Pri... Leaving it's mark.

Don't wash, save water, loose friends. - Liv Tillston

Heydeey ho peeps, What a week it has been and I can't believe the weeks have pasted since my last blog post!! Now time to update you on the situation and my whereabouts! Been on a shopping spree over the past week as I have given up on managing my bank account as I am a student who loves to save! Objection my lord! - and that was not sarcasm. I am spending on Christmas presents and am a hooker for DVD's. (Naughty). The idea of moving out to a house is starting to stress me out as I have many options to where I can move and my whereabouts. I haven't decided. I didn't have the best start in halls as I wanted a busier flat but this didn't appear. Feels like deja vu all over again. I am delving further in my course as I learn more about fabrics and how they come to be and the creation of certain fabrics and how it comes together under fashion buying and merchandising. Tim Minchin has taken over my music as I am hooked on his poetry and wit. Now I will begin with what the blog was about originally which was looking at Primark and my now career that I have taken as a employee of this giant of a retailer. I know exciting times!! Tears of joy seriously.

I am now working for Primark and did my first 2 night shifts have been and gone which gave me a chance to get inside of Primark as a retailer and work behind the scenes as one of the stores magic pixies who restock the shop floor ready for the customers for the days events. I found my first shift rather tiring and got to know the teams and how it all worked. Second night I was onto it and working solid getting to know peoples stories and how they came to be at Primark doing the night shifts under unsociable hours. Most had taken up the role for Christmas and to become part of a strong team that allows them to earn good money whilst others fell into it by coincidence.
Whilst talking to a colleague, she fell into neither of the latter categories being forced into night shifts because of the lack of day shift work as she needed the hours and working the nights gave her the hours that she needed to support her family. Did this give her time during the day to spending time doing other things and spend time in the early evening with family? This questions remain unanswered.
Primark is certainly leaving its mark on me as I have learnt so much in such a small space of time and have learnt all about sizing. One thing that got me thinking was the idea of the range of different amounts of different sizes with having eight size 14 jumpers and only two size 20 of the same style. This is one of the many decisions of a Fashion Buyer as thinking about the cliental that you have to select for and who is going to buy it taking into consideration the materials. I am really enjoying my time so far in Primark and looking forward to continuing my position on night shifts and to learn what goes on in the background.

Alexander... What a Wang-er

Don't forget to be awesome - Anon

Vintage myth? I think I may have covered them all!

This week I am going to be more upbeat about my writing and take you more on the fashion journey into which this blog was originally meant to be going before I get side tracked with my life and the goings on within it. But sadly my dear reader chums I begin on sad and humbling note of the passing of legendary designer Oscar de la Renta. He designed for the likes of former first ladies such as Jackie Kennedy, Hilary Clinton and current first lady Michelle Obama, He be fondly missed and a legend within the fashion industry. Moving onto happier times I have become hooked on onion rings courtesy of my good friend Liv Tillston. Random news I know my dear readers but anywhoo on with the show... well blog. Can it be a show? Maybe a performance? Ooooo what about a cabaret? Now I got you talking. Rude. Took a trip home for a few days and realized how much I miss home and friends. The Wendy house crew are my best friends and love them so much.What was this about fashion? Ooooh yes lets begin into looking at the hot topic of this past week.

 This has been the hot topic for the past week now it has finally passed into my hands and I am going to enlighten you my dear readers on the do's and do not's of fashion. Alexander Wang has done a collaboration with H&M meaning it will be available to buy from 6th November. Do I like the collection? Not too keen. The collection is too bizarre the customers of H&M and will only appeal to the higher end market sitting in the premium end of the shop-floor.  I don't feel the use striking clean cut edges works and feels more of a sports wear range for the fashionista or maybe something high-end for the sportier cliental. He has displayed the label of Alexander Wang wherever possible. Why would you want 'WANG' and AW displayed all over your body like a human billboard. I take to the use of darkened colours and use of monochrome but it does feel a little too futuristic in-terms of progression in the industry. Maybe I'm wrong and this could be the game changer. Who knows? H&M are renowned for changing how fast fashion can be done. This collection does nothing for me sadly as you can probably tell. The collection ranges from £27.99 - £199.99 which enables everyone to have a piece of Mr Wang's collection. But who'd want to? The dress maybe as it's priced at £59.99 but it's a statement piece and feel you could only where it once or twice before people look at you and say, 'didn't you wear that last time?'. In conclusion as you can tell it's not that I don't like him as a designer it's the collection that I'm not a fan of.

