Clutch bags....

So after a long deliberation, I've decided to go to our school prom thing with my best friend, since he needs a date apparently. Not because I like the people... but because it's a great excuse for a new clutch bag! and I do love my clutch bags! I'm going to wear my Wallis black and white striped dress and my black platform shoes, just to keep it simple. So here are my choices of clutch bags! Eee! 

Going Out/ Sex and the City Outfit

So I was inspired by the Royal wedding to come up with a pretty Sex and the city style Parisian outfit perfect for going shopping in along a beautiful road full of boutiques, or to somewhere special like a wedding! which ever the occasion this look is stunning and looks beautiful on!

Asos
Envelope Front Leather Satchel
£45.00

Wallis.
Petite Black Stripe Prom Dress.
£55.00

New Look
Suedette Platform Court
£19.99

Topshop Statement Dresses.Launches 14th April.

"High Octane", "Dress Up","Rock & Roll Cool", "Understated Glamour".

These words have to be a girl's most favourite! I've never heard them and not loved what they entailed. So when I saw this on Topshop's poster, I had to have a decent look. They were telling the truth. I will be investing in one of these pieces for my prom or something. I love them. They also launch a week after my birthday so I should hopefully have some spare cash to buy one with! If you want a dress that you can wear all year round for any unexpected parties you may have or up and coming events that you NEED to look hot for. I'm completely advising this line. They will be well made and beautiful.  

Also for anyone that really enjoys "Behind the Scenes" video's, here is one that came in the e-mail that I got about this. I do love these video's and this does seem to fit the picture that they are trying to give, "High octane fun". I love these promotional video's that companies do, they always look such fun to shoot! 

Outfit of the Day...

This isn't really outfit of the day, it's more outfit that I wore today. But that doesn't sound nearly as snazzy. So I've been shopping and brought a Revlon Lipstick, Nail polish and liquid Eye-liner, so expect reviews to be coming up for those! I've also seen a bag I adore in TK Maxx but I don't think I'll get since I'm trying to be more sensible now with my money and sadly I don't think I'll have very many places to take it too, it's more of a holiday go clubbing type bag that is gorgeous! It's a coral colour with that caged metal lattice affect that bags had in December and is gold, it sounds awfully but is so bright and heart warming you can't help but think of Summer! So here's what I wore today, I just wore my skater dress from River Island which is far too low and so I put on a black cami underneath that happens to have a lovely higher lace part and actually worked really well, a thin black belt, black tights and my black boots again. Need to get new boots! Oh and that's my RI Jacket which you've probably seen me wearing before and I really liked these badges that I found on one of my other jackets and thought they were really cute though I've lost my favourite one a while ago, very sad! But I find that badges are the quickest and easiest way to update a jacket and can help give a hint to the style that you want to be as well! I.e. little sailor badges for a nautical feel!

Also any opinion on dying my hair red? Also know any great home hair colouring kits that won't cost me the earth? Since I don't want to pay £40.00 to have it done then realise I don't like it and that I'm stuck with it permanently till it grows out, Thanks! 

xoxo! 

And breathe...Plus, a look I've pulled from NewLook's website

Been forgetting to breathe lately, I'm running around like a headless chicken, the school's computer system has corrupted my memory stick so I've had to wait 3 days to get that fixed, so that's 3 days lost working! However we have PSE day on Wednesday and I'm under the impression that my fuming mother isn't going to go and let me meditate with the loudest Canadian in the world.

Popped into New Look Saturday though and found that they've got some lovely stuff in! I quite like the stuff they have in now and I so know where lots of my pay is going!

On another note, meeting the lovely boyfriend on the 21st (: Very excited!
Anyway back to Fashion... I thought I'd make you another I want type thing but this is a look I've just pulled from the website. New Look also have 10% off for NUS card holders, they did have 20% but I don't know if that is still on any more. Any opinions on the look and such? (: xoxox

So Sorry!

So sorry I haven't posted again! I got back, and had a 2 day art exam, and then I've been trying super hard to catch up on all my coursework! finally gotten there! So I've been watching all the paris fashion shows, I LOVE LANVIN! just an official warning there. I loved his show! The way he talks about it as well! I think it was absolutely inspiring, and it's really inspired me, to try to make another dress, using bright colours and such!

And these are the wonderful lights that my boyfriend got me agess ago. Isn't he a star!

 I also found this on my camera, it's a jumper dress that I got last year from Topshop, and actually looked really nice on so I was really impressed and thought I'd take a picture! and the ring that I got from my best friend for Christmas which I loveee.

