Gilly Woo for Guide2Bristol

At the beginning of the year I was asked to do an interview with Bristol based designer, dress maker, costumier and corsetry specialist Gilly Woo (Gill Cockwell) for Guide2Bristol.She really is inspirational, driven and involved with a lot of different projects all at once...

'What is next for Gilly Woo?


Well, we are very busy indeed with bespoke commissions for all sorts of occasion wear for the rest of this year.
I filmed a TV programme (bridal boudoir) for wedding TV at the end of last year so that will air in the spring and hopefully bring with it lots of enquiries (fingers crossed!) and we are still developing the ready to wear collection as well.
We are retailing off the peg corsets from Woohoo Vintage in Shepton Mallet and will be aiming to increase sales there as well as looking for potential retail outlets else where in the country.
Events wise I am a very busy girl too...
This April I'll be doing a catwalk show for Women South West and I have the privilege of cutting the ribbon to open the vintage weekender Ruby Slipper Retro in Torquay. Come June I'll be judging best dressed and best hat at the Bath and West show and then of course there is the Gilly Woo Christmas Do to organise for December as well as the 2 or 3 fashion shows we usually get involved in throughout the year.
I'll continue to write my column for Suit Yourself magazine too. It's a lot to fit in and I'm so lucky to have such wonderful staff who work so hard along side me to make it all happen, I'm also lucky enough to love my job!'
For the full interview please head over to Guide2Bristol.


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

Suit Yourself

Check out the new issue of Suit Yourself Magazine. Myself and a uni mate found some stylish people and showcased their take on fashion by taking some snaps!Ship Shape and Bristol Fashion methinks.
Love
Fashion Fantasist xx

Charlotte Taylor

Recently I did a guest blog post for Young British Designers on Olivia Rubin (see here!!!) Well in return I was sent by the lovely Debra from YBD a Charlotte Taylor scarf from her A/W10 collection. I am in love with it!! I also adore the rest of the collection - in particular the outfit on the postcard!! Charlotte Taylor has just been announced as one of Vauxhall Fashion Scouts One to Watch! Soooo watch this space...

The inspiration of her A/W10 collection is an eclectic mix of trashy grannies, penguins, old soap operas, movies and the eccentric within. It is a very bold, bright and elegant collection with interesting lines and seaming and a quirky penguin print. Charlotte Taylor is a Central Saint Martins graduate and has previously worked with Luella - a designer I might add that I also admire. I asked Charlotte what her next collection will bring...
'S/S11 sees Charlotte's inspirations transgress into another weird and wonderful combination. Vintage Robots, Sail making, and copper and rust provide the catalyst for Charlotte's second collection. Expect unusual fabric combinations and heaps of colour. It's quirky, British, elegant and most importantly it's fun.'

I think this is why I am so drawn to Charlotte's work, I really enjoy quirky British-ness and the unexpected in fashion. It is what I tried to draw on when designing my BA final collection.

I also asked Charlotte how she starts to design a collection.
'I always pick 3 topics and research them into the ground. They are then pinned to giant boards and placed around the studio. I then sit and draw and draw and draw. Don't ask me how I come up with the themes it just kinda comes to me over the months leading up to it...'

I would love to be able to see her studio space. I can imagine it is fascinating with those large boards of inspiration all over.

I am really looking forward to the new collection! Roll on S/S11 collections Please!!!

Photographs of Charlotte's collection have come from her blog. Photographer is Claire Pepper, Stylist is Ellie Cumming, Hair and make-up by Camilla Hewitt and Model Rachel Cockerell at Models 1

Best Wishes
Fashion Fantasist xx

ps Thank you Debra for the lovely scarf etc! :) x

Olivia Rubin for Young British Designers

I find Olivia Rubin's work so much fun and I was delighted when I was asked by Young British Designers to write a piece on her!

'Young British Designers launches September. We have set it up to provide a world stage for all the astonishingly brilliant young fashion talent that exists in our country today.

We don't want to only promote the creations (clothes, shoes, bags, jewellery etc) but also the people behind them. The site will be as much about the designers, who they are, what inspires them..and, importantly, how wearing their designs makes someone feel (this emotional connection is often lost in retail translation).

We have a mix of brand new, never seen before designers and some in their third or fourth seasons. All up and coming, all very talented. For our launch we have around 38 designers joining us.

We will always be on the lookout for new talent, always try and help in any way we can.

YBD will provide a global focus for, and a place to buy the very best of young British fashion so that designers can have the very best chance of growing their brands.' (Debra from YBD)

Please stop by their blog and the post would love to hear what you think :) I am really looking forward to their website being up and running!

Speak Soon Fashion Fantasist xx

Layer Up In New York Paris Tomorrow

Have done my first stint of guest blogging on the lovely Madeleine Gallay's Blog In New York Paris Tomorrow. Please check it out my post Autumn Leaves and Hot Chocolate - Hope you enjoy it! :)
Best Wishes
Fashion Fantasist xx