Witty & Wise Writing

While Christmas shopping at Target for my friends and family I found a few items for myself...including this snazzy journal to the left. I just couldn't resist, it has a little bit of everything I like: Paris, Audrey Hepburn, the French language, shoes, and pink. It's a hard back journal with lined pages that have faded decorations on them, similar to the cover minus the shoe and Audrey H. quote. It's really pretty and while I bought a purple leather bound journal with an Eiffel Tower and "Bonjour!" on it not too long ago, I started writing in this journal the day I bought it. I figure that by the time I study abroad in London, so about 1 year, I will need another journal and my purple one is smaller and might be the right size for my entire trip to London. Whenever I go on trips I take a journal, it started more when I went to Australia because we were supposed to keep track of what we did each day. Also, I really just love writing, it's relaxing.

I have a lot of journals and in the past I went from colorful and exciting diaries to plain old composition books you get at the store for a dollar or less. For example, I keep my poems in a black and white composition book. But I haven't kept a diary in a while, and I miss that relaxing moment of writing about my day before I go to bed. It's nice to just get everything out and not going over everything in your head while you're trying to fall asleep. Also, it'll just be great to get back into writing more, especially because I think this spring semester will be filled with a lot of interesting days and events.

Staying On Track

Just a few updates:
1. I have gotten all of my grades:

• B in AS114, B in ECON 210, A in French 202, A in Consumer Behavior, A in Intro to retail, A+ in my Mentor class and an A+ in Apparel Design

2. I am back at Express, I worked 6hrs yesterday and I'm scheduled for more times this week :)

3. I am sick and slowly getting better....and still watching Project Runway

I am loving this season of the show (9), it is just filled with all of these different competitions and it's just amazing.

I am now planning on going shopping for presents for everyone in my family and a few friends. Hopefully I will be able to get something for everyone.

Awesome Assignments

So I found this gem stashed in my Drafts folder, I don't know why I never published it, but here it is!

September 2, 2013
For my draping and pattern making class we were assigned a group project where we are given an age group and then have to come up with ideas, inspiration, and create 10 crouquis (front view only) and present them in 1 portfolio. My group was assigned ages 40-50 and we decided to go with a Gatsby theme. We will have more than 10 croquis though. On the left sides of our portfolio will be inspiration pages with amgazine clippings, fabric swatches, and quotes. On the right sides will be our croquis, anywhere from 1-3 croquis depending on the size and stance of the croquis. For the sides with our croquis we will have different, almost contrasting colors, colored backgrounds with the same strip of cream paper at the top with the word "Gatsby" or something else, we haven't settled on that part yet. Then our croquis will be on the page with quotes or fabric swatches that were actually used in the sketches at the bottom of the pages. We decided all of our croquis wll have bobs, red lips, and will be outlined. Besides that, the 3 of us will be creating different garments that illustrate how differently we sketch while still maintaining that they all are cohesive and work well together.

September 5, 2013
Well yesterday we met before class started and managed to cut all the paper, glue croquis and magazine clippings, and write some quotes to create our final portfolio for the project. In my opinion, it could have been a little better, maybe more cohesive if it looked as though 1 person had drew all of the croquis but with understanding that everyone has a different illustration technique, it turned out amazingly. Our first page was a light blue paper with antique writing and a few stamps, but a large picture of Daisy and Gatsby from the '74 film. It was light and ethereal. Then we had a page of magazine clippings and then our croquis. Our first page was a pearl background with 3 figures: 2 in cream and pastels with a dark grey & black ensemble in between the 2. Then we had 2 pages of 3 figures each with a mixture of dresses and pants ensembles. Then we ended with the left page being my red evening dress croquis on a red faux leather paper and on the right side having a dark brown faux leather page with a magazine picture that embodied the Gatsby feeling and a few quotes on cream colored paper we had used at the top of every other page. All in all it was great. We knew what we wanted to do and we did it.

Supposed to be Relaxing...

So now that exams are over you think I'd be chilling and relaxing, and I am, but I'm stressing just a little about grades. All semester I have been worried about grades slipping because of having 19 credits hours and 2 jobs that I put a lot of effort into. As of now I know I have an A+ for my mentor class, and A in Intro to Retail, and A+ in Consumer Behavior and a B in my art class (AD114). Which isn't bad at all, though I wish I got a little more than just a 4.0 for A+s. However, I am still waiting for my Apparel Design, Econ, and French 202 classes. I am worried that i'll get a C in Econ and that maybe I won't do so hot in French either. Though I had completely forgotten that if you miss 3 or less French classes you get an entire 1% added to your end grade...so I have an 88% now and if I end with an 89% then I get a 90% and get an A-, which is still an A! And as of now I'm not missing a lot of points in my design class and I know I got over 40pts of extra credit, so I am (hopefully) getting an A.

