Got to love Japan .........

I love Japan for many reasons, but mostly for its diversity......the people are gentle, polite and traditional........ then you turn a corner and Wham............
Harajuku has to be the most fashionable place on this earth a definite place to visit, see and be seen........

Egg Dress..........part 2

As promised here is an update on the Egg Dress design.

After pinning the paper pattern on to the mannequin it was decided that the best way to achieve the Egg Shape would be to split the pattern into four equal panels from top to bottom, this way I would be able to open the pattern up by 5.5 cm in each panel and at hips in order to retrace pattern again and produce a flared manipulation this can then be darted from the hem line thus giving the required shape.... 

                                                             

Split and ready to re- manipulate

Now flared.......

Darts around the bottom to pull the shape in. This will need to be re done as the pattern needs to be shorter..

Back to the 80s..........

I love this coat......  I bought it whilst in New York a couple of years ago. The weather was so windy I was freezing, thankfully I was just across from 'Cheap Jacks' this place is amazing, floor to ceiling vintage clothing I bought this 80s 'Prince of Wales' check coat for $75.....

http://www.cheapjacks.com/

Beach Combing...........

Out and about on the beach today in my favourite winter wardrobe of the moment.....

Lace -Up boots, Sweater and Scarf all from Zara, Jodhpurs from Next, Sheepskin Coat  Denise Van Outen for Littlewoods.

Photographs taken by frankkingphotography.co.uk

Egg Collection.....

One of the modules I study is Garment Construction, this is my favourite class. This year the brief is to design a collection of two garments using 'View Magazine" to help predict the look for 2013/ 2014. 

I've chosen to design for Autumn, Winter 2014. My collection is called 'Oversize' and the dress 'Egg'.
 I'll blog each Sat with the progression of the task.....

Final design for Egg dress. this will be constructed from Wool Barathea with an overlay of Cotton Organza and will be embellished (not decided how yet...) in Acid Green and Fuchsia.

This is the second design (on left) and will start construction next year.

Here are a collection of images I took inspiration from to create my designs.

This is the Mood Board I presented to the Lecturer and class to explain my designs.

Pattern drawn from a block called a 'Sloper' this is a Japanese block, it's perfect for this design as it has no darts etc.

Paper patterns now ready to pin on to mannequin and start to manipulate, this is the first of a collection of patterns you'll see until I get the final shape.

Nuno....

I would highly recommend a visit to the Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh, were you will be amazed to see the beautiful textiles created by Reiko Sudo at her Tokyo based Studio and exhibited here.
 Anyone who knows me, will know how much I love Japan and all things Japanese if you go and see these works of art you'll see why.

Some of my photo's.

dovecotstudios.com

Lovin' it.......

Brilliant........even more fabulous fashion design in Dundee, check out Tracey Stewart Thompson at ...

http://minscotland.webs.com

Rock Steady.........

 Just a short boat trip from the Old Port in Portland, Maine is Peaks Island this breath taking island has many wonders but for me the Rock Sculptures on the beach are what blew me away.........this place is a must see...

We are very blessed here in Bonny Dundee, not only do we have a good thing going on in the most spectacular setting on the River Tay, but the Scottish Designer of the year 2012 and Dundonian, Hayley Scanlan, has come back home to set up her design studio............. I think this is fantastic for the city and well done Hayley for not setting up shop elsewhere.....

I Know I'm not alone in wishing you every success in the future.

So Miffed..........

Needing to gain some inspiration for a new dress design I have to conjure up, I was looking forward to going through all of the paraphernalia I had collected from Biba when I was a teenager. 
Then it hit me...............I had stupidly thrown it all out... posters, badges, menus and labels all gone. Mad, mad, mad.

This is how I remember it.

Dare to be Different......

These are some of the photographs I took at the Schiaparelli and Prada exhibition in The Met Museum New York.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iteUc2daDX8

Hoboken........

This old water faucet really attracted me........how many people take refreshment from here ?

Loving....... Chelsea Market, New York...

Pop Up shops are great....... I stumbled upon this one in Chelsea Market. Several designers were showcasing their wares but I was totally blown away with Sohung Designs.......

Sohung Designs.

http://www.sohungdesigns.com/

A Girls Best Friend......

My best friend Molly had four legs, blonde hair, big brown eyes and a black wet nose.
She was funny, gentle, kind, loving, faithful, loyal and tolerant.
Miss you girl.

what a treat.............

Bea standing at her stall. Contact Bea at beasutherland@gmail.com

Just a peek at some of the amazing stalls at The Vintage Fair in St George's Hall Liverpool. Some real finds here from Victorian babywear to Alexander McQueen......

Tomorrow I drive south to Liverpool to check out the Vintage Fair. It's being held in St Georges Hall and promises to be a real treat......... I'm on the look out for Lace and Embroidery pieces also for inspiration for fashion design ideas................. fingers crossed...

Designs on the CatWalk.........

A Conche Shell was behind the idea for this Shell Hat.....

I re-designed a second hand boring blazer and turned it into a backless waistcoat.

This Collars' design has taken inspiration from the sea.

Alice Marra from the band 'The Hazey Janes' wearing the dress I designed for her.
CatWalk photo's taken by Oliver F Urqurkursen.