Hello Final Year

Image is from here.

Well, I was still really busy... I think I just need to come up with a new routine around university, work and everything else in life. But as soon as things really get going, that'll be easy I'm sure! At the minute my timetable keeps changing and we are just going through ideas, so I am just going with it at the minute until things settle down.

Final year has been really exciting so far (I started back on Monday) and I've been brainstorming my ideas so I can do something (hopefully) spectacular over the next year. It has felt quite strange to go from what I was doing in my placement to back to university. However I am still really excited about the next year and I cannot wait to get stuck in!!

I just thought I would show you something that was on campus as part of the first week at university, Harvey Nichols had brought a huge trailer onto the campus to stage a fashion show, and live bands. It was during my lunch break that the fashion show was staged and I reached for my camera to show you all some photos. 

I hope you enjoy!

Paul Smith - Paris - Autumn/Winter 2010/2011

For a little break from revision I decided to have a little look at some of the catwalks for Autumn/Winter 2010/2011. Paul Smith is a favourite designer of mine so I decided to look at his latest collection, which I found was quite inspiring.

Smith has designed a range of garments in both casual and formal style, teaming together over sized coats with modern, sophisticated tailoring. His used of contrasting patterns throughout the outfits compliments the Paul Smith brand well, allowing stripes, checks and patterned shirts to be teamed together without a second thought.

The collection, suitable for a range of ages, is made up of dark, subdued colours with the occasional bright. The reds, blacks and blues are pieced together to give the collection warmth, but also as key pieces that will work with whatever else you buy.

The overcoats are asymmetrical, with exaggerated features such as hoods collars and shoulders. The heavy fabrics have been played with the create the best drape so that the coat sits right no matter how it is worn.

Not only were patterns used with each other, Smith has designed shirts with contrasting collars and cuffs, Jackets with contrasting lapels (mixing some with knitted features) and lustrous and matted fabrics have been used together to create unique, stylish ensembles.

See more of the collection here.

Iceberg Spring/Summer 2010

Looking at Spring/Summer 2010 for men is inspirational for me, and allows me to see what other designers have been inspired by, the colours they have used and how their collection comes together. Looking on GQ online, I have found a great collection by Iceberg. The colours, prints, patterns and even style features and accessories work well within themselves as a collection, but create a range of styles.

To most of the garments there is a lightweight, airy feel, very suitable for the season and the colours add to this in their pastel hues and greys and neutrals.

Links in accessories and footwear make this collection connect, which is something I hope to achieve in my next design project's final illustrations.

Thee is a very simple shape, which fits close to the body, but gives a structured look to the outfit. Blazers, short jackets, cropped trousers, colour blocks t-shirts and checked shirts all feature within this look.

Features such as the placings of the flowers on the lapels and breast pockets create links between the jackets where only one or two would be bought within a collection. This gives their collection a signature so that people might associate flowers like these with this specific collection.

Click here see more of this collection.

Images are from www.gq.co.uk

Maison Martin Margiela

In my Design Development and Portfolio module, the project for this semester was half group work and half individual work. The group work was the research element of the module and we were given a designer known for having an individual brand rather than someone who follows trends. The individual work is the design development, using our research to design a collection suitable for the brand, in colour and style, as well as the target audience.
Our designer... Martin Margiela.
I didn't really know a lot about him or his work before this project but having watched his shows and studying his past collections, I will now be looking out for him in new fashion shows.

Margiela's clean cut shape, bold blocks of colour and the unique style in his designs are truly inspiring, and something I hope to recreate myself not only in the design element of this project but in my own personal design collections.
 

Images courtesy of www.gq.com