I wonder...

Be the best version of you. - Anon

Vintage myth - The stitching will fall apart within a week.

I have felt the need this week to change the tone of my blog post as I feel I want to open  up to you and tell about me and what I am about. As I sit this Tuesday morning (I know it's one day late, I am sorry my dear reader chums) with a brew in a mug reading 'Nobody knows I'm gay' with a massive rainbow across it, it made me think about myself and who I am, what I've become and how far I have to go. (I will be including fashion news for you all don't worry). As you know, blog posts are personal things to me to express myself and allow you guys to see what my past week has been and this week has been no exception but there's been a lot more learning and realization into myself and that I am 21 not 12. Should I act my age and not my shoe size? I sit and question my place here at University but then realize this is all I've dreamt off and need to make the most of this experience with the people I have met. I question my course, the decisions I have made and I question how much longer I will last and whether I am doing the right things in life. I wonder...
My sexuality has been causing me stop and think many times. I was forced out when I was 13, 8 years ago now and I was delivered into an alien world where people where asking who I liked, what I liked and did I like certain people? I didn't know. How was I supposed to know, I wasn't given a chance to come to terms with who I was, I had been through the denial and thinking the impossible but it was true, I was gay. Not being given time to accept this and the bullying from high school, the feeling of not being wanted and everyone treating you like a piece of chewing gum on there shoes. No one wanted to be around me. Who would? I was irrelevant to them. I wonder...
Now sitting here many years further on I still sit and look at myself, my surroundings and ponder what if I had came out when I was ready? Would it of been different? I don't make a big deal about my sexual orientation as I don't feel a need to as I'm the same as everyone in the world. I don't feel I need to shout it. Let's get equality and complete acceptance in this world. I wonder...

As this now primarily a fashion blog I will include some information on what you guys have come to hear about. This post came about looking at what people where using to carry there university stuff around in and is about the top 5 university bags! As we all fight to carry books, laptop and Ipads around I thought this would be a good opener to the sort of bags that are out there. The top 5 include satchels, rucksacks, the tote bag, the shoulder bag and the athletic bag. My personal favourite as you can tell is the satchel. I am a huge lover of the satchel and feel it deserves the identity is has and stands for today. There are many companies from which you can acquire a satchel from. 'The Cambridge satchel company' and 'Zatchels'. Theyboth are huge and offer a plethora of bags that are present on the high street today. Why the satchel though? It relit back in 2010 when people wanted to able to carry there expensive tech whilst still looking like there from the 1940's and somewhat dated. It's an old school concept that has been brought to the mass market and it very much alive with the likes of sneekers and the shoulder bags. I am a huge lover of the satchel with it's strong box shape and buckles with a reminance of the kickers shoe.You can carry the handle or whack it over your shoulder. Fashionista's of the world. This is the bag for you. Big names have done there fair bit with satchels are now a mainstream item so get on the look out for the next big colour trend that will follow!
More information avaliable. 'http://www.studentcom.co.uk/news/fashion/five-laptop-friendly-bags-for-uni.html#.VDzg05XwvIV

University here I am...

