Anna Stephenson

June and July are flying by so quickly I am unsure which way is up!! Being out of step with the fashion world I find myself at a disadvantage and am working hard to keep up with all the wonderful new talent that is being produced.

Like most bloggers I am an avid reader of other blogs and find them a magnificent way to keep up to date and also a massive source of inspiration. Not only the content of the blog but the dedication to it. So whilst on one of my jaunts on the internet I spotted the graduate fashion collection by Anna Stephenson on iliketweet.blogspot.Anna Stephenson has graduated from Edinburgh College of Art and Design and has produced a beautiful printed collection inspired by femininity, twins and the strength of duality. She has used various techniques in digital printing, screen printing and fabric manipulation and created a collection mainly focused on surface design, which she was awarded the I-ON Graduate Fashion Prize 2011.I really like this collection and look forward to what Anna puts her creative hand to next. Upon completing her BA she is attending Parsons The New school of Design in New York to do a MFA in Fashion Design and Society. I wish her the best of luck!!

Fashion Fantasist xx

Images are from Arts Thread.

Birds of Paradise

This post is long overdue but I will still write it because it is an interesting photoshoot. My uni chum Stuart's collection was featured in IDOL MAGAZINE in September. There is a funny story about me helping to ferry and store his garments as he tried to get them to London whilst he was out of the country on holiday - basically they came to me via his cousin, only to be collected by his Aunt and posted to London!

Here is the photoshoot - it is not just his pieces, there is a mixture of other graduates.All the information can be found on the IDOL website.

Happy Friday!
Fashion Fantasist xx

GFW Spotlight - Edinburgh College of Art - Louise Holsgrove

Now can I remind you of this cosy collection from Louise Holsgrove from The Edinburgh College of Art GFW show? Checks, furs, velvets and graphic prints made for a beautiful outdoorsey collection. I managed to get in contact with Louise to find out her inspiration and how she found the whole Graduate Fashion Experience. She sent me an array of illustrations and stunning drawn print designs along with photographs of the collection, which I am pleased to share with you!
Graduate Fashion Week has been a great experience - lots of positive feedback and exciting offers as well as some lovely coverage on the Internet - Susie Bubble included! Oh and my photograph on Vogue.. which was weird since I had no make-up on shoes on. Hmm.. While I was down there I really enjoyed seeing what other Graduates had produced - There was a really strong and diverse range of collections and work on the stands.. and I thought some of the music this year was pretty cool. I adore this outfit, the trousers are wonderful! I think the prints are also magical. Looking at them you spot something new every time. I particularly like the coloured print, can you spot the little red houses and boats on the water?My main inspiration comes from simply drawing. I am a keen illustrator and my prints are all completely hand-drawn. I am interested in the concept of Folk and Outsider Art - untaught, uncontrived or spontaneous doodling. I found that through covering garments in the busy, intricate doodles and scribbles I constantly create, I was able to produce a highly personal, unconventional collection. The twist I gave typical outdoor clothing exposed an underlying need for femininity while accommodating the nonchalance and disregard of 90s grunge. (I have a preoccupation with all things adolescent and wardrobe of relaxed, over sized layers.) The bright acid prints of this metropolis I somehow dreamt up made it quite different. Odd. I liked being able to combine my love for illustrating with the garments. As you can see she is a wonderful illustrator as well as a talented designer. I will keeping my eye open for anything Louise may produce in the future!
Best Wishes
Fashion Fantasist xx

GFW Spotlight - Central Lancashire - Duong Nguyen

A little while a go I did some show posts from Graduate Fashion Week. One of my favorite collections was that of Duong Nguyen from University of Central Lancashire. I managed to get in contact with her and find out what her inspiration was. She also sent some really beautiful illustrations and working drawings. She drew inspiration from destruction and demolition and has made it beautiful.

My inspiration was based on the tragic Haiti Earthquake devastation last year. The collection encapsulates the collapsed building structures within deconstructed garments.

I have looked at collapsed buildings and adapted it into details for my dresses. Half dress, half coat garments present this idea. I have used a part of one garment and adapted into another garment to make an interesting outfit.

The print is the original research of a collapsed building. To create the print, I mixed the image with a flower pattern from a Victorian tea pot which I bought in a flea market.

I love everything about this collection from the colour pallet, the cut of the garments and the print. I have also fallen in love with the beautiful illustrations. Duong Nguyen is definitely one to watch and look out for.

Best Wishes
Fashion Fantasist xxx

U.W.E Cont....

Jessie Potter - Fun, colourful, jumble of lovelyness. Jessie Potter has taken inspiration from hording and collecting.
Oana Balan - Menswear design with bright colourful prints and strange 3d faces emerging from the garments.
Heledd Jarman - Knitwear inspired by bids with a very sporty element. My favorite piece is the greyish blue slouched dress with long hooded cardigan.
Holly Bryant - body con knitted dresses and all in ones. Black with flashes of bright colour and chains.
Jessica Hart - This collection makes me happy every time I see it. Bright colourful cartoony prints featuring bows, necklaces and clocks. Accessorised with large necklaces and bows.

Stuart Howse - Skin tight Lycra, sparkles, distorted knit shapes - what more can I say Mr Howse's collection is bold and beautiful!
Camilla Probert - This collection is stylish and chic. Beautiful red and my favorite piece the camel coloured cocoon coat.

So there you go - two loooooong posts about UWE GFW fashion show! I hope you have enjoyed!

Speak soon Fashion Fantasist xxx

Additional photographs from Catwalking.com

U.W.E

This is a very difficult post to put together as it is impossible not to be bias! This is my university and these are my friends. So instead of only showing you my favs I am going to share the whole show with you! hehe! :) This will be a very image heavy post and I apologise and will try and inject text where I can :)
Rachael Ward - Minimalism, black, sleek. Favorite piece a pair of trousers with welt pocket slits at the knees.
Emma Bergamin Davys - a really striking collection with a wonderful pleated velvet cape and interesting hats.
Emily Warren - black, leather, latex, feathers and hair - may sound a tad gruesome but an amazingly chic collection with body con shapes.
Georgina Kitchen - Interesting architectural shapes. Favorite piece has to be the body con, cut out, panelled mini dress!!
Laura Watson - a really beautiful menswear collection. It was effortlessly cool and obviously very comfortable for the models as they walked down the catwalk.
Amy Tibbs - a favorite of mine with beautiful cream, white, charcoal and grey colours.
Amber Hards - A wonderful knitted collection inspired by Jelly Fish. Frothy folds created by nylon mono-filament and Lycra knitted together.
Charlie May - a collection in muted stone and nude tones, inspired by decay. Favorite piece has to be the stone grey trousers with pockets at the side.
Alexxsia Elizabeth - lace, laser cut, strips of jersey, feathers and body con.

Additional Photographs from Catwalking.com