Youtube.com

AD203 - Little Black Dress SWOT Analysis

Strengths -

• What strengths did I have? - My strengths were spending the majority of my time on the portfolio work and getting inspiration quickly from having a strong view on what I wanted and needed to produce. My time keeping was also a strength, as I had set myself enough time to complete each section, concentrating on one thing at a time to get the best results.
• What do people see as my strengths? - After speaking with tutors, my strengths seemed to be in the portfolio doing moodboards, gathering all the information needed and spending most of the time creating it to my best abilities.
• Which of my achievements am I most proud of? - I am most proud of creating the final body blanks quickly and getting them to look as I had planned without much help, as I find illustrations to be a personal weakness. An achievement was also overcoming problems in a short time.
• Which section of the work did I complete well? - I completed the mood boards well, spending the most time on it rather than the written and sketchbook side and completing the portfolio quickly after not having much work produced at the beginning for it.

• Weaknesses- 

• What tasks did I avoid? - I mostly avoided the written file side of the project as I feel I am better at the creative part than the written part and I also avoided adding colour to the final line-ups as I feel it to be a weakness, not getting the results I had hoped for.
• What do others see as my weaknesses? - My weakness seemed to be not spending enough time on the sketchbook and adding colour on the final designs and not getting inspiration quickly enough at the beginning for embellishment placement.
• What held me back? - What held me back was my lack of confidence when creating the final line ups and not getting inspiration quickly enough at times to carry the project on.
• What are my negative work habits? - My negative work habits were again focusing my time on the portfolio rather than the sketchbook work.

AD203 Portfolio Work Update

After many, many weeks of little black dress researching,

I have finally completed the project, managing to create

a sketchbook of research, historical and contemporary boards, pioneer of the LBD

boards, trend boards, embellishment placement boards,

theme boards, sample boards, shop report boards and pages

of design development and final line-ups, along with an evaluation.

Overall, I have really enjoyed the project and found it quite successful and now look forward

to making the actual 50's style dress for AD208!

Some pages from my portfolio:

Haute Couture Historical Board

Haute Couture Contemporary Board

Trend Board

Embellishment Placement Board

Theme Board

Design Development

Final Line-Ups

AD203 Sampling

After deciding upon a 1950's theme for my Little Black Dress project,

I knew I wanted to add embellishment to the dress but was

struggling with placement for it, and even after researching

where it was placed in the 50's, such as bows on the waist, pin tucks and

corsages, I still struggled with my decisions. After

contemplating it for days upon days, I created

two fabric sample boards inspired from images from Show Details magazine

where I found the most successful pieces to be embellishment

on the pattern of the lace and on hems to add that extra glamour.

After this much needed inspiration, I have decided to add

black bead embellishment onto the pattern of the lace on the final garment.

Bring on the endless bead sewing!

Sample Board

Sample Board



1950s

After researching into the 1950's to inspire my Little Black Dress project,

I have once again fallen in love with the era and keep wondering why I wasn't born then..

 There is nothing more eye catchingly beautiful as the

 female form being celebrated, emphasising on the narrowness of the waist

thanks to Christian Dior and his first RTW collection, the 'New Look'.

Dior wanted his designs to brake away from the utilitarian work

clothes of the 1940's and create a glamorous romantic notion of femininity, celebrating

'bums and tums'. Along with many features of this era, the curvaceous form is shown

from the use of boned corsets, bustier bodices, hip padding, wasp-waists, waist peplums

and pencil skirts, many of which I have included into my design work.

Because no one can do it better than Dior..

"I think of my work as ephemeral architecture, dedicated to the beauty of the female body."

- Christian Dior.

Photo's from Google.com