'Everyday may not be good BUT there is something good in everyday' - Unknown

Heyydeyyhoo bloggers and readers around. If you haven't already grabbed a cuppa and a biscuit then your missing out on the joys of humble coffee bean and rich tea or which ever of the biccys that take your fancy, personally I'd be taking a small selection or a hamper as I like to call it. Moving on my jolly good friends, Previously in my life I finished my Art Foundation and came out with a Distinction which I have to personally thank the group of people who helped and encouraged me at Cronton Sixth Form (you know who you guys and girls are and the infamous Daniel Crowe!!) Also as you can see I am now at University studying Fashion Buying and Merchandising which is my dream course. I am so far enjoying my course and the people I have had the privilege to share the experience with so far. I am finding the transition from Art and Design to a business based course a struggle but I am coping and am able to use my fashion and accounts knowledge to good use.
Also Harrrrrah, I have turned 21 but I feel more like 12 not 21. I now am expected to act my age and not my shoe size (literally). But I can get away with it for a little bit longer. Facetime is the best thing since slice bread and have enjoyed Skyping Mistress Beeby on many occasions.

This is my University room where I seem to be spending the minority of my time and a place where I hit base before going out. Forgive the messiness please, thank you very much to you.
I have very much made myself feel at home here with posters and the amount of stuff that I have built up from the freshers fair and my home. It's like an Aladdin's cave. Now your wandering what goes on in my room. Naughty. Not much goes on in the room apart from studying and belting out tunes whilst I await the wakening of my fellow flatmates. The move was a big one and I like to take time to reflect upon my experience so far. I have found the transition easier than I thought I might of but I couldn't of done it without my fellow Cronton people. I would of felt lost and found the experience overwhelming. Being older I have found the whole transition difficult. I feel being 21 and at Uni hard. University is for everyone and have loved every single second even when my flat mates wake me at 3am.

Now your wandering what I have done with my lectures and the wereabouts of what's going on with them! But first, let me take a selfie!! A lecture selfie is a case of showing your trying to listen and have a giggle at the time same which I seem to be achieving. (Let hope my tutors don't see this). The lectures and seminars are really interesting and am enjoying the course the people are fantastic!! Bring on the next 3 years!! Been set a few assignments already which sound really interesting. Just gotta do some prep work for the next one and venture out into the the world and talk to people in the shops and discover who the target markets are. Looking forward to getting my teeth into course and what's coming next.

The Final Post...

'Don't cry because it's over, Smile because it happened'. - Dr Seuss.

Final vintage myth - Everything vintage is made out of old curtains.

WOW we have come to the end of Art Foundation and what a year it has been and what a journey I have been on. I have finally come to the end of my year within the arts. I will continue with the arts and develop my drawing whether that be with life drawing or progressing with my fashion drawings. A special thank you to 3 people in particular being Kimberley Foulder who has become the mum of the foundation and I love this women so much! She is an inspiration to the world and knows what she wants to do and what she wants to be. Secondly Jessica Beeby who is one special person who has a strong mind and knows what she wants and how to get it. She has kept my mouth under control and made me see sense in everything that I do and helped progress me from a boy to a man. Finally the most special and talented women of all time (getting goosebumps already), Chelsea Hicks, Chelly is my best friend and the person who has been there for me through my 3 years at Cronton, she works her fingers to the bone defying the boundaries of art and is so special and couldn't imagine my life without her. An incredible person and everyone needs a Chelly in there life. She is going to be massive in the arts and animation. Watch this space. What a week it has been!! Bike is finally fixed which is a miracle, was water damage. I have constructed my final piece which can be seen below. Don't cry because it's over, Smile because it happened is try, I want to cry because it's over but then I look back and realize that it has been the best year of my life.

