Elvis isn't dead...

Hello Strangers,

It is crazy to think that this time last year I was enduring the long bus journey from Oxford to London and then an hour long underground trek - enjoying an internship at French Connection!It was an interesting experience but it already feels like it was a million years ago. What I really enjoyed was being able to help out with print a bead work. It is very strange to see some of the pieces I helped with sitting in the shops waiting to be bought. Gives me a little skip in my step when I see an advert for a garment I saw at it's beginnings. It was a fantastic experience and I really enjoyed it! Thank you to the people who helped me get it and who taught me a great deal about what the industry is like.

Anyway the reason I rave about some of the garments is because I have recently purchased one. It was in the sale but £325 reduced to £150 I think is still fair :). It is the Broiderie Brogue dress in cream leather with a laser cut pattern. I can tell you the silly thing I get excited about is I remember photocopying the pattern and trying to make it match at the seams and also drawing the pattern on to a working drawing. Silly but it gives me a little thrill.I did have an occasion to splash the cash and get such a statement piece - it wasn't just for wearing round the house! It was Mr FF's Grandparent's 50th Wedding Anniversary at the end of September = A big deal! A lot of his relatives were there, some travelled from Italy and America to come and celebrate. It was lots of fun with a five course lunch and a Dean Martin impersonator serenading us all and in the evening there was a hog roast and an Elvis impersonator. It was so much fun!! I have added some pictures in this post so you can see mine and Mr FF's outfits and some of the crazy shenanigans!

Mr FF and I
Mr FF and I with Mr FF's Bro and GirlfriendThe Grandparents = awwwAnd a rather close call with Elvis!

Anyway speak soon!!
Fashion Fantasist xx

(Thank you David D'Elia for the event photographs)

Feeling Frilly

With all the rain I am already starting to think about Summer! Have found a couple of pieces that I can't wait to wear once the sun starts shining again.This dress is from Primark and I was immediately drawn to the print. It reminded me of vintage fabric and even though every other person will probably have this dress I still think something about it is unique and interesting.These sweet frilly shoes were found in the Topshop sale! I am very pleased I have finally bought these shoes as I have been lusting after them for quite some time!! They were perfect to go with a dress that I had for a wedding. Here is the dress, it is from Great Plains and I snapped it up at a French Connection Sample sale for £15!!!So as you can probably tell I will be wearing some frills this summer - and I can't wait!!

Hope you are all staying warm and dry!!

Fashion Fantasist xx

Happy New Year

And Happy Birthday to my blog! It has been a year since I started blogging as Fashion Fantasist and what a year it has been. I was not expecting this blog to turn out the way it has done. It started as a way to make a digital profile for myself and my designs but has turned in to a lot more.

I don't think any of the opportunities I have experienced this year would have happened without this blog. It has helped me meet new people, I have been invited to fashion shows and events, I have written for other blogs and online publications and of course it helped (with Twitter) towards getting an internship with French Connection.

Writing this blog has expanded my fashion horizons. If I have found a designer or piece of work I have found interesting or inspirational I have tried to make contact with the designer, which has been a very rewarding experience discovering other peoples inspirations and aspirations.

A highlight of this year for me was to go to London Fashion Week!! I only went the one day and saw one show but it was amazing. As you all know I didn't shut up about it for posts and posts. Thank you to Kirsty Ward and David Longshaw who gave me that opportunity it was amazing to meet you both and I wish you the best of luck in 2011. At LFW I also met the team behind the hugely successful Young British Designers who I had the pleasure of writing a guest blog post for. Wonderful people who I think are doing exciting things for young British designers.

One of the best and most challenging experience this year has got to be my final university collection. It was difficult to get in to the swing of things but through it I discovered a real interest in photographic and Trompe l'Oeil print techniques. I am currently trying to create some garments that I can market and sell... But look out 2011 for that. I also experienced a real passion for meeting new people whilst helping with the PR for our University fashion show. I created a twitter account and managed to get the most coverage our university shows have had. It was also very flattering to have my work featured in an online publication.

Going to shows to cover them as a journalist/blogger was something I was not expecting but it has been a real delight to do this for both Culture Candy and Guide2Bristol. Hopefully this will be something I will continue to do in 2011.

Working for French Connection as an intern was such an eyeopening experience. I learnt so much and met a lot of very friendly people. It started out as just photocopying and sticking together artworks but as I got to know people better I started to contribute more. This may seem like a small thing but in the 2011 a/w range there are bead combinations that I helped create and that is so exciting. I brushed up on my Photoshop skills and actually feel more confident on Illustrator. All in all it was fantastic - hard work but well worth it!!! (Thank you to Rachel again for the gig!)

All in All it has been a whirl wind of a year. 2010 has been hard work but I think 2011 will be even harder. I am going to be continuing to look for work, start creating more designs, keep working hard on this blog and keep talking to and meeting wonderful people. Of course like every new year my resolution will be to stop chewing my nails! Hehe!

Sorry I haven't done any images in this post I wasn't sure what to choose!!! But here are some gorgeous shoes I have my eye on...Finsk Boots....... Well I can dream - that is why I am a Fashion Fantasist! (They are also really lovely in black!)

I hope you all had great years and thank you for reading my blog, following and supporting it. Wishing you the best 2011!!!
Fashion Fantasist xxx

I Am Now A Superhero

Christmas wishes to you all! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I have never felt so full - why is it every year we stuff ourselves to the seams?! I spent Christmas day with my family in Oxford and I have never in my life seen so much snow - it was magical!I was very spoilt this year with some lovely Christmas presents including some items from my Xmas wish list. My favorite is this gorgeous cape from French Connection.I also a received a very thoughtful gift from my other half - a kindle - I adore being able to read whenever I like and have started to read Dorian Gray.

How were all your Christmases? Favorite gift?

Xmas Wishes
Fashion Fantasist xxx

Christmas Wishes

Now that Christmas is just around the corner I thought I would share with you a few items from my Xmas Wish List...
Now this may be my last blog post until after Christmas as I am not taking my laptop to my parents... Buuuut you will get a full update before the new year on all Christmas merriment I am sure! I also need to share with you all my experience with French Connection, which will be a mammoth post since I enjoyed it so much and learnt loads!

I will also say now, if I don't get the chance, that my blog will be one on new years day!!! Crazy that I have been only blogging a year and lots of fantastic things have happened - but more on that on new years day (hopefully without too big a hangover!)

For now I wish you a Happy Christmas and hope that Father Christmas brings you everything you wished for!!!

Speak Soon!!
Fashion Fantasist xx