So not too horrible, but my application to London College of Fashion is mostly my GPA and academic achievements because we only send in 5 pictures of our work. It's a little stressful but if I get into London for design I think it'll all be worth it.

Resorting to Project Runway

I haven't seen a whole Project Runway episode in forever! When it first came out I watched every single episode, maybe like the first 3 or 4 seasons I was an avid viewer. However, I just kind of quit trying to catch every episode and just watch a few here and there. Well, now that it's break and I have a solid month off I'm thinking of watching a few episodes....or you know at least a whole season. So I am starting now with season 9, maybe a little random but that's what I saw online so I'm going for it.

Almost done with episode 1. The designers had to take their pjs and their bed sheet and make something super creative. So far I am enjoying this episode, and I can't wait to see who wins. It's always interesting to see the outfits I like and then get the judges' point of view. Usually it's really different, I generally tend to like someone's design who doesn't get to be in the top picks. Or...I might actually like someone who goes home. It all just depends i guess, though I do admire superb tailoring and garment construction.

I can't wait to finish the entire season and move on to another, haha this is going to get so bad watching all of these episodes I've missed. Maybe I'll have to stop for awhile...

Winter Wonderland

I love snow, and it's been snowing since last night. I went out for pizza last night with some friends and the snow looked so pretty. I love when it's just fallen and it's crisp and white and clean. It's relaxing and calming. Something about snow just makes me so happy. It's like it's okay to be a little kid and hope that it snows on Christmas and that you can build a snowman and make snow angels and have snow ball fights. It's juts something I associate with the holiday season. Everyone seems more happy, and I know it's probably not because of the snow (because of bad roads and delays) buuuuut I think that it's pure demeanor really connects with people on some level. Like the snow takes them back to simpler times when all they wanted was a snow day and to hang out with their friends outside and then come in for hot cocoa and cookies.

All I know is I love snow and I really do hope that it snows on Christmas day because that would be magical and my little brother still believes in Santa so it'd be wonderful.

Went For It

Well after watching the Victoria's Secret Fashion show and discussing it with my friend, I decided to look into if they have internships. Annnnnd they do!

I registered for an account, entered my information, and uploaded my resume and cover letter. Then a little bit later I received an email saying they had received my application and would either contact me if they're interested or just keep my application on file for a year. Which, is still good because when I am an actual junior next year I can reapply and have more skills and other great things on my resume. 

Similar to other design internships, they are looking for juniors and seniors, and I am only a sophomore though after this semester I am a junior based on the number of credits I've earned. I figured the worst that could happen is they don't contact me, my application stays on file for the year, and I just go ahead and reapply next fall. 

In order for me to go to London for the design semester I need to take summer classes this coming summer. I will only be getting 6 credits for going to London and even though I have a ton of credits already I still have required classes to take that I can't take in London. 

So if they don't contact me I will be perfectly fine staying at Purdue over the summer, working and taking 3 classes. But....if they do contact me, I'll have to reevaluate my plans but it would definitely be worth it! So stay tuned!

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2013

So I just finished watching the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and I have to say it was amazing. It's hard to believe that they are able to do the show every year and have it be so different. I love it! Its great and I like how they showcase the models in between the runway shows. It's refreshing to see how real the models are and how much they enjoy working at Victoria's Secret.

I think my favorites were the Parisian Nights and Snow Angels, there were just so many fabulous designs walking down the runway. It's neat how they do the same runway but are able to create completely different atmospheres and settings for each collection. It's really great. 

Another neat thing about their fashion show is the collaboration of the musicians and how much fun they seem to have being there on the runway.

All of the creations are different and fun and just really great because women wear a bra and underwear everyday so these lingerie options are amazing. It  seems like a fun and involved fashion show, hopefully in the future I'll be able to attend in person (as a staff member-designer? or in the crowd).

Watch the show here:
Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2013

Finally Done, Well Almost Done

For my class I was able to finish my dress for Gabrielle. It's short, but for the fashion show in the spring I plan on adding a long skirt and possibly a long train in the back. I haven't decided on my final plans yet, though I do have a lot floating around in my mind. 

