Day Five

Today is the last day of the project, therefore everyone appears to be in some mad rush to get everything finished. I, however, appear to be the only one to remain calm. This may have been because I did not have any garment assembly to undertake, which may yet be a good thing, though I am still unsure about this point.
On reflection I still feel a little low about the fact that I feel my part in the assembly of the garments seemed to stop after the initial ideas and playing about, which possibly was my own fault. In this project I definately feel more like some sort of researcher/artist/inital player aboutarer than a proper designer, so I will take this point and ensure that through the next project I givd myself a bigger more key role within the group, instead of hiding all reserved in the background. I have to admit, it isn't me just being lazy. The point is that in our group we had more people than garments to be made.

The Play-suit Continued

This is the front of the play-suit which Jaye constructed and models. You can see the transformation from the frumpy dress to the figure hugging play-suit which I think Jaye wears very well. Here you can see the detailing of the belt that we have styled it with, although the garment is not complete, regarding the beaded straps which will replace the string ones.

The Play-suit

Jaye did a really good job of constructing the play-suit. We decided initially to leave the back open and Jaye has done it in a really classy and effective way. I think that it actually flatters her figure very well. At the moment she is using string for the straps, but this will be changed for pearl coloured beads taken from a necklace. We have styled the play-suit with a tan coloured belt, which matches the outfit perfectly

Day Four

After a week dedicated to my blog and finding inspiration the group met back up at college to see how far progress had went on with the garments. Jaye had taken home the play-suit to finish the construction. We thought that this would make sense seeing as she is our model for that outfit. The ugly green dress has been totally transformed into a very wearable outfit that looks absolutely lovely on Jaye. She has definitely done a good job on the garment, seeing as it is totally complete. Sarah was also our model for our second garment and she had taken it home to complete also. On day four the garment was still being constructed and has little left to do until it is complete, but she is doing a good job and I am sure it is going to look amazing on her too. I do feel a little like a weaker member of the group at this point, seeing as most of the complex parts in constructing the garments was undertaken by the two other members of the group. I feel a little low today as I am feeling left out and worried incase my team members get the idea that I'm just taking them for a ride, which I can assure them I am most certainly not.
As a group we have started to bring all of our collection together to try and see where it can be brought together and what we would need to do as a team to make sure that they are all styled similarly and go together successfully as a collaboration. We decided that we would style our models in bare feet and choose hair accessories that are similar and tie in with the garden party theme. We also want to style the models with ribbon ankle bracelets, which Sarah has offered to construct. 
At this particular point in time I still feel quite low, but I am completely excited for the final garment fitting tomorrow, and also for the fashion show!

More Designers

I felt I should get all the inspiration I could find, in order for me to explore all options for my garment ideas, so here are more designers whose Garden party garments have really helped to inspire me and have especially caught my eye.
Mark Jacobs Spring 2011 had some selected garments which I felt inspired me and also caught my eye. Overall his collection was far more retro, but I did feel that all of the items were individually beautiful, well sculpted and shared beautiful silhouettes.I absolutely love the rich colour choices as they are both bright, but also more subdued, as they are more of a jewel tone than a bright tone. The garments are really eye catching, and I particularly love the sculpted flower included on each garment as it ties the collection together.

Another collection which had garment that inspired me was Topshop's Spring 2011 collection which contained some bold colours and heavily constructed garments with immense detailing. I chose this particular collection as I want to mimic some of the detail ideas for my own collection. I like the cute and playful lengths of the garments and also the hair styling of the models, as it is very playful and eye-catching.

D&G's spring 2001 ready to wear collection has also greatley inspired me. I absolutely love how they have chosen to include lace into their floral garments, as I think it is very subtle but also very easy to add into my own designs. I admire the cute fresh feeling I get from all the crisp white fabric and subtle injections of colour, as it just looks so natural and so garden party esk. I have fallen in love with this collection because it screams my sort of styling and these clothes are exactly what I would love to wear myself this summer.

Breathe Couture; My New Style Crush

I discovered this brand on one of my many trips to google during this project, and I have to say I am in love! Breathe Couture Features really cute garden party accessories and jewellery. I really love the styling on their shoots and feel like they really reflect the garden party theme!