This is the final piece. after a tiring week to get it finished I have finally done it and it represents the 'death of Haute Couture' and the idea that Haute Couture is attending it's own funeral, I feel through this piece I have accomplished this as the colour means that it could be worn to a funeral as it's dark. It is made from bin bags which shows the idea of recycled fashion and the concept of disposable fashion which is ultimately killing Haute Couture. The dress cost around £5 in materials to make which shows the relative cost compared to the £10,000+ price tag that is placed on the likes of Chanel and Dior. It works for me this dress as the dress is primarily made up of crochet with the massive skirt that lies over the top. The crochet took me around 20-25hours to do as it was highly time consuming cutting the bin bags and then having to crochet them correctly to make them fit the mannequin. The dress fits well and covers all basis' when it comes to garment creation. Adding wax to the skirt has enabled me to create a new texture and adds weight to the dress. The white background contrasts against the dress allowing it to be lifted from the page and adds a subtlety of innocence to the dress. What a final piece to show what I could do when I put my mind to it and feel the piece is representative of what Haute Couture is and what is will become. My main inspiration being Gareth Pugh who created a series of dresses that where Haute Couture and contradicted everything that it is. Is this dress a perfect contradiction?

This is the back of the dress which is where the concept of the death had to be put forward and how I could represent the death through a dress and without words. I found this tricky and continued the thoughts... How can I put forward the idea of death without words and display the concepts of attending your own funeral? I came to the conclusion that a coffin was required as this symbolizes death as it is taken down the isle at a funeral. Doing the crochet was hard as it required accurately adding and taking out crochet stitches to form the dress. Next was attaching it to the waistband and the straps which was again tricky as the angles to make the dress work was a harder than I anticipated. Making the straps fit within the angles was hard and had to be done precisely and to the right height and width. The coffin determined the width of the straps as they attached to it. It sits across the back as it is a flat surface which is wasn't possible with the front of the dress. It is an accurate dress and works so well as a piece and a concept and reflects what I want it to. The concept of a dress having to mime to push forward it's message. The skirt represents the cracks that are forming in the Haute Couture whether that be the increasing cost of the industry, the dwindling fashion houses who can afford to put the shows on and deliver such a spectacle. Cracks are forming and want the skirt to represent this with the layers displaying the industry and how its built.
Haute Couture is most definitely attending its own funeral.

The penultimate post...

The infamous working journal...

'You can't move mountains by whispering at them...' - Pink.

Vintage Myth - Someone died in it.

OMG!! MY DEAR READER CHUMS!! THIS THE PENULTIMATE POST!      
Art Foundation is coming to an end and I am saddened by this as it has been a spectacular year a wonderful yet hard end to what has been a year! WHAT A YEAR!! I have made some amazing friends and also learnt a lot about myself in the process! Thinking about to where I started to where I am now! What a journey. Next week I will be reflecting on the highs and lows of what has been a spectacle of a year. University awaits me!! Bring it on!! What to say and what has been going on? I have been finalizing the final piece and how it will be constructed and where the construction will start. The prep stages are the hardest and I have found myself getting lost within bin bags which has been fun but also arm aching as I cut up the bags. The challenge!! Getting the right thickness which is hard and hasn't been achieved as I have been cutting it to thick which will give a looser crochet. Previously  in my life I thought that World War 1 began in 1912 which was actually the year of the Titanic. Awkward. Also my love of films has grown and can't stop watching them!! Bad timing with the FMP due in!! Hahaha.

This shows the final designs for the final piece that I will be making, It is constructed from a circle skirt which is attached to a waist band that is constructed from crochet to bring in the waist. I want this constructed from either double or triple crochet. Triple would loosen up the stitch. It is how I attach it to the coffin, will I have to decrease the stitches either side of the crochet or I could increase them depending if my initial stitches become the bottom or the top. There will be overlapping straps that come over the shoulders and attach to the skirt with a simple row of stitching by hand. It will all come together with a collar made of bank notes to show how the cost of Haute Couture is killing the industry. This piece has to represent the end of Haute Couture as it attends it's own funeral and I want this to be my finale piece that demonstrates how far I have come and where I am going in my work. I can't wait to start working on the final piece in the next day or two.