Besides just finishing it I had to fill out cost sheets, do 2 technical sketches (front and back), and 2 croquis (front and back), along with an inspiration page. I even threw in a cover page because I couldn't decide on what pictures to use for my other pages. 

The first picture is Gabby all dolled up wearing the dress. She has white lace gloves, white Jackie-O sunglasses, and black patent peep-toe pumps. Also, the hem isn't done in this picture because I was still debating on if I wanted to hem it to turn it in or wait until I added the skirt. For the project I hemmed it so it looked neater.

The next picture is the back of the dress. As you can see the back V is a little loose, not the super tight look I was going for, but I actually like it. In my opinion, I think the darts look great. They lay right and make the dress really work for Gabby. 

Now for my presentation in my portfolio:

Here is my cover page, sort of a title page as if Gabby was in her own movie.

The next two pages are my inspiration page (left) and my page with the 2 technical sketches and my swatches of my fashion fabric and interfacing. I decided to go with a picture of one of the party scenes from "Breakfast at Tiffany's."

And finally, my croquis sketches. Originally I had wanted to just do the croquis sketches on the old parlor pictures, but then I really liked the idea of using Audrey Hepburn and the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's" in my presentation of my dress.

Overall, I am pleased with my presentation in my portfolio. I like the way everything goes well together and how the idea is easily expressed.

Espresso Fueled Evening

Last night, well yesterday in general, was quite the experience. I realized just how much I can do in one day. I think I could definitely be a worthy competitor on Project Runway (time wise at least). 

Front View

I was in class for 3 hours and I managed to complete my darts (12 total), start sewing the dress and lining pieces separately on the seams. Then later in the day, after classes, around 4:30 I started sewing it more. I did the zipper and after a few mistakes I needed a break. I went to a PFA meeting and returned to the lab with bread sticks. After food and a doubleshot of espresso I started working again. It took about an hour and a half of seam ripping and a couple more mistakes to start off on the right foot. I watched a tutorial video and starting getting in the zone. 

I finally had found the answers and figured out what exactly I needed to do to fix my dress. I now have everything except the hem and trimming the seam allowances (since I have a fitting scheduled at 6pm tonight and may need to take it in). 

Since we need pictures for the fit of the garment on our model for the final presentation of our project, I will be taking some really fun pictures. I have lots of pearl jewelry, white lace gloves, white Jackie-O sunglasses, and more prepared for my model's mini fashion shoot. 

This project has been a lot of work, from day one with measuring my model to making patterns and then making a muslin dress and having to correct my patterns. Now I have an elegant, cocktail dress with a modest front and low back with darts that fit my model perfectly (at least the muslin version's did). All I want to do is finish this, prepare for final pictures tonight or tomorrow. 

Back View

I plan on creating a bottom for the dress to turn it into an evening, floor length gown for the spring fashion show. So I will definitely be posting more about that. As well as the rest of my presentation: inspiration page, croquis front and back views, and technical sketches front and back views. 
So just stay tuned! 

Fashion Show Creations

For my pattern making class our final assignment is to make a sleeveless dress (or long top) from patterns we create for a model (a real person, not a mannequin). My model is my friend Gabrielle, who switched out of the design major into psychology. It's perfect because she is knowledgeable about design and I like hearing her opinion, also she's just really excited about it so it makes me even more excited about it.

My Front (L) pattern and my Back (R) pattern.
These are the final patterns after tweaking.

She's going to be my model for the fashion show as well as my class so I'm making part of my garment for the class and finishing it for the show over winter break. The end result is a long evening gown. It has a high neck and a very low back. There are 6 darts total (though 12 if you include the ones on the lining), it will be completely lined with the same fabric, and the bottom hasn't been officially decide on but as of now will be long ribbons covered in squares of chiffon fabric the same color as the main part of the dress. The ribbons will be shorter in the front and longer in the back so it's easier for her to walk and will create a lot of movement for the dress. I know the bottom will take forever so I am only creating the main part of the dress for my class.

I have already made the 2 main patterns since we have to make it out of muslin first and I didn't need to line or interface the muslin version. I had a fitting on Monday and it looks amazing! The darts are perfect, I only had to lower the armhole about half an inch, and make the hips less curvy. But it looks great!

The muslin dress (front).

