Inside Outside

I don't know whether the mini heatwave we're currently experiencing has any influence on the fact that I have become increasingly interested in outdoor living and decor, but interior settings that see the inside taken outside are definitely a keen favourite of mine at the moment.

Having sat outside during one of the sunniest afternoons of the year painting an intricately shaped wrought iron table and chair set in my parents' garden - I began to wonder what it would be like to convert the trees, shrubs and bushes into an over-sized den. Draping fabric from branch to branch and carpeting the lawn in antique throws...

Cabbages and Roses seemingly had the same idea when styling this image...

Say Hello! to Emily's Attic

A whole week has passed since my last post - yet a lot has happened...
I have officially vacated my Nottingham abode & relocated back home...and what could be sweeter than an invite to feature in a local craft fair alongside my good friend's new business venture - Emily's Attic - Creative Solutions for unloved furniture. Here are a few snapshots that I managed to capture, in between regular snacks and catching up with one another - I'd say we didn't do badly to say it was our first shot at it!

I just love Emily's use of contemporary bright paints and vintage fabric as she merges the old with the new, whilst embracing the magic word - recycling.

Although the sunshine most definitely aided the mood of the day - me & Em have decided we might just get used to the buzz of merchandising the look of our handmade products...
Affordable Vintage - watch this space!
xx

Sample this some more!

Since my last post the NTU Textile Design students selected for New Designers 2010 were confirmed and unsurprisingly Kezia, Daisy and Rosie are all heading to London. Congratulations to all of my other friends and peers who were also chosen, including Jasmin Loyal with her sophisticated layers of jewel encrusted, laser-cut leathers and sumptuous satins...

Jodie Harfield with her painterly, feminine fashion prints...

Esther Sowa and her contemporary futons - inspired by the urban environment and architectural form...

and Fiona Broadbent with her quirky, playful laser-cut pop-outs...

With all of these innovative graduate designers and more - New Designers is set to be a pretty good show!
http://www.newdesigners.com/page.cfm/Link=1/t=m/goSection=1
x

Sample This!

As our our Textile Design degree shows comes to a close I want to mark the occasion by congratulating all of my fellow, super talented students! I am so proud to have been a part in such a successful exhibition & here are a few personal highlights...

Daisy Thomas' work is so incredibly beautiful - adorning sumptuous fabrics in vintage brooches and clusters of beads - I love her pretty colour combinations and the lustrous qualities of her embroidery.

As for print - Kezia Regan's eclectic use of bold colour and imagery is reminiscent of Eley Kishmoto and Marc Jacobs, whilst retaining a sense of individuality with her innovative use of processes.

Rosie Moss' laser-cut lights and folkloric prints also inspired me as they reminded me of old-fashioned fables and traditional Scandinavian textiles.


More to follow...

Vintage Eclectic

Jennifer Nicholson obviously inherited her father, Jack Nicholson's, artistic flair. Scanning through celebrity magazines (just because I can now!) I didn't expect to stop in awe of Jennifer's eclectic vintage pad. When most of us think about L.A. we probably imagine ultra modern or Art Deco style mansions that line the exclusive suburbs of the Hollywood Hills. However, seeing this home only made me even more determined to live there one day...

A little piece of history, crammed full of ancient antiques that create a quirky assortment of period references. For me, the carved 18th Century chairs look almost as though they have been salvaged from the ocean bed, with their shell-like shape. The ornate nature of each piece of furniture has been carefully considered and work beautifully together.

As for her wardrobe - well, I'd trade my more modest collection of charity shop finds for her rail-upon-rail of vintage treasures any day! x

The Dressing Up Box Is Your Muse.

Hello blog x I feel like I've neglected you for this past couple of weeks....but now I finally have time to indulge in recording my inspirations again. My degree might be finished but my collection lives on in the look book that is finally complete...

'The Dressing Up Box Is Your Muse...sees a return to the timeless glamour of bygone eras. Inspired by precious antique jewellery, heirlooms and ostentatious costume - this Spring/Summer 2011 collection is infused with vintage charm.

Using found materials and sentimental hand-me-downs, the new and the old are married together as contemporary processes update vintage finds. Statement headpieces and embellished brooches have arrived out of unwanted textiles, proving that waste can be beautiful, as well as unique.

Escape into a whimsical world of powder puff pastels, enriched with opulent jewel-like hues and be unafraid to use the dressing up box as your muse...'

Time for tea at Hundhill Hall

Finally, my own shoot has taken place & I am thrilled to say it was a success. Photographed by John Garon & modelled by Emily Rayner & Melissa Bell - my ideas took shape in a setting that I could only have dreamed of (before an extremely kind lady granted me permission to use her grounds at Hundhill Hall, West Yorkshire.)

