Wall Space..

My wall space reflects my work and the development; showing inspirational imagery, colour palette, fabric samples, possible designs and a developing line up.

Pheasantry

I have been struggling with a colour palette and feeling very uninspired as not wanting to completely emulate the catwalk colours... well, whilst driving up my driveway I was contemplating colour and admiring the deep greens in the trees, washed out ash yellow of the long grass and piercing blue sky (a rarity for the english winter) I knew my colour palette had to reflect this refreshing, stunning countryside, when a pheasant scattily ran in front the car ( a talent pheasants have) when it literally hit me.... a pheasant inspired colour palette- the very essence of the country side with a delicate touch; irresidscent greens and purples, deep chocolate browns and lighter musty yellow browns, with shocking red and with so many detailed feathers- this is the start of my colour palette and possible print designs. Not literally taking the feathers but more drawing from the shapes of these feathers and seeing what happens with layering and free hand drawing.

Refined colour story, colours taken from within Pheasant- dyes mixed with procion and fabric is satin silk, through dyeing a mass of tones and colours on strips fabric I laid them all out selecting the tones and colour vibrancy that most reflected the pheasants colouring and selecting grey to even out the intensity.

Warner Textile Archive

In a bid to seek inspiration from previous textile work I visited the Warner textile archive in Braintree, essex.

I didn't find it all that inspiring but the detail and craftmanship within the work is intensely praise worthy and I really respect the hours of handwork its taken to create these embellishment and print pieces.

A/W 10

In my collection there has to be delicate, soft, flirty, transparent dresses but I don't want to do S/S 10, these may be down to the amount I've been looking at it on the catwalk and I want to push my ideas forward into a new concept, as S/S is the obvious thing to do with the style of dresses I'm designing, but teamed with the sharp tailoring, country pursuits and militant detailing will create a new pathway of wearing soft dresses, and will push my construction and styling abilities.

Feminine Inspiration

Over Christmas I started my final major project, lots and lots of research. I'm loving Charles Anastases S/S 08 collection, geek seduction, full bodied skirts and dresses with a sheer seduction. I want my collection to be comfortable as confidence comes from comfort (as discovered through my dissertation) My dissertation has really highlighted the physiological impact of dressing, clothing can dictate your emotions and I want my clothing to make women feel comfortable and confident in a naive feminine way.

This playful femininity will dictate dress shapes, full bodied skirts like Anastase's, out of georgettes, chiffon's, tulle and organza's layered with thermal, silk jersey and jersey bloomers and jumpsuits for comfort.

Image 1: Ellie Saab, S/S 08 & Chanel S/S 08, voluminous tulle skirts emulate ballerina skirts which is associated with twirling and playful movements. The pink colour hues also reiterates the ballerina style and prettiness.

Image 2: Chanel Haute Couture S/S08, Voluminous textured fabrics generates a delicacy and creates the illusion of playing, the cut out sections gives a mature seduction generating an intense playful nature both with allurement and playfulness.

Image 3: Chloe, S/S 10, sheer layering pleated eludes femininity but generates a new dimension as the pleats generate volume in a clinical way. The tiers create playfulness with the lace giving delicacy.

Image 4: Elie Saab S/S 09, (unknown designer) the soft washed out colour palette is a gentler approach to the ditsy feminine colours without it looking child like. Delicate volume and embroidery also effigies an undercurrent of playfulness with the sheer fabrics generating a mature seduction.

Masculine Inspiration

As this collection may be the only one I ever do I want it to represent me and combine all of the elements that I'm inspired by: some of which are masculine and not all delicate femininity. Military embellishment charge attention and elude a controlling emotion which will sharply contrast with the feminine gentleness. Country pursuits and wear is another aspect which influences me and I live in the country and participate in country sports.

Image 1: 1920s men, Boy by Band of Outsiders S/S09, Charles Anastase S/S 09, tailoring elements as blazers and pin stripes give a sharpness and oozes power. The masculine details as neck scarfs, brogues, canes and hats all create a masculine approach, combined with feminine dresses will create a powerful playfulness to my collection.

Image 2: Country pursuits are evident through tweeds, tartans and loose tailoring which generates a sharp contrast between the transparent softness of the dresses. The Geddes tartan (family tartan) is featured on the left, I would like to incorporate this into the collection. The shapes of country wear is designed for comfort and practicality, changing the shilouettes and shapes for purely fashion removing any practicality will still generate a country emotion without the rigidness of country wear.

Image 3:The khaki colour palette has a sublteness to it which lends itself to a more feminine colour palette, the sharp preciseness of the clothing and embellishments demands attention and generates a powerful emotion that will contrast yet compliment the soft fabrics from the feminine side.

Image 4: Boy by Band of Outsiders, S/S 10, Charles Anastase S/S 10, Style Sight, S/S10; These jumpsuits show both soft, flexible fabrics and more structured designs. The thicker fabrics give structure while the softer ones look inviting and comfortable, a thick jersey can provide both. Comfort, structure and movement within the fabric.

Image 5: Im addicted to stripes and have to include sailor regimental stripes in my collection, Charles Anastase, S/S 09 and Boy by Band of Outsiders, S/S 10 converts sailor regimentals into fu, flirty seductive clothing through sheer layering, gold buttons and tight clothing.