I didn't take any pictures of Gabrielle in the dress because I completely spaced about it, but i wish I did. I'll probably end up making her try on the muslin version again just to get some pictures to show how everything went from sketch to working patterns to final patterns to muslin to legit final patterns to the final creation. There is definitely a lot of work that goes into a final piece and I can't wait to see what mine turns out to be. 

Making Progress

So in my pattern making class we had been working on making patterns for our mannequins. We made patterns for the bodice, skirt, and sleeves. Then we put them all together to make a long sleeved sheath dress. 

This is my end result:

NEW SHOES

I bought these lovely boots at Journey's about 2 weekends ago. I wasn't planning on buying shoes. But...this is what happens when you go into a store because your friend is ogling a pair in the display and then a really nice worker comes over and convinces you to try them on and they fit wonderfully and they look so amazing and you rationalize that it's okay to spend $50 because they're boots and you don't own heeled boots and you've been working really hard and deserve a nice pair of shoes to help make all your bad test scores fade away from your memory. Also, they're just really cool shoes.

Spring Semester

First off, I have my schedule for the Spring semester!

I will be taking Apparel Design 2, History of Fashion, Textiles (and Lab), Showcase (the class for the fashion show), French 301 (so French 5), and Introduction to French Literature. It's 17 credit hours and a lot of work, but I think it will be more fun than this semester and a lot less stressful. I can't wait for exams to be over and to start all of these classes. I was going to take Psychology instead of History of Fashion, but our professor wants us to take History of Fashion earlier so we can get a lot out of the class, especially since it's only offered in the spring and a lot of us plan on studying abroad next spring (2015). I am also excited because I get to help with the textiles class since my work study boss runs the lab section. I'll assist her with setting up and taking down the lab, mixing chemicals, dying fabrics, and just help her with anything she needs for the lab. I love the science aspect of it all so I am super pumped to learn more than just what is in the class.

The semester doesn't start till January, but I might end up posting something more if I hear about any of these classes.

Holidays

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I just wanted to say that this semester has been a lot harder and more time consuming than I had anticipated, and I am sorry for not posting as much as I said I was going to post. After this next week or so (my last exam is December 11th) I will be able to post a lot more. I have so much to write about and to share!

Stay tuned, I will try and post some things but there won't be a lot until my winter break.

More London Decisions

For a while I was planning on trying to go to London College of Fashion for all of my junior year. I would do the design semester in the fall and then the fashion business semester in the spring. However, after meeting with my adviser, I can really only manage one semester. Let me break it down a little- for the business semester I would earn credit for 5 classes, so 15 credit hours. For the design semester I would only earn the 2 classes  for studying abroad (which I included in the business already). So if I went a whole year I would only earn the 15 credit hours. Which would leave my senior year to be incredibly stressful at 18 and 20 credit hours, a huge no no when it's recommended that you take 12-14 each semester so you have time to focus on your senior collection. So instead of going all year I have to decide on which semester I want to apply for: business or design. Now one reason I even applied to Purdue was because of their connection to London College of Fashion and how excited I was when I found out I could learn how to make shoes. Therefore, I have decided to stick with me dreams and be a little less practical and apply for design. If I do design in the spring 2015, then fall of 2014 will be a little difficult at 18 credit hrs but I'm doing 19 now with 2 jobs so not too bad. And then senior year I'll have 16 and 14 I think. So a little high first semester but I think it'll all be worth it in the end, especially when I can say I can make shoes.

Model Laws

So I've been trying to catch up on reading Vogue UK online and one of the articles is about the new child model laws. It's a very interesting read and very informative, I didn't realize there weren't laws like these in place to protect children models. The article can be found online here: The New Model Laws.

In the article Milligan explains how the "Child models in New York- that is, those under the age of 16- will now be afforded the same protection offered to other young performers, such as actors and singers" (Milligan). I think it's great to have a definite age for when a model is a child vs. "adult". Also, parts of the laws make complete sense to me. For example, "A responsible person will be designated to monitor the activity and safety of each child performer under the age of 16 in the workplace" is almost common sense to me, an adult should be watching the child and making sure they are okay and nothing bad happens (Milligan). I also like how "An education requirement decrees that employers must provide teachers and a dedicated space for instruction" (Milligan). I would hope that children could be able to still continue their education while working and that they would be able to do schooling and modeling without having to sacrifice an education that could benefit them later on in life after modeling. I am new to this specific topic and I'm not sure what laws, if any, existed before these, but I'm glad they are putting child models in with performers (singers and actors) because they are performing and they are working just like the other children.

