5 Month countdown

It is 5 months until The Mid-Cheshire College fashion show, after months of going over the possible themes for collections from summer homework's and research briefs, I have decided to continue with my idea of using elements of floristry in my designs. For this particular brief we are only making one of our outfits, however i have chosen all 4 of my designs and think they work really well together as a collection, especially as they have a clear colour palette running throughout all garments. I will be using my blog to show my collection come together, and how they come from a drawing on paper until they show on the catwalk in june.

Digital Technology in Fashion design/manufacture

Also in this college project, we are looking at how digital technology is used throughout the fashion industry, so far I have only covered Illustration, but computer technology is currently used in most areas of Fashion.


Computer software programmes are now available to allow designers to play around with ideas without having to manufacture anything. These programmes can be used to draw out designs, create textures, adjust sizes, make patterns and sample fabric colours.

An example of this I found was during a documentary on Ozwald Boateng. He used special design programmes to mix his jewel colours for a range of shirts, this is also a lot less time consuming then going round dozens of fabric shops searching for colour swatches.

The only downside I see to this, is even with the most amazing software available, you cant get the exact sense of how a fabric will work through a computer screen, nor can you feel the
textures which are both huge factors when sampling with fabrics for garments.
(Boateng collection)

Pattern cutting pieces are very often now measured, drawn and cut using special computer software. This means the pattern can be produced in larger scales as well as saved and is easy to come back too. Also Digital Techniques can be used to make spec drawings, this results is high quality and being very clear and easy for a seamstress to follow.

The con however is that these garments are then mass produced, so if there is the smallest fault made in the early stages, ( which would be easily done considering the complexity of these programmes) the entire batch of that garment would be faulty and go to waste.

He may of retired , but this collection still screams Valentino

Valentino

Valentinos new head designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccio have come under a lot of pressure since Valentino retired in 2008, for not maintaining the look and very Italian feel to the company. However this year the elegance, shape and colour palette all make for a fabulous, and very Valentino, collection . As well as having all the features of a classic Valentino show the collection had a bit of a younger feel I think this was due to the shorter hem lines and shiny smooth dresses. Also the lace and small details fitted with the current trend of modern romantics . All in all it was a very girly, feminine collection there were bows, lots of layers and voluminous ruffles in very thin luxurious fabrics as well as re-invented little black dresses to create a very svelte womanly silhouette.

Diors Couture Magic

Last week was Paris Couture fashion week. For me this is the most exciting time in the fashion calendar as it shows the creme of the fashion crop at their very best !

Usually I am the first to complain at a Galliano R-T-W collection as he never matches the effortless style that Christian Dior brought in the 40's-50's. However when it comes to couture Galliano is one of the most outrageous , shocking and purely brilliant designers there is.


This year Galliano has taken florals to a new level ... instead of looking at the patterns and prints of flowers Galliano has used the shape, texture and extreme colours to create pieces to actually mirror both exotic and traditional flowers. Even the catwalk was decorated with huge plastic parrot tulips to create a tropical paradise.

textured dip dyed maxi

The collections used a beautiful colour palette of violet and pink, orange and black, indigo and lime , rich royal blue and scarlet red. Fabrics to mirror the texture of flower petals such as chiffons, tulles and mohair were used in layers to create bustles and volume. Fabrics were also dip dyed and stained to get the effect of veins within flower stems.

Petal detail dress

My main reason for being so amazed by this collection is because to me John Galliano had taken away the femininity from Dior however with the volumed skirts and nipped in waists it was as though the 1950's Dior was slowly making its appearance once again. I can only hope next year that we see, huge A-line skirts , tiny tiny waists and delicate Mary Jane shoes .... of course with the beautiful hats !

Dior 2010
dior 1950