Stylish in the Studio

As you'll all be aware I'm currently studying for a degree in fashion Design which means I spend most of my week in the studio working on designs and making garments.
Obviously we all love fashion as we're studying it, but I have to admit I didn't feel too stylish walking in when I first started. A term into my first year I feel more like I'm getting into more of a studio style.
The most important thing I've found is to be comfortable, I can't work if im constantly worried about what I'm wearing, check your modesty as well. Nothing is more embarrassing than leaning over the table whilst pattern cutting and flashing your knickers to your classmates. Good fit jeans and cool tee's are a fail safe option and for dress lovers like myself you can't go wrong layering up summer dresses with chunky cardigans and leggings/tights.
My OOTD was a prime example of jazzing up comfier clothes so I still felt stylish in the studio despite only getting 4 hours sleep after staying up working on a deadline.

I apologise for the grainyness, I took this just as I was leaving to go hand in.

Dress-H&M

Jumper- H&M

Leather Jacket- New Look

Satchel-Amazon (from my wishlist post)

Necklace- H&M

Hat- H&M

Boots- H&M £29.99 (cannot find these online but are new season stock so should be in all stores)

I'm aware that my outfits are very H&M heavy, I worked at H&M during college and with staff discount I bought a fair amount over the year. Enjoy.

FFF x

Fashion Design-Essential Reading

As you're probably aware by now, I'm currently studying for a Degree in Fashion Design at Bath Spa University. When I first got my reading and kit lists through I felt overwhelmed with all the different choices of equipment and study materials; I also emailed my course leader before I had my place confirmed to ask about which books where good to be reading before I even started the course. So here's my list of my essential/recommended reads for any budding Fashion Design students.

1. 200 projects to get you into Fashion Design
I wish someone had given me this book when I was 14/15! When I would of had more time or possibly could of even used it in my Art GCSE to work through all the different exercises. This would be a great one to do over a summer completing 1 or 2 exercises a day to get you really into creating sketchbooks and getting started on thinking about the design process.
2. The Basics Fashion Design Series (AVA)
This series is possibly on every single Fashion Design Reading list. I was first told about them during my AS levels (more on that later) and have been building up my collection ever since. They are the closest thing to a proper textbook that the course has, as each book covers a different area of Fashion, starting with Research and Design, Textiles and Fashion right through to developing a collection, and styling.
3. New Fashion Designers Sketchbooks
This book is great, if like me, you aren't 100% happy with your sketchbook skills, as it shows you a wide variety of new graduates sketchbooks. It was interesting and inspiring for me to see the variety of sketchbooks and techniques used by other students, and gave me confidence that not all sketchbooks were incredibly art heavy, some where much more functional.
4. Flat pattern cutting and modelling for Fashion
Once you start a degree it will be essential to you that you have a pattern cutting book for reference. My personal favourite is Helen Stanley's, however there are plenty of other books available for all levels of pattern cutting so its just a case of going into a book shop, having a flick through them all and working out which one (or two) is the best for you.
5. Coffee table Books of your favourite designers
I was often told by my tutors before degree that these books were kind of pointless, but personally if I ever get time to myself to read I love to flick through books based on my favourite designers. I find it really inspiring to look through all the beautiful images from past collections and this can also lead to my own inspiration. If you love a designer, there is no shame having reference books, they will help to keep you motivated and cheer you up on down days. My personal favourite is Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty

My university Room book shelf (minus my pattern cutting books which are in the studio currently)

Hope this helps :) And feel free to ask any other questions
FFF x

New Year Wish List

So despite being really skint after Christmas and rent coming out I'm still left lusting over things I want for my course or to style myself up. This is just a selection of items scattered across my many wishlists of the internet.

Satchel- I've been wanting a satchel that can house my laptop and my sketchbooks for so long. This will come in really useful when I'm travelling about a bit more as it saves extra bags if I can fit it all in one.

Nail Rock Wraps- I'm a big fan of nail art but don't have a huge amount of skill or time to create amazing designs myself. I really love the colour and effect of these and think these could look really cute with my Paris Wardrobe.

Dress- I'm such a big fan of dresses, this one has a really cute little bow and I think would work well dressed up and down. This dress is also on the Paris wardrobe lust list.

Duvet Set- Living in halls its hard to make your room feel like home without having your own furniture and being able to out things on the wall. I like having nicer/printed bed sets as it helps to add a bit of colour to the dull white of the rooms. I particularly like the cute print on this set.

Book- For my course, and especially for pattern cutting, its good to have a wide variety of reference books. This book was actually written by one of my tutors and is great for covering all the basics and silly little things you often forget when pattern cutting. I'd definitely recommend it for pattern cutting beginners.

Bangle- I wanted this bangle for ages and was going to buy it for my university interviews last year but it was out of stock when I wanted to buy it. Now that its back in stock I'm really keen to snap it up, as i'm a big fan of dorky sewing/fashion related jewellery.    

fff x

Pattern Cutting

As I previously mentioned, on my course I have been lucky enough to spend the last few weeks before Christmas focusing on my pattern cutting skills. We were initially taught a range of basic pattern manipulations such as adding flare, removing darts and creating certain seams within a pattern. After this initial crash course we were then set and independent pattern cutting project in which we would need to put everything we'd just learnt into practice.

Milly A/W '12

We were given this photograph along with our main brief for the project, it then dawned on us that this was the skirt we were going to have to recreate from scratch. After the initial panic and having time to draw technical flats things began to become  a bit less scary. All the techniques we would need to pattern cut the skirt we had already covered in our initial lectures, and we also had a few top-up lectures for things like pockets and zips.

In total we each made 3/4 toiles in order to perfect the fit and things like the angle of the pleats and creating the right amount of kick/flare in the skirt. 

A selection of my toiles and my final skirt interpretation 

Overall I was quite happy with how this project went, and I feel my pattern cutting knowledge and skills greatly improved. This project has made me super excited to work on my pattern cutting further and see how much more I can do.

fff x 

Okay, so new years resolutions never last...

In my defense  this years resolutions to blog once a week, draw in my newly bought moleskine everyday were very quickly destroyed by a sickness bug on the 2nd January that left me unable to even get up for the rest of the week, and with moving back to Uni and having to catch up on work I was planning to do in the days I was violently sick its just not happened. So I'm sorry, I will get back on it shortly, Just this essay to power through :(
Hope everyone had good Christmases and new years
fff x