Works Cited

Milligan, Lauren. "The Model Laws." Vogue News. 23 10 2013: n. page. Web. 23 Oct. 2013. <http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2013/10/23/coco-rocha-child-model-labour-laws-in-new-york>.

Technology and Fashion

So one of the things I've been trying to decide on is whether or not I want to get a tablet this winter season. This past summer I thought about purchasing one for the school year but then decided I wanted to save my money because of all the books I had to buy for my classes. However, as this semester has gone on I find myself wishing that I had one. Carrying my laptop around with me is a tedious task, especially on days when I have a lot of books in my backpack so it's even heavier, or when the weather is untrustworthy and rains whenever it feels like it. Having a tablet would be easier to store and easier to tote around with me because it's lighter than my 5-7lb laptop (plus charger and case). Another reason is a tablet just seems like easier access, laptops can take forever to take out of the bag and turn on and load and just get ready to use, whereas tablets appear to be faster. I haven't actually spent a lot of time on a physical tablet, so I definitely want to look at them int he store rather than simply looking online and then purchasing before physically getting the feel of the tablet I've chosen. I have decided on a specific one I would like to try out and I am hoping with the holidays coming soon that it will go on sale and I might even possibly get it for Christmas and not have to pay the $400+ for it and the accessories (case, plug, etc.).

I think technology in the fashion world is very important, especially with all of the advances being made with fabric and technology- solar power/personal energy charged fabric is just one example. Also, a lot of handy technology such as phones, iPods/MP3s, tablets, and other portable tech gear is putting a focus on the customization of those goods and thus putting an emphasis on style and allowing a person's personal style show through with their selections of colors, patterns, and other accessories like headphones. I look forward to seeing other advances in technology more closely related to fashion (such as the Goggle Glasses). And hopefully I'll be able to find the perfect tablet that can do everything I need it to and will make my life a little easier.

Never Too Old For Tea Parties

The Tea Party Gang

My friend Hale decided that for her birthday she wanted to have a tea party where everyone dressed up and we had cake and cookies and tea. So a few of us got together and did exactly that, we had a tea party. We all dressed up and our versions of dressed were definitely varied. Hale wore a peach lace gown she found at goodwill with black booties and a black bow in her hair. Haleigh wore slacks, a button down, dress shoes, and then suspenders, bow tie, and fedora to dress it all up. Celia wore a fun blue floral print dress with a bowler hat and black heels. Jessica wore a pale blue prom dress and I wore a bright red short dress with black sweater and black sequin fascinator and on my feet were my gold oxfords. We were all definitely dressed up, we just appeared as if we weren't going to the same function. No matter, we had a blast.

Hale had baked a wonderful cake and went overboard on the sprinkles. We also didn't have enough mugs so we had to use plastic cups. But we had a lot of fun sitting in sun and enjoying each others' company. It doesn't matter how old you are, tea parties can be a lot of fun. And if you don't like tea, serve something else.It's a lot of fun to see what other people's version of dressed up is and maybe next time we have a tea party we'll look a little more coordinated.

Apologies

Sort of an update/apology for my short hiatus in posting my writing. I have been incredibly busy with school and work but I seem to have a more relaxed next few couple of weeks.
A few topics I plan on discussing are:

• My 2 different jobs
• My different classes: What we're working on
• Spring Purdue Fashion Show Ideas and News
• Fall and Winter Styles

And more of course! I'm hoping to fill my blog with quality posts that will be both helpful and informative on different topics.

Moving From One to Another: Fashion Weeks

The New York City Fashion has wrapped up and Fashion Week in London has started. I for one am excited to see Tom Ford, Vivienne Westwood's Red Label, and more. There are several designers I have never heard of so i am thrilled to be opened to new ideas and creations. It's wonderful to see the variety in everyone's take on the Spring 2014 Ready-to-Wear season. All of the colors, fabrics, and accessories, not mention the shapes and designs of the garments. Of course I'm excited for Fendi and Gucci and other well known brands, but it's the designers who are new to me which are more exciting. I love going on the UK Vogue website and browsing through all the articles, and now that they're posting about the Fashion Week, I might just be spending a lot of time on the website. Stay tuned for reviews on designers' collections showing at London's Fashion Week.