As I am super busy with it being my last week before my degree hand-in, I will post a taster of my final collection shoot which sees my own hairpiece designs alongside brooches and handbag embellishments. Using clothing from an array of vintage stores; high street stores & even borrowing pieces from my grandma - my styling epitomises my design concept, 'The Dressing Up Box is Your Muse'. Capturing timeless glamour whilst bringing it up to date by mixing the old with the new - I couldn't have hoped for better results.

Thank-you to all those who helped me, but in particular - John, Emily & Liss xxxx

Dreamier, edited images to follow...

Hazy days - Harper Smith

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all look so effortlessly elegant as the Au Naturale models pictured by Harper Smith...Filtered colours and hazy lighting evoke a sense of marvel.

'Upside Down' Paloma

With her chameleon exterior - Paloma Faith is the queen of diversity. This recent 'Upside Down' music video shows just how playful her wardrobe is; customising her image with bold accessories. Her custom-made Sonia Rykiel head piece juxtaposes the pastel balloons in the background, just as her canary yellow dress does.

I love the parasol & the candy striped turban - doesn't this just sum up Paloma? Outlandish and unafraid to be experimental - costume changes are a MUST in my own shoot if I am to convey the idea of transforming character.

Dreamy Nelson

Dreamy & romantic - Jamie Nelson's stunning photography is like slipping away into one's subconscious - lost in thought and wonder. The natural light seeping through and into the shot creates a sense of warmth, reminiscent of a balmy summer's evening. Optimism and a sense of romanticism are captured, along with some seriously lavish fabrics and lustrous embellishment.

Pretty Tough

Epitomising my theme 'The Dressing Up Box Is Your Muse', this ingenious styling by Lucinda Chambers & Emma Elwick is based around the notion: "Leave understatement in the jewellery box - be big on character, not carats."

Juxtaposing sweet shop pastels with 'arch-browed attitude' - the duo have paired fancy ankle socks with bold, retro footwear as a mode of toughening up vintage nightdresses and underwear/outerwear. Creating refined layers of chiffon, lace and silks, finished off with fifties costume jewellery - this look is all about maximising one's wardrobe by creating inventive concoctions - combining garments in different ways to create a wonderful array of character possibilities.

Note to self - make sure my own photo shoot is as vivacious.

Playful patchwork

A new kind of patchwork has arrived as patterns are mixed with block colour to create a playful composition, whilst retaining a sense of elegance with the clasp fastening.

Doing a spot of market research for my own project - seeing this quirky three-dimensional bag sparked ideas of how I could utilise my own found materials in such an inventive way. Wrapping, tying and stitching down loosely - this creates surface relief that resembles the individual petals of a rose. Whilst this might be quite an obvious visual translation - I would like to experiment with creating cut pieces and layering them up to create three-dimensional surface qualities that are more concerned with texture than representing an image.

Although I very much doubt that these are the scraps from Accessorize's factory waste, - it's a lovely thought....

Oh Mario Testino!

Rifling through my towering collection of magazine tears - I found one of my favourite images of the year so far. From March's Vogue - here is Mario Testino's sugary delight of pretty pastels and voluminous fabrics: leather gathered into candy-like wrappers and flouncing layers of net make this image ultra girly and I just love how the colours work harmoniously.

Florence's fairy-tale

Sunday is browsing time which is why I found myself today, swooning over the dreamy video for Florence & the Machine's Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) video...again. It doesn't matter how old this video gets - I'll always love it for its ethereal lighting and the fluidity of the shots as they overlap with one another. The hazy, soft focus provides a wistful tone whilst dancing, flowing fabrics create a charming, carefree ambiance.

I simply must create a similarly beautiful aura within my own final collection shoot.

The Dressing Up Box Is Your Muse

'The Dressing Up Box Is Your Muse' forms the concept for my final collection. Based on the notion that wearing a garment can transform your identity - here is one of my initial mood boards. Feminine and ornate - my inspirations have been drawn from precious objects, as well as vintage jewellery. With the elaborate detail and pastel palette - this compilation of images outline my overall concept, as well as indicating my own colour palette. Mixing the old with the new...my own paintings and drawings of found objects epitomise how I foresee my own collection: nostalgic, feminine & intricate.

Grandma glamour

Inspired by the timeless glamour of bygone eras, I am completely obsessed with all things vintage. Objects; garments and jewels - nothing inspires me more than to root through my grandma's jewellery box; her flamboyant wardrobe and even her crockery cupboard. To me, what she sees as old junk is like unearthing hidden treasure and on that premise, my blog begins.