Royal Blue Garment and Crit

Crit today went well, overall pleased with this project. Think I spent to long looking at this need some time away from it to really evaluate how the garment went. I really like aspects of my design and loved my final choice of fabrics. Final thing I need to do is finish lining and make a decision on the trimmings. Definitely want to embellish them but still unsure whether to die them. Gut instinct is not too!

Coming Along Slowly

Final Toile

After several toiles over this half term this is my final one! I am very pleased with it and I have worked out many problems and mastered french seams. Yay! The top and bottom skirt will be made from chiffon and the middle skirt will be made out of velvet.

Can't wait to make the final thing !



Final Textiles

These are my two final textile elements that I am going to incorporate into my final design. The first one, I have dyed lace and hand stitched into it. I wanted to show the utter chaos of her life yet show the soft feminine side of her nature and the times.

The second, is my favourite I used heat muslin to achieve this. I took inspiration from the love letters I had looked at, looking at the shapes. I then developed this into a surface pattern using machine embroidery. At first it tended to look abit too 'pretty' and I felt like it wasn't showing the pain of her situation as a Mistress. So i left it to hang off the chiffon and I am going to use it on the train of the skirt. Making it look as if her skirt got caught in the door fleeing from the Kings bed chamber.

I am pleased with my results, but yet again I have chose a very time consuming technique!

Final Designs and Pattern Cutting

That time again where you have to turn your final design into something that can be pattern cut and made into a beautifully produced garment. I was feeling pretty confident I was heading on the right path and would be able to figure how to do it. Then we had a Crit. My design doesnt need to be changed. YAY! But I have problem with how I am going to make it. So now the endles toiles start what fun !

Alexander McQueen S/S 2011

I really like the silhouettes of these garments. Especially the top half of the second garment. And I think the choice and use of fabric in the second is excellent!

Survived yet another Crit!

Yay! Todays crit went well and im really pleased with my sketchbook and designs. I just need to push a few further to find a final design I am completly confident with. Cant wait to start making !

Royal Blue Designs ......

I feel my designs are very varied for this project, which I am pleased about. I wanted to capture the emotion and the idea of a hidden identity. I know that I need to attach fabric samples, however for alto of them I want to use a chiffon and manipulated lace in some way. I played with silhouettes but I want to keep it very fitted to show the woman. I need it to be revealing but yet use aspects of more formal wear, to combine her two roles. Although I have not picked a final design I feel confident where I am heading and what to combine some key aspects of some of more successful illustrations.

Sandra Buckland

Just adore the shapes and texture.

Again ..

Mert and Marcus for POP magazine. Really like the lighting and mood in these. They are soo beautiful and this is essense I want my garment to carry. The suggestion of a corset in the first is delicate and very effective. It has an heir of underwear about it and I think the fabric choice is perfect! The shape of the sleeves is goregous and love how they have used a sheer fabric which creates the silhoutte with out making them to harsh and allowing the corset, fabric and the entire garment shine. The second garment is very different, it has a traditional corset but still yet in a contempary way. Love the suggestion of a traditional dress with a bustle and the fabric which compliments the silhoutte perfectly.

Iinspiration ?

Shot by Mert and Marcus for W magazine.

Dearest Edward ......

I have wrote this letter, I have used mainly facts and have created a character for my Royal Blue project this is going to be the narative for my garment.

Vintage Lace

Think I'm going to need some Royal Blue dye !

An Erdem Royal Mistress

New Direction

I think I want to take my design in a new direction. Instead of creating underwear and an over garment. I want to design a beautifully created garment (s) with a delicate and beautiful surface pattern which combine the two into one. I want to use more unusual fabrics and improve my pattern cutting skills.

All of this came after doodling with my brothers new handwriting pen. :)

And so ....

The crit went well and I am really excited to get back to college and take it further. I am rethinking what I intend to design and make. I want to continue exploring possible fabrics and I am going to work hard on my surface pattern as i want it to be such a beautiful narrative.

Oh and had a great birthday!

Royal Blue Brief

Presentation for Royal Bue is presented on the Royal Blue Brief page.

Wonderland Inspiration

I absoulty loved this shoot in Wonderland Magazine. Called Vicious Twist in the April May 2010 issue. I want to take inspiration from the combination of lingerie and elegant garments. It reminds me of the idea of a Royal Misstress and the way she has to hide underneath the formal clothes of the day.

Under a Month ......

I have under a month till I'm back to the daily routine and all the work! Is it sad I'm looking forward to it? I'm really enjoying my time off but also feel the need to do something. I am really starting to get into this project and my sketchbook is starting to take shape and the ideas flowing. Yay. But Ive decided my blog has been neglected and so I'm attempting to get back into it. Wish me good luck.