Oscar de la Renta Review (Updated May 2015)

The update for this post is that the pictures have been removed and the text altered accordingly. 

I absolutely love Oscar de la Renta, especially his evening gowns and fitted jackets. His designs are elegant and sophisticated and always creative with fabrics and patterns. His show seemed to have a little something for every woman. He had pencil skirts and blouses, lots of houndstooth and pearls, but then fun bright colors and more dressy gowns. He included some young and flirty, innocent dresses of white crochet but then he had a black blouse with large puffed sleeves. I really enjoyed the variety in the clothing designs and how everything was presented, very crisp and clean. 

Visit Style.com for more on Oscar de la Renta's shows.

Vera Wang Runway Report (Updated May 2015)

The update for this post is that the pictures have been removed and the text altered accordingly. 

I think that Vera Wang is really creative and her pieces are a great way to take that artistic touch but make it functional for the everyday woman. I love her wedding dresses and I like how she thinks outside of the box on color and fabric choices.

Visit the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week website for more details and pictures and videos!

Overall I loved the movement her designs offer and the ease they provide. Also, the colors were very nice because she mostly stuck to one main color for each ensemble, there wasn't any crazy prints or bombardment of contrasting colors in one ensemble.

Rachel Zoe Runway Review (Updated May 2015)

The update for this post is that the pictures have been removed and the text altered accordingly. 

I have admired Rachel Zoe since her first season of her TV show. Because of her I have actually considered going into the apparel industry as a stylist and not necessarily as a designer. However, I still have years to decide and I really would like to some day be a designer for my own line and have my own business. I like Rachel Zoe's style and the way her looks that she creates look effortless, that any woman could be able to pull them off.
To view some pictures go to the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week website

Michael Kors: Runway Report (Updated May 2015)

The update for this post is that the pictures have been removed and the text altered accordingly. 

There's a Michael Kors store in the mall where I worked at Express over the summer and sometimes before or after work I would just pop in and admire the watches and purses. I own a pair of white MK jeans and I like his designs, but whenever someone says Michael Kors I think accessories. I don't know if it's because I just love his accessory designs and I'm more familiar with them, or if it's because I always remember the extravagant and over the top designs while his are more practical and for the modern day woman out and about (not the kind who need ball gowns everyday).

After viewing the show and browsing the pictures I decided I should pay more attention to his designs, I really like how he makes the silhouettes fit the models perfectly.

As usual, the pictures can be found on the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week website.

The collection has a lot of great separates that could be mixed together quite nicely. I liked the show and what the clothes have to offer.

Betsey Johnson Runway Review (Updated May 2015)

The update for this post is that the pictures have been removed and the text altered accordingly

I love the theatrics and atmosphere that the Betsey Johnson show creates. Also, the hair and makeup is so fun and interesting, it adds that pizzazz to the garments. I love Betsey Johnson, especially her jewelry and her crazy eccentric designs.
All pictures can be found on the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week website.

The models just have this great energy that makes the clothes even more fun and flirty. 

Zac Posen Review (Updated May 2015)

The update for this post is that the pictures have been removed and the text altered accordingly.

If I could own anyone's entire collection I might just have to pick Zac Posen's collection. I love the use of fabrics and colors and all of the gowns. The shapes look amazing and the way the whole ensemble is created with hair and makeup is really great. I think everything flows really well and that the gowns aren't your typical gowns, they're all different and have something new to bring to the table. As usual, you can find the pictures I have include in my post from the Mercedes-Benz fashion Week website.




All of the colors are soft and work really together with the fabric choices, I also like how the fabric appears sculpted in some of the garments. I like the cohesiveness of the hair and makeup and the different hair embellishments used.  The collection makes me feel like the girl is going to a very classy tea party or to a old style Hollywood party (the even gowns more for that). Zac Posen always has creative shapes and forms with the structure of his work, and I hope to be able to create many different silhouettes someday. Hopefully it's not as super complex as i think it is, or else it will take me a very very long time to learn everything I want to learn.

Tommy Hilfiger: Runway Report (Updated May 2015)

The update for this post is that the pictures have been removed and the text altered accordingly. 

I've always kind of liked the sporty aspect of  Tommy Hilfiger's designs paired with the color and fabric choices made. For me my style isn't very sporty, but I would like to incorporate the preppy feel sometimes. I like the use of the typical colors but mixed with the spring 2014 season's color scheme.

Visit the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week website to view all of the pictures.