Here are also the promised pictures of my 2 final pieces, my dress and the shirt I made, I'm so sorry for the late viewing, they weren't finished until the night I went away, and I was so tired I just went straight to bed! Falmouth sadly rejected me, but Coventry has given me a place! Yayyy! and I'm really excited to be going there, not heard anything from London or Southhampton yet though, so you never know! The boyfriend wants me in london, so we'll just have to see, but it's still a case of getting the grades and getting offers from where ever I can! The shirt was based on a Cherry blossom branch, and I did on a Mans shirt just because I somewhat prefered how loose it is, though I still have yet to wear it, but I do love it to pieces, as I do with my dress, which has tiny little beading detail on the front, and I might wear tomorrow if I don't have an art lesson!

I hope you loved everything and thanks for all the support with interviews and stuff, and I hope you've all been okay. Anything really good happened for you recently? 

Update...

So I'm tired from not sleeping, I seem to have gotten into a bad habit of not sleeping till 1am, on the upside this has been beneficial to my school work and has lifted a bit of stress since I can get work done at 1am, so I can spend more time during the day on my portfolio, which is coming together beautifully! I'm actually quite proud of it, I've got lots of pictures to photocopy at some point for it, but it is getting there.

My dress is getting to being finished, and my shirt is getting to being started, which is good, since I now have a backup. I've also decided to use the skirt I made at night class, to go with me, so I'm just making a couple of pages up for that as well for what inspired the fabric etc. It's quite good because the skirt one has a toile and everything unlike the dress and shirt, so hopefully it'll all go okay.

I've also had quite some fun adding in an urban section, and collecting samples and such for that, it's been quite joyous due to the bright bold colours that they often use, though I am hoping to manage to give it quite a glamorous twist if possible, since not sporty people don't have to be sweaty (someone in lynn should tell the other people in lynn that...)

My re-sit on the other hand... not sure, I've only just started revising for it, but I think I'm just going to push it all through and do it in a mad rush like I do everything according to my mother.I've got my friend coming over tonight to do a bit of revision with me, so hopefully that should keep me focused. Currently when I try to focus on revising, I end up wondering if I need more samples etc, so I'm going to take my portfolio to my art teacher today and see what he thinks of it, should be interesting....

My wonderful boyfriend brought me some beautiful lights that I wanted as well to go at the top of my bed, they're a wonderful pick me up, they're green,orange,yellow and a pinky colour, goes brilliantly with my room! I'll post a picture later of them, since I'm starting to get cold, and don't know where this sudden cold snap has come from. either way I need to sadly go get changed into something warmer! despite wearing tights,trousers,a camisole, a top, and a cardigan... maybe santa will lend me something, he always keeps warm on christmas eve when delivering presents? 

New Collection & an update!

Getting quite excited now, the dress is going well, and the shirt has yet to be done but the basic plan is there, bits and pieces for my portfolio for samples are on the way and pages have been designed to be printed at school, a very good start to the year so far despite the fact I think I'm getting Tonsillitis....

However, my Etsy store was always going to have a new range of shirts, I just never got round to it, but now that my interview work is well under way, I'm starting to think a little bit more about it, and I'm getting so excited for it! I'm currently planning a T-shirt that I want to design to perhaps wear to one of my interviews, but it all depends how it does, but I'm very excited for it atm, Black little beads on the shoulders a little bit in the military style, but mainly as an embellishment and to hide wear some chains start, and also a big Chanel logo but done in 1 line of 8mm antique gold studs.

Their is also another project that's on hold that I was inspired by Gok Wan for, on the 4OD beauty site he has some small video's on embellishments, and this one has inspired me on embellishment, Gok Wan's How To Customise: Embellishment, there are 3 other video's but this one I adore! I also have an old lace top, that i brought but turns out to be useless, and I'm wondering about using that for a top and doing one similair to his but a little bit more contrasting!

I'll keep you up-to date on the Etsy shop and the tops, I think I plan to make 10 so far, and then I'll launch the range or it may go down to 7 depending on how I go for time and such, but I wouldn't mind depending on the work load, having them done ready to launch on my birthday (7th April)!

xoxo!

Happy New year!

This picture is from Lookbook, but I love the train in the background,
that is 2010 leaving the station! 

2010, was a bit sucky tbh! I learnt who my real friends were, which was beneficial but not all that enjoyable, and  generally did nothing memorable! So! 2011! I've lined up to be a great year!

The boyfriend moves to london in exactly 18 days now! Which means I'll soon have someone to do lots of nice things with i.e. go out to dinner, the cinema, shopping (:

I'll have my 2 interviews for university that are now beginning to get in really good shape and the dress has much improved since the last incident of creating 2 right side fronts...

I also have all summer to do exciting things! Like go to the beach, and to France with the boyfriend (:

I'll also turn 18 in April and can't wait to party in London with him (: I'll finally have someone to carry me home when I pass out and to make me coffee in bed in the morning!