This humble roll is what will eventually be my final piece. I haven't come to terms with the fact that I have to make my final piece, it hasn't hit me yet and I don't think it will till I have to exhibit it in the the Foundation room with everyone else's work side by side. This is the beginning and also the end of the project. The beginning being where I begun, a mess of darkness who had no direction who was to be moulded in a student who could work hard and deliver on the work that is required to pull work together. The end being the fact I now have to leave and fly the nest from Cronton Sixth Form. It took me a while to cut all this up, you would never think cutting a bin bag up would take over an hour. But it does. The barrel shape means that you to continually twist it around before you can cut again. It is frustrating but I have to remember that it has to be done so that I have a fabric to work with as part of the structure and purpose of my project and work. The bag has a slight stretch which allows the give when it comes using the crochet hook and creating the knots.

Putting the final nail in the coffin...

'A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man.' - Lana Turner 

What another week it has been!! I have been busy with Art Foundation, soon my blog about my Art and Foundation studies will be coming to an end and I am saddened by this as this past year has flown by and what a year it has been with high and lows with a lot of laughter along the way! My dear reader chums! 2 weeks approx till the end and I don’t want to leave! Previously in my life, I thought Florence was in France. Now that was awkward! Also I have found a love for sleeping which is not normal as I can sleep 8 hours but now I sleeping more! I am lazy! It is half term! Horrrah! I have been sorting out the final stages of my foundation studies with final drawings and research before I make the final piece. I am going to be making a dress that will represent the idea of the death of Haute Couture with the use of disposable fashion and coffins to represent its death.  Bike is still hiccuping which is very quickly becoming the bane of my life as it runs fine for 20 minutes and then decides to hiccup and cut out at the lights. I don’t get why it does it. Aaaaaa well. We move on. The book at the top of the page is a new book that I was bought by my kind friend and I love it so much! It is representative of mystical creatures. 

The mood board. This mood board has taken me 2 days of work to get together and produce as I was struggling with the use of imagery and the balance of fashion and objective objects. Initially I was criticized for the page being too black and white so improved this with the introduction of black and red permanent markers. This has enabled me to look at the ideas of shapes and structured nature of the dresses and coats. I also have put on fabric samples onto the board as it brings the 3D nature to the piece. The mood board is done for inspiration with the use of crossed bodied bondage for the top half of the body and top of the dress. the point of a mood board is to give me ideas and show where my ideas are coming from and how my mind is working when it comes to the production of the final piece. I found producing the mood board hard as I had finalized the final piece in my head which meant that there is alot of certain objects on the mood board, e.g circle skirts. Overall I am extremely happy with the piece as it represents everything that I need it to and this has helped with my design  process as it pushed the dress design forward.  

This piece shows the construction of the crochet coffin that I have wanted to try and create. I have found creating the coffin hard as it means increasing and decreasing stitches which I found hard as it meant creating consistency on either side of the increase. The decrease was harder as I felt like I was creating stepping stones down rather than a graduated decrease on an angle. The idea of the coffin is to create the death of Haute Couture through a piece of work rather than having the message lost as the audience guess what it's about and not being able to distinguish what it is about. The message needs to be obvious and the use of the coffin creates the easier way of displaying the symbolism. I really like this piece as it well constructed. I want to put wax over the top as it would display the cracks in the Haute Couture work. Bin bags shows the ideas behind the disposable fashion and the creation of a new fabric. Overall I am very happy with this experimental piece and will be involved in my final piece. 

Bag in the bin to the mannequin…

‘Ooooooo bapple’ – The minions.

Feels like a while since my last post!! Looking back… It was only last week! As you know my dear reader chums, I do try to keep up with the blog and keep you all in the know with regards to my whereabouts, being nosey are we? Rude.  If this is your first read of my blog then hello to you! So much has gone on over my time on Art Foundation but primarily my FMP and you have missed out on so much. Previously in my life I realized that Bob Marley is actually dead which shocked most as it should be known that he is no longer with us and hasn’t been for many years. Finally, Eurovision, what a spectacle and what a winner!! Inspirational.com. (not a website, naughty). This past week I have taken my eye off the ball and haven’t been working to my full potential and delivering on my work as my motivation has dropped considerably which means that no as much work has been done and my work seems to be dwindling. My bike decided to have a hiccup also and took it to the garage but like all things there is nothing wrong with it and runs like new. Good.