I definitely recommend looking at the full collection. I admire the way the runway looks, how it's not the typical white, straight runway, but has a beachy and relaxing vibe to it. I think the backdrop with the runway setup only add more to the collection.

TOMMY HILFIGER: Runway Photos

TOMMY HILFIGER: Runway Photos

TOMMY HILFIGER: Runway Photos

Monique Lhuillier: Runway Report (Updated May 2015)

The update for this post is that the pictures have been removed and the text altered accordingly. 

I was first introduced to Monique Lhuillier's clothes when i had to do a project on a designer I've never heard of before for a project last year. I chose her and I loved everything I saw. Similar to last year, I am absolutely in love with her spring collection. It's hard for me to pick my top favorites but I will, there's just going to be a lot of pictures in this post.
All the pictures used can be found on the Mercedes-Benz fashion Week website.

I love the colors and the shape the dresses make. I'm not a huge fan of the hairstyle choice but the makeup compliments the ensembles quite well.

I would love to own many of her pieces, though I doubt I could afford straight off the runway pieces. All in all I loved all of her collection, I will definitely be keeping an eye on her future collections.

MONIQUE LHUILLIER:

MONIQUE LHUILLIER:

Lacoste Runway Review (Updated May 2015)

The update for this post is that the pictures have been removed and the text altered accordingly. 

When I think of Lacoste i just think of bright colored polos with a little alligator on the front. however, in viewing their runway show I have a new appreciation for the brand. I didn't realize they do more than polo shirts and clothing that really just look very country club-esque to me. I liked how they showcase both men and women's clothing and are able to make a cohesive collection that exemplifies what they want their brand to be without making it too mainstream.

All of these seem very practical to me, well the sheer dress might be for very specific occasions, but nonetheless I love it. I like the long shirt dress (though color wise for me it wouldn't be flattering at all) and I like the crop top and high waisted skirt with the darker blue paneling (the blues match Pantone's color report). For the men, I liked the green suit the best because it looks very sharp and could be more dressy or more casual depending on what you pair with it.
Once again all these pictures can be found on the Mercedes-Benz fashion Week website.

DKNY Review (Updated May 2015)

The update for this post is that the pictures have been removed and the text altered accordingly. 

In viewing the DKNY runway photos I have decided that I don't think I am a DKNY sort of person. Don't get me wrong I love the designs and the execution of their idea is great but for me personally, I can't envision myself owning the designs. I do think they work well for their target market though and I do think they fit with the styles I've seen so far for the spring 2014 season.

All pictures can be found on the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week website under DKNY runway photos.

I love the bright bold colors and the fact that they are are solid panels, no patterns. I think the clothes are functional and practical, unlike flowing floor-length evening gowns made of silk brocade. I like the variety in shoes but I like the the similarity in make-up despite different hairstyles. I think the collection as a whole is very cohesive and I enjoyed looking at all the pictures. I would love to own the jackets, but I like my bottom clothes to be more fitted (which is why I don't envision myself as a target DKNY costumer).

The collection is worth the time to view it though, it's great and really works well together.

With NYC Fashion Week Comes the Spring Color Report

Last fall I was introduced to the Pantone Fashion Color Report, and since I subscribed to their website I get the occasional emails. The one I got this morning was for their color report for Spring 2014.

Here is the picture from the email:


To learn more about the colors go to Pantone Fashion Color Report Spring 2014.
You can check out the colors and some designers that used certain colors along with information and sketches. It's a great chance to explore colors.

I am loving the blues but also how bright the yellow is, it really pops when almost all the others are a little more dim and faded. I might try sketching some croquis using these colors in mind.

Just a Little FW Update

So far, after watching a handful of shows and browsing through a dozen different designers' sets of pictures from the runway, I haven't even glanced at the presentation pictures, I've ntoiced a few things:

1. Lots of pastels, lightweight fabrics, and sheer panels (not really such a surprise since it's for the spring season).
2. The hair tends to be more on the simplistic side- thank goodness since I am challenged with doing my hair in creative hair styles.
3. The shoes are all different and fun. 
4. So far I am enjoying the use of different prints, there is quite a variety (not a lot of floral).

I am slowly but surely making my way through the shows, hopefully I will manage to see something from every designer. Stay tuned for more designers and pictures!

Watch this preview video: Countdown to MBFW

BCBGMAXAZRIA (Updated May 2015)

The update for this post is that the pictures have been removed and the text altered accordingly. 