I absolutely love the flowers and how they are the focus point of the necklace. The image on the left is my favourite because of the larger flowers being surrounded by beautiful beads and smaller flowers. The necklace looks very expensive and actually even designer. I know that I would sell my soul to have a necklace as beautiful as that one. The image on the right also caught my eye because of the pale pastel colours as it is very subtle, but very beautiful. These accessories scream garden party to me. If it was humanly possible I would love to style the groups collection with items as similar to these.

  I really love the colour of the garment used in the picture. The dress is beautiful and eye catching and the style screams garden party. I like how it was photographed outside as it just adds to the theme. I lace collar around the models neck is both beautiful and elegant and screams look at me! The model in the back has a black version of the collar, but I have to say I prefer the white one. I love how it has jewels added into it, because it just makes it even more elegant and to me, more desirable. I would have liked to have used this sort of style in my garments, but with the fabrics we were given it was not a conceivable idea. 

I LIKE.

Felling a severe need for inspiration I took to the web to search for anything floral or garden party themed, such as dresses and accessories which took my interest. Here are my findings:

This image taken from the TV show Project Runway depicts garments made from flowers, grass and leaves. Whilst the garments are absolutely beautifully sculpted and crafted, I fear the raw materials may be a little too eccentric for this current project, but I do seriously admire the texture and dedication and feel it ties in well with my Garden Party Theme. The tiny pops of colour are also unique and inspiring and I could easily use this in some of my own garment ideas.

This Juicy Courture ring is the perfect example of Garden Party Fashion and accessories. I have to admit I have completely fallen in love with this beauty of a ring. The one on the right is an absolutely amazing bank balance crushing Christian Dior beauty, coating over £1,200. Where as the one on the left is a cheap imitation at only £77. On this occasion I'd happily settle for either!

 These D&G shoes are also the perfect example of the best Garden Party accessories. I know if I could, I'd definitely be sporting at least one pair this season. I love the detailing on the heel as it is a real focal point on the shoe, and any lucky lady wearing a pair would feel like the belle on the high street. The flower detailing is also an amazing feature of the shoe!

Trend Wall

Here is the trend wall that was made by the lecturers at college to try and help us get the ball rolling for our Garden Party project . I think that this is an effective launch pad and has really helped inspire the group with where to start to research this project

Designers

Part of my research for this project involved well established designers and their own versions of the garden party theme. They are my inspiration and are majorly what have been used for every choice we as a group have made for this project.
The first designer I have looked at was Jonathan Saunders, a new and upcoming designer who's subtle floral prints have both excited and inspired me. I really liked his subtle use of pops of colour and beautifully structured garments.

 

Another collection which inspired me for this project was Erdem's Spring 2011 collection.I really like the light, beautiful fabrics that have been used as it really reflects the theme very successfully. The thing that makes Erdem's collection very successful is the subtle uses of lace and colour as it is beautiful to look at.

The next designer I chose to look at was Paul & Joe's ready to wear Spring 2011 collection. I really liked the fun choice of colour and admired the styling that was used for the models. Also the nice smiling models is a nice change on the runway and really reflects the garden party atmosphere.

Take Two

The fabric we were given was a pretty floral dress. We immediately decided that we would keep the initial idea of the asymmetric top, because we really liked the real form and detail it gives. We then started to bunch in the fabric at the waist to try and give a more feminine silhouette so that it would accentuate our models figure. After a few moments of manhandling the mannequin we managed to create the shape we wanted. After more tweaks and folds we managed to create the shape of the top of the garment The back also happened to look quite effective through no real purpose, so that worked out for everyone. I have to say after today's progress I'm feeling a lot more excited about the project, and a million times more inspired about the final outcome and the fashion show! All thats left to do is create the shape and styling of the skirt.

Day Three

Mood: Unsurprisingly jolly!
After yesterdays nightmarish mood I managed to have a good hard think about how I wanted to move the project along, and actually like the final product. That was when it hit us, we should change the fabric we were dealing with! It seemed so simple, but the result were more ideas, inspiration and generic happiness within the group. One of the other groups donated a floral dress that they weren't going to use and we decided to work our magic. I could definitely tell that day three would be one of the best so far.