I'm quite excited for this year, I worked today which was a rubbish start but it was a good day! I've lots of school work to do but it's getting more and more manageable, so that's looking up too! 

I do love a good fresh start! I'm going to have a new colour put in my hair or something like that too on the 11th!

I've started cleaning out my wardrobe to make way for all my new clothes that I'll collect too! I'm just gonna have a massive spring clean I think later, that's the best idea I think, especially my jewellery draw, because I've lots that I was brought when I was 11, that I'm never ever going to wear now lol, less dolphin earrings turn into a really cool craze? nvm! 

I hope everyone had a really good new years eve and haven't got too much of a hangover today! I'll post my resolutions tomorrow I think! 

On the Seventh Day Of Christmas....

Apart from wanting Blake Lively's body, I really wanted this dress by Jenny Packham, even if it is from her 2010 Fall collection! it's got an open back and a central slit on it, plus the print and contrasting marine blue stones!? Something she dreamt up! Plus this dress was so made for Serena's little take down! She always wears the nicest dresses when she's out to get someone!

Inspiration

I guess vaguely like this, but in Yellow,
different check and different chains. But you get the Vague idea.

I finally have my inspiration for my dress for my interview! and now I'm raring to go! I found this gorgeous yellow lumberjack type material with grey sort of check in with it, and so I've based my dress on that material and built up around it! It's going to be sort of a punk rock lumberjack! with lots of antique silver chains with little crosses and stuff on, with a glamorous edge as well! I've still got to draw it but it's all up there in my head for definite! I've been driving my mum mad with the idea, and I'm going to start on the beginning pages today after lesson!

I've just got to sort out the dress, and then I'm going to start on the shirt! I'm really quite excited for it! But I'll do a mock drawing of it today and post that so you can all give me a little bit of feed back on it! But as I keep saying, I'm really excited about it! Which is quite good as the other one I think would of been really difficult to actually do but this one does look a little easier to actually put in to practice. I'm also really looking forward to styling it as well! My friend, loves styling too, so I think between us we can get some amazing shots of it! 

I'm also almost done on my night course, last week next monday, and I'm getting really excited! I'm just doing a simple grey a-line skirt, but I think I've enough material to do it again, so I might make another once the course is finished and I might add some little jewels and stuff on to it and make it a little bit more glam! I'm really glad I took up the night course since I really do enjoy it, and I'm looking forward to enrolling in the next one! I've also seen some of the finished articles at the college for the Fashion Design course, and I'm actually not minding so much if I have to go and do a foundation year there or something, since the work they produced their is Uni quality or just below I think and the pictures etc. do look really good. 

An Interview with... Alexandra from Makemeadress

Today, from the wonderful world of Handmade and Vintage! I've interviewed for your pleasure Alexandra from the online Etsy store Makemeadress. She was wonderful to interview so thank you for letting me!

Makemeadress Shop!

How long have you handmade things?
Since I was a little girl playing with my mum’s fabric box and my grandmother’s huge array of clothes, shoes and just about anything else you could wear.

Black Lace Cocktail Dress - $210.00

Did your grandmother and mother ever encourage you as such or was it more self-driven the need to create?
I wasn't actively encouraged to create but was actively taken to dance classes nearly every day. My grandmother was a dance hostess in the 50's and thought I should be taught properly. I was more interested in the costumes and was eventually told I would be better off designing the costumes than dancing in them! My mother is very creative and is a wonderful support.

Where do you work from? Office space, the lounge, outside?
I'm lucky enough to have a studio where I live.

Do your surroundings reflect how you design?
Not so much, I'm sure if I lived in the city my designs could be a little different but out here in the country I'm able to run away with my imagination. 

Do you sell in the countryside, or go into London etc. for ideas occasionally?
We always take holidays in cities which are great for ideas and to be around a buzz. Our nearest city Bristol is only a short drive away and is an amazing hub of creativity. 

Little Black Organic Cotton Dress - $190.00

How do you get you’re inspiration for new products? I am constantly watching old movies, pouring through books on the golden age of design and have an unhealthy addiction to vintage clothing and fabrics. I find inspiration in just about everything and live and breathe dresses all day long.

Is there anything special you do when stuck for an idea or on an item? i.e. walk?
I usually get to a point with each dress where need to step away and not look at it for a few hours. When you have been staring at the same dress for sometimes twelve hours a day, you need to get some perspective. 
I take trips out, we'll go to exhibitions, and there is an excellent fashion museum only an hour away. I watch a lot of films and visit flea markets and vintage shops as much as I can. I love people watching and seeing how people style themselves which is always inspiring.

How did you get into hand making stuff?
I started with textiles at school and went on to study fashion design at university.