New York Fashion Week for Spring 2014: BCBGMAXAZRIA
As I'm watching the runway show right now I can say that:

• I am loving the pastels and the use of cutouts/see through panels
• I would love to own a pair of those heels that lace up and have the cut outs
• The minimal makeup is compliments the color palette and the fabrics quite nicely, especially the no fuss hair
• I enjoy the movement that a lot of the garments provide, some are very structured but everything looks as if it feels wonderful and allows the wearer to breathe and is functional

Some of my favorites include some shots from the Mercedes-Benz website.

They all offer something a little different but you could still envision one woman owning multiple looks. I think that can kind of get tricky sometimes and might not be on the list of things designers worry about but I like thinking that one person could own a whole collection and would be able to have the pieces mesh well together.

All in all I enjoyed watching the show, granted I'm sure viewing it live would've been even better. Someday :) 

Fashion Week!

It's that time of year again where all the people in the fashion industry flock to New York City for some amazing shows that will showcase the coming seasons. I am excited to see all of the highlights and read the articles about the designers' shows. Hopefully I can watch a few on Style.com or another website. In one of the emails I received from Vogue was a link to an article and slideshow of the "Fashion Week A to Z: Everything You Need to Know About the Spring 2014 Season." It's very informative and kind of shows a little bit of everything surrounding Fashion Week from models and celebrities and designers to food and hotels. I enjoyed it and it made me a little bit more excited for Fashion Week.

To learn even more about Fashion Week do to the main website: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. You can view the schedule, look at pictures, watch videos and even view the live streaming.

We only have 4 more days of Fashion Week left so stay tuned for a few posts on some designers that have caught my eye. I've had a lot of homework and work to do so I haven't been able to put as much focus on the week as I would have liked but I think I will be able to do some catching up and manage to write a few good posts.

Summer Interview

It took me a while but here is my interview  with Zoë Zawadzki from the Wearable Art Fashion Show from July. To read more on the show go to: Wearable Art Show Recap. To read more about Zoë Zawadzki you can go to: Interview With A Friend #3 Featuring Zoë Zawadzki.

Before the show started: 

 

What are your expectations going into the show? The title is Wearable Art Fashion Show, what do you picture going down the runway on the models?

• I really had no idea what to expect for the show. But with the title, I expected really original clothes that resembled art pieces, maybe a lot of painted clothes and odd designs that made it different than everyday clothes.

What did you decide to wear for the show? What was your process of deciding what to wear?

• I decided to wear a black dress with a tan striped scarf. Honestly, I didn’t really have much of a process for picking out the outfit, but it’s my favorite black dress, so that was the easy decision. However, it’s a really dressy dress, so I decided to put a scarf with it so it was a little more casual! And then I wore a pair of tan sandals that had very short heels so I could stand the whole night if I had to (which I did)!

After watching the fashion show:

Do you think you wore the right outfit?

• Yeah, I would say I did. I could have easily worn jeans, a cute dressy top, and heels after seeing what everyone else wore, but I didn’t feel overdressed, and I felt good in what I wore, so I think that’s what matters the most!

What did you like best and least about the show? Any suggestions if they could change something?

• I don’t think there was anything I liked best about the show, it was a great casual show in a cool venue. The only thing I think they could have changed was the fact that everyone was standing the whole time, it would have been nice to be able to sit once the show started!

Did the show meet your expectations and would you go again?

• Yeah, it met my expectations (minus no chairs but the clothes were fantastic) but the clothes were different than I imagined and I would without a doubt go again!

What was your favorite design that went down the runway?

• I don’t think I could choose a favorite design. The cupcake dress was really cool and I especially loved all the pieces that focused on the shoes that the person designed!

How did this fashion show, the Wearable Art Fashion Show, compare to the Purdue Fashion Show you saw in spring of 2012?

• I would say this show definitely had a different crowd. The Purdue show was geared more toward parents and mostly students/young people, while there were all sorts of people mostly older people at the Wearable Art one. The Purdue show had a lot more people featured in it, so it had a lot of different types of designs with lots of different inspirations, while the Wearable Art show just had a few designers so there wasn’t a range of types of clothes like at Purdue. I would say the biggest difference is the fact that the Purdue one was just a show while the Wearable Art show had a lot of booths set up so people could buy things and you never even got to sit down whereas you were sitting the whole time for the Purdue show!