Back to Basics

So I have been a bad blogger this month mainly due to a project I just had to hand in plus I am still trying to get through my 8000 work dissertation aahhhh. I thought I would show you some of my work I have been doing, I started thoroughly researching my ideas and concepts to create a theme for my final collection and decide what fabric and prints I will use, it’s a lot of writing so heres only a few of my sketchbook pages so you get an idea.

I then designed and made an 3 piece outfit, inspired by the way my family grew up in Ireland in the late 1940s to 1950s with a classic 3 pleated gored ‘A’ line skirt, paired with a sleeveless blouse and weaved back yoke with raw edges. Styled with a ruffle lapel cropped jacket and dropped sleeve. The garments were only made out of cheap calico so will look a lot different in the actually material but you get the design.

I love fabric manipulation as I always find myself playing with fabric and mixing conflicting fabrics against one another.

 Model: Kelly Hogan

All Cosy This Christmas

It’s essential to buy yourself something while out Christmas shopping right? It gets you through it all; well it did for me anyway hehe.

I fell in love with Rihanna’s song, Only Girl (In The World) and the video was even more incredible. I thought Rihanna looked stunning, the styling was great and the colours through the video were gorgeous. I especially fell in love with the brush knit cropped blue jumper when she is in the flower bush and I finally found one similar from River Island, so happy. I love it and it feels amazing, I am glad I will be all cosy this Christmas :)

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

xx

London Fashion Week

The NEWGEN winners have been announced.

I was extremely lucky to of worked over the summer with the British Fashion Council which I then was able to work during fashion week. It was interesting to learn how the British Fashion Council discover and sponsor new emerging talents within the fashion industry. They introduced a BFC NEWGEN sponsorship, which is supported by Topshop and the designers get to show at London Fashion Week.

After meeting all the NEWGEN designers and seeing their collections up close, it was an amazing experience and an experience I wish to do again.

I particularly fell in love with David Koma and Holly Fulton their collections where amazing and so inspirational; they were also very genuine and lovely people.  

I was increasingly excited to see the winners of autumn/winter 2011 who will be showing at London Fashion Week in February 2011 so here they are.....

Catwalk: David Koma, Holly Fulton, Louise Gray, Mary Katrantzou and Michael van der Ham

Presentation: Christopher Raeburn, Craig Lawrence, J. JS Lee and Nasir Mazhar

Film Installation: J.W. Anderson 

Installation: Dominic Jones and Jordan Askill

Exhibition: Chau Har Lee, Christopher Raeburn, Craig Lawrence, David Koma, Dominic Jones, Fannie Schiavoni, Felicity Brown, Heikki Salonen,  Holly Fulton, J. JS Lee, Jordan Askill, J.W Anderson, Louise Gray, Mary Katrantzou, Michael van der Ham, Nasir Mazhar, Thomas Tait and Yang Du.

NEWGEN is the most exciting part of London fashion week for me, they are the new emerging talent of Britain and incredibly inspirational to follow. Maybe even my future competition hehe oohhh if only :)

So excited for February cannot wait to see their collections :) !!!

Restriction VS Freedom

I recently produced my first photo shoot for a project, as a design student I have never been introduced to the world of cameras but it was an amazing experience. I was helped by an amazing photography student Jenny Manley, check out her Flickr page, and my models Kelly Hogan and Kayleigh Scott.

I juxtaposed two areas of London, Canary Wharf and Portobello. I played on the words Restriction vs freedom and Futurist vs historical to create these outfits.

These are my Favourite shoots...

Model: Kelly Hogan & Kayleigh Scott

Photographer: Jenny Manley

Stylist: Shanne O’Shea

Hope you like them!!!!

xxx

British Style

After Alexa Chung won the British Style Award at the British Fashion Awards 2010 last week, its exciting news that she is launching a new U.S based TV show called Thrift America , due to air mid next year on PBS. With a recognised style achievement under her belt, Alexa embraces the laid back, tom boy chic style which embodies the style of London.

British Style 2010 Winner : Alexa Chung

The show will follow her as she embarks on an adventure to find fabulous vintage pieces; it starts with Alexa at London Fashion Week, and then travels State-side to Orlando, Detroit, Nashville, Alabama and Brooklyn. Here is a little video I watched from style.com showing Alexa Chung talking about her style while shopping!!

"Williamsburg is sort of like my lover, whereas London is more like my husband. I love my husband, and I'll always be with him, but Williamsburg is so exciting."

Alexa Chung has an incredible signature look; I love her effortless chic touch she adds to every outfit. I WANT HER WARDROBE!! Let’s hope she gives out some cool style tip in the new show very exciting!!!

Lets get Ethical.... Ethical....

I had an amazing day last week I got to worked with the British Fashion Council on the Estethica Press release 2010 event. I was unable to take any pictures and there has been no information or pictures uploaded on the London Fashion Week website as of yet however hopefully there will be soon, so do check out their website.

As I am doing my dissertation on ethical clothing this was extremely inspirational to hear the views and thoughts of the Estethica designers. The main point raised was that Estethica is not a fashion trend but an ethical conscious cultural direction, which hopefully many are to follow. Another point was that the responsibility lies in everyone from designers to consumers and all the stages in-between. Become an INTELLEGENT CONSUMER, and buy good indispensable products that you need. Fashion essentially comes from nature therefore ‘IF YOU TAKE YOU MUST REPLIMISH’.

Could you all please fill my out Ethical Clothing Survey below, this is for my dissertation it will only that 2 minutes and will really help me with my primary research!! Whether you agree or disagree, whether you know a lot about ethical clothing or nothing all I would love all answers from all perspectives. Thank you sooo much really appreciate it :)!! Lots of love xxxx

Ethical Clothing Survey!!!

There's no place like home...

Before I broke up for summer the design students were asked to get involved with a catwalk show so we had to come up with a theme, with such a diverse group of creative minds we all had different ideas. Some prefer the darker side of fashion for instance Tim Burton films others liked the vintage side such as Elvis; another idea was children stories like red riding hood. So I pitched an idea of using a theatre production, instantly ‘Wicked’ came to mind as I had seen it recently and it was INCREDIBLE. I suggested could be mixed with the wizard of oz therefore people could use the softer side of Dorothy or darker side, the wicked witch and there are many other characters so everyone should be happy. My idea was voted the best and Wizard of oz became the theme which was amazing.

The catwalk was held at Hampshire Autistic Society for a charity event, there was a great turn out with everyone looking divine in their dress to impress gowns and suits. My lovely cousin Kelly Hogan modelled my clothes; I showcased my second year work and my wizard of oz inspired dress.

Wizard of Oz dress- Inspired by the dreamy fantasy world aspect of the film. 

Model: Kelly Hogan

Designer: Shanne O’Shea  

Photographer: Matt Kerr

Dropped shoulder tailcoat jacket- Inspired by deconstruction and the Victorian era.

Photographer: Matt Lain


Evening dress- Inspired by the film Gentlemen prefer blondes and 1950’s.

Photographer: Matt Lain

The show was fantastic, getting me all prepared for my final collection. Hope you liked all my designs!!

x x