Were you brilliant first off, or did it take a few attempts? It’s taken 27years to be good at what I do; making dresses is a very long and endless process of learning. Every dress is different and there is always a new way to cut a dress. I hope to be brilliant when I'm 90!

Black Lace Peter Pan Dress Collar -$35.00

What led you to creating your own business?
Since graduating I had the option to move to London to work or stay living in the countryside; I chose to stay and as there aren’t many fashion jobs in the countryside I decided to set up my own business.

Do you think it’s been worth it?
Yes! Its hard work but I love every day that I get to work on new commissions and am happiest creating dresses all day long.

Is there anything you would change?
Being more confident to make contacts and network - but I'm working on this.

Do you get many difficult customers, and if so how do you manage not to yell at them?
There is no such thing as a difficult customer just a great challenge!
Of course there have been times but they generally just need some reassurance and everything is fine.

Is there any particular reason you started your online shop, apart from you love it?
Selling on-line has been the best way to reach lots of customers interested in the same vintage look as me. My perfect customers are rarely found walking down the dirt track to our house in the middle of nowhere.

Blue Red Cosmic Print rockabilly Dress Sample -$80.00

If you didn't make dresses what else would you of done?
I would have been a terrible dancer, singer or a very mediocre actress maybe?! I nearly went into fine art but was still sculpting dresses. I like the idea of teaching one day. 

What are the things that you most enjoy about owning your own business? 
I get to work with wonderful customers on their ideas and get to work on dresses every day.

What is your next step for your business or is selling online it?
I'm working on a new collection of bridal gowns which will launch early next year and I will be working with local boutiques selling one of a kind dresses.

Thank you for reading the interview, and be sure to pop along and have a look at what other items they have, there are also the most wonderful clutch bags as well! 

xoxo

Drawings!

I've had to do some more fashion drawings in my Research book, so here are 3 that I did today, while the boyfriend had run off for Sushi! I also apologize for the bad photographing skills I really need to learn to photograph at decent times of day in decent light. They still need color on some and samples and stuff too.

 This dress was inspired by 2 dresses by Alexander McQueen.
The dress uses the lace sleeves and neck that the cream uses, and then the peacock lace skirt, and also the fullness aswell, while also using the skirt from this yellow dress to create a new dress. Using Red, Cream and Black.

 This picture was inspired by a more Avant Garde style similar to a picture I had previously found but will show you another time.

The above picture is based on Dior's Tulip inspired dress, and just needs colour adding and some samples of materials.

Which I have ordered off a website ( 53 samples to be exact) and will be playing with when they arrive!

xoxo

Party Dresses! For this party season!

I love! a good party dress! It can make or break a night if you ask my opinion, you want a gorgeous one... that you don't have to keep pulling up, that isn't too tight and show all those little bumps, and you want it to accentuate all you're good bits. Oh! and of course you've gotta be able to get out of it quick if you catch my drift, that's how good I want my dress to be!

So I've had a little shop around, and these are the top 5 dresses that I will be buying, since from experience there is only so many times you can wear 1 dress before you start to think, if I go naked someone won't notice, if I wear this dress everyone will notice I'm wearing it for the umpteenth time...

Miso Crochet Dress- £32.99

This gorgeous crochet dress is perfect with it's simple pattern and flattering style, it just needs some lovely platform shoes and a couple of accessories and you're off for a party! Perfect for if you're in a rush and need a dress to quickly jazz up for a night out on the town!

Green Jacquard Dress - £55.00, Miss Selfridge

This dress is sensational! It is the perfect grown up dress, whether you want to impress that new man at work that everyone's had they're eye on, or whether you're going out for a sophisticated dinner with friends. This dress just keeps working and working! The colors make it look warm and is a pleasant change to black, without being too bright, it will make you stand out and is easy to accessorise. 

Skater Body Dress - £70.00
Urban Outfitters

Short and sweet, this corset dress by Bitching & Junkfood features a velvet skirt and lace corset top featuring underwired cups, metal button front, thick banded waist and adjustable detachable straps. It's perfect for the edge this party season! The lace looks delicate but rock it with an attitude and you'll be turning heads all night! Show them what you're made of girl!

Cream Peter Pan Smock Dress -£45.00
Miss Selfridge

            This dress is perfect! It's cute and delicate and is perfect for anyone who likes to look a little bit glam during the day but wants to not have to change when going out at night sometimes! Perfect for dinners, or any party where the shortest skirt wins, will love this dress! A dress that every girl needs in her wardrobe!

Miso Chiffon Beaded Dress - £32.99  Republic

This midnight blue dress is sure to have you looking sophisticated all night long. Just be sure that you don't get some beautiful vampire come and whisk you away.. on second thoughts, maybe you should do!