This past week I began looking at artists and designers that have done and looked at bin bags as a way of creating Haute Couture and came across Gareth Pugh once more as he has coincidently used bin bags to create a couture collection. Gareth is renowned for his works that go down the catwalk for art purposes rather than for the commercial sense and value. His pieces are astounding and represent the idea of throwaway couture and question the concept of what a garment is and has become. His use of strong lines that influence the body shape and dominate the catwalk with the striking use of layered crossed over techniques with the flared strips that create the dimension and prowess. The drape and hang of the garment is the main feature of the dresses and this is what delivers the atmosphere and sophisticated drama that is present throughout. He has focused on the ideas of the pear shape with a bigger waist and smaller bust which forces the dresses to flare out and float down the catwalk.

I feel inspired by this collection as it shows the possibilities of the humble bin bag and the idea of creating something beautiful from them, the ideas of disposable fashion and bringing it to the attention of Haute Couture.

This dress is a mild response to Gareth Pugh but is more of an experimental piece that enables me to look at the positives and negatives of the creating a dress out of bin bags. This dress was created from 4 bin bags that have a head hole cut out of them and then draped over a mannequin before being shaped to create a couture garment. I found creating this garment hard as I had no pattern and was going purely off my artistic fashionista flare. I have a love for the fish tale dress and wanted to create this on my own dress, I firstly had to fit the dress to the mannequin by taking in the waist and creating a bust. To create the fish tale I needed slimming silhouette that went down to the knees and the only way of doing this was to curve the material round the mannequin so that the bottom flared out. Overall I am extremely happy with the dress but it took a while to get there as it was a blank canvas and I had to determine my own darts and the couture nature of the dress. I have previously created a paper dress that was done with the same concept of a single sheet of material but I came out with a completely different outcome which shows that material can determine how you interpret a dress. I processed to rip the dress off the mannequin to show the ideas of disposable fashion and how this is killing the industry of Haute Couture.

You'd look good in a bin bag... so they say.

The bin bag dress...

'I need to get all this done...' - Olivia Tillston 

Another week has passed and you know what my dear reader chums, it has been a mixed week, I have had my ups and downs and even felt confused about the direction that my work should be going in. This past week I went to another car boot sale and continued the vintage search, I came out with a couple of pieces for University from mixers to briefcases. In terms of work I became confused when talking with a tutor which through my off and made me question all the work I had done so far which halted my tracks for a few days because Dan came to the rescue. Praise the Lord for the Mr Daniel Crowe. Sitting down with him enabled me to look through my work, reanalyse where my work was at and can go and put me back on the tracks to what I want to deliver in terms of communicating the final outcome of answering the question… Is Haute Couture dying? Is it being reduced? Or is it continuing? I realized there is no right or wrong answer to this question and is purely down to personal opinion which needs to be backed by a final piece.

This formed crocheted bodice formed the basis for my dress and is a form of experimentation; the bodice took me 16-18 hours to complete as it required me to extensively crochet over a prolonged period. I am really happy with the piece as the crochet is even but it could be more consistent and tighter. Doing this enabled me to play around with different materials and how they reacted to constant crochet and the speed into which I could crochet with it. To progress my work I want to play around with other materials and different overlaying techniques. I kept the materials and pattern the same to deliver consistency. I found maintaining the tightness of the wool hard as I was doing it on a mass scale and also creating a hoop the right size for the mannequin. Overall I am extremely happy with where this is going and has gone. The dress from the back is untidy as I have had to pull it in as it was too big and had to be pinned to bring the crochet in to fit on the person.

