Dark Inspiration

Now I do not normally do this - post up picture after picture of pages from a magazine spread but to be honest I can't help it.Whilst doing some research for my own project I came across this photoshoot on Front Row View's site. They are from Italian Vogue September 2010 Issue. Photography is by Paolo Poversi, the model Kristen McMenamy and styled by Edward Enninful.I am captivated by the dark decadence and opulent garments in a Gothic Georgian fantasy. It is not often that I will want to pour over a photoshoot again and again and draw and draw but in this case I don't think I can stop myself. I have been taught not to use photoshoots as inspiration for design but it is not the garments themselves that are inspiring it is the overall theme and effect the photograph has on the observer.I think I will probably extend my own final major project collection into an Autumn Winter 2011 collection but much darker with a bleak element. Ooo I love to feel excited by a new project.I hope you have enjoyed this shoot as much as I have.

Best Wishes
Fashion Fantasist xx

I Want A Superhero Dress

How cute are these?

I found them whilst walking around the Newgen huts at London Fashion Week... Yes I know - how can I still have stuff to talk about from that one day!? Well I seem to be managing it!

These are by surrealist fashion designer Du Yang and her label Yang Du. I find the collection really sweet simple shapes with a cartoony element with knitted animal hats. I really like the batman and superman dresses and wish I could own one!! Really clever, beautiful and above all fun.

Check out her website to see more of her collections. But I think my favorite is this one!

Enjoy,
Fashion Fantasist xx

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

Happy Belated Birthday Cabot Circus

I missed Cabot Circus' 2nd Birthday (25-26/9/10) but I have been informed that it was a great success!!

Over 168,000 people turned up to help celebrate over the weekend and the total footfall for Saturday was up 18% compared with it's first birthday! Cabot Circus also raised more than £8,800 for Breast Cancer Care through the sale of the Ultimate Fashion Weekender goodie bags!!! That is just amazing and very inspirational - I have recently got involved with organising a show - but more revealed about that at a later date...

(How great is this photo! Look at the girls faces in the background!)

James Baily, the Center Manager said - "We are delighted with the excellent turn out from our shoppers who turned up on their droves to help us celebrate our second birthday in style. It was a fantastic weekend thoroughly enjoyed by all who took part. It was especially great to see the interest in Cabot Circus has continued to grow two years on."I was sent some photographs from the event and it does look packed. I am very jealous of the people who got to see Gok Wan!!!Hopefully I will be able to make it to their Third Birthday - well trust me I am blocking out the weekends in September already in anticipation!!

If you did manage to go please share your stories? What hot fashion trends are hitting Bristol?

Best Wishes
Fashion Fantasist xx

Wildchild

On Thursday (30/9/10) full of cold I headed out to Paintworks Bristol to see the Wildchild Fashion Show. It was organised to raise money for Safeplace. The show featured local Bristol Fashion -The Gold Mine, Weapon of Choice, Donuts, Bitch N’ Stitch and My Yard and recent Fashion and Fashion Textiles graduates from UWE - Emily Warren, Laura Watson, Kate Dunkling, Holly Bryant, Georgina Kitchen, Vanessa Brownlie, Jessica Hart, Zoe Davidson and Amber Hards.

I covered the event for Guide2Bristol so please check my review here! But here are some lovely photographs by the talented Jamie Corbin.Hope you enjoy the article!
Fashion Fantasist xx