Back to the drawing board

After wasting most of my morning I decided that it would be a good idea to do some sketches to try and inspire myself, and the team, after the first main plan was such a disaster.  These images are my initial sketches for garden party inspired garments. These sketches are only initial and nothing is set in stone at this stage in the project.

THE SKIRT

When I say "THE SKIRT" I do hope it is interpreted through your screen in a shouting horror film sort of manner, with a flicking torch underneath my chin. I have to tell you that this skirt is the bane of my existence and a pain in my side. The said skirt began as a blue floral skirt with an elasticated waste band. We decided to use this skirt as a skirt, I know very creative. Initially we left the skirt hanging, but then decided to transform it into a more exciting shape. This was no easy task I must say. I began gathering pieces here and there and just pinning it, trying to create volume and make things a little more exciting. This didn't work. I then started grabbing from a different angle, and that looked even worse. Eventually I managed to scramble together a half decent silhouette for the skirt. Then I asked the other team members over for their opinion and they helped mold and mend it, but nothing seemed to work, or be as amazing as we wanted. For the fabric was just too pale and washed out. After a long winded battle I decided that this was a flawed plan and asked for a tutors help. After much deliberation the group, tutor and I decided to bail on the idea and try be more creative with another piece of fabric, thus ending the saga of the skirt, and the best part of two hours.

Mood: Ack!

After an unmotivated first day and a night of rest I came back to the project with a fresh mind, but even less motivation, yes, this IS possible! The fabrics were still gross, and the ideas still didn't carry much oomph. Yes, we had the ideas of the top, skirt and play-suit. But in my mind nothing seemed particularly eye catching or different. But still, with my second can of coke for that morning we decided to plough on. As a group we decided that the skirt outfit would be today's main focus, but the garment kept slipping off the mannequin. After much bother and severe aggravation with pins that were far too short, we decided that cellotape was every fashion designers best friend.
 I have to say though, My poor little mind is frazzled. I have little hope left for this fabric.

Inspiration

Before I began my drawings and ideas for this project, I felt it only right for my to create a mood board so that I could outline the feel and styling that I wanted to achieve for my final piece.

With my mood board I created a cute pink checker background, as it reminded me of a picnic sort of feel. I then collected and collaborated images which excite and inspire me. I chose garments which used floral patterns and styled them in an elegant fashion which is what the garden party trend is all about. I also chose more lady like garments which are structured, layered, ruffled and textured in a more exciting way than a plain floral dress. This mood board is definitely my style and I feel that it successfully outlines what I would like my final piece to look like.

Day One

I suppose I should say let the challenge begin. After receiving the brief I'm starting to feel quite excited and ready to get stuck in. Firstly I have put together a mood board based on artists I enjoy, colours which inspire me and specifically designers who have helped to make Garden party this seasons most desirable trend. I was starting to get more and more excited, but then we were presented the fabrics. Pulling out of the bag, piece after piece of garishly floral fabric. I felt a little sick with all the clashing, but I suppose beggars can't be choosers, and that I would have to swallow my apprehension and make it work. We split our giant team into smaller groups and chose our models. We then split up the fabric and began to start the mammoth task, and headache, of attempting to see what we could do with what we had. We decided to transform an ill fitted green dress into a cute little play-suit, and began playing around with a curtain and making a skirt into, well a skirt. At the end of the day I was still feeling excited, but I can't help shaking the feeling that this is going to be a long battle to get something decent.

It's All In The Detail

Here is the detail that we added to the back when playing with our garments. I really like how it overlaps as it looks structured and effective and that it can be really flattering on our model.

Playing about

I think that the only way things will get ahead are if we just play around with the fabric and see what happens. Here we are playing about with a asymmetric top and skirt.

Lets try it this way

This fabric is proving hard to decide what on earth to do with it. We decided that it is probably better to continue to keep playing around with our ideas to see what is best. We also have to keep in mind that whatever we make has to suit and fit our model.

Garden Party Fabrics

All of these fabrics were donated to us by the Salvation Army for our brand new project and brief. The idea is for us to design a collection suitable for the runway, based on the hot and current trend, garden party. All our fabric is outdated, and all the patterns clash. This is going to be a challenge indeed