This piece is the final experimentation with the crocheted waistband and skirt. The shirt was created based on the idea of the circle dress where you cut a circle for the waist and a circle for the skirt which helped created a simple flow to the dress and meant that I could add pleats and cut into the dress if I wanted. The waistband has been created and has been done to add a statement piece and to bring the skirt together with the bodice. As this was experimentation I have been able to look at the positives and negatives of my work. The skirt was simple to create as it as simple as sticking bin bags together and then cutting the circles out, however I required a bigger space than I had to do it and I found it a struggle to get it all stuck together and cut out. The bags flow well and could be seen to be formal wear that could be seen as glamourized trash. The waistband could be refined with a smaller crochet hook which would tighten the crochet. Would this work and be viable in the time I have left? I will have to do some experimentation to find out what works and how it is relevant towards my project. Purpose behind the bin bags you may ask… I want to show how disposable fashion can be brought together with high end Haute Couture. 

Crochet away...

Wooden dolls.. 

Every little helps... - Tesco.

Vintage myth - Costs the earth to buy.

WHAT A WEEK!! This past week has flown by but sadly not much has happened apart from the obvious crochet which is still flowing. Who actually reads my blog? This has taken my curious mind into wonders this week. If your reading my blog right now, thank you so very much my dear reader chums and I am delighted to share your company on this fine day or maybe it's your evening. Whatever it is thank you for taking the time to read about the nonsense that I lay before you.Thank you sir and thank you to you please as I am going to enlighten you upon my doings over the past week. If you haven't read the rest of my blog post then RUDE! Get to it immediately. Go on. I am joking I am. This week has been purely about crochet and research. What could be the reason that Haute Couture would die?  To pass the time whilst doing Crochet I have been watching a couple of films, they have made me weep, teaches me for watching sad films. Reasoning behind the wooden dolls picture? I will tell you for why... I am making mock ups for the final piece and I have been using the wooden dolls to model my samples on.

This was my first attempt at making a crochet dress and has been constructed purely for experimental purposes and the main reason behind the construction is to get to grips with the idea of joining threads together to form another material. I invented my own stitch which was quad-crochet which was triple + double which formed a longer chain, it takes longer but is rewarded as it produces results quicker. Using a small doll enables me to produce a piece that fits a lot quicker than if I produced a life size piece. It doesn't fit it particularity well as I had never measured it against the doll first hence the cocktail stick in the back. If I was to produce it again then I would message the waist against the crochet. Overall I was very content with my first attempt at producing a crochet skirt. Would I do it on a big scale? Maybe not as it would require a massive crochet hook to get something of that scale to work and would require multiple crochet. I may  go onto attempt 10x crochet to produce a long piece.

This is my second attempt at a crochet skirt and this time I measured it against the dolls waist but I had to make it slightly wider to fit over the hips of the doll or it would never of fitted because there is no elastic or pull on the centre of the skirt so making it wider than the waist enabled me to get it on easier. I did a gradual retention starting with Quad to triple to single, double and then a single crochet to form a frill at the bottom. I love the graduated effect as it creates an elegant silhouette and shows the different knots within the crochet handbook. Doing this has enabled me to see how they work together with the use of different ways to crochet. Overall I am pleased with the way it has turned out and will progress my work by creating further pieces of crochet. This piece was done on a bigger wooden doll to enable me to create the bigger skirt. Doing these smaller experimental pieces has enabled me to see how long it takes to make them before I would consider making bigger pieces and has enabled me to at thicker and thinner wools. The thinner wools on bigger needles create a loose crochet which I find hard as you have to keep the tension high in your hand but on the needle it has to be loose so becomes an almost contridiction and your hands and mind get confused because your doing one thing but are supposed to be doing another. It's like having a hot drink on a hot day. You do it because your supposed to but your mind tells you otherwise. (Maybe not the best analogy.)

A series of do's and do knots...

The Crochet 'V' 

‘I’m not willing to put my heart on the line, so you get practice at being a human being’ - Nikki Boston

Vintage Myth - Fastenings will fall.

What a week it has been!! Wooooah, NEVER knew so many emotions existed! The rollercoaster of emotions has well and truly got me this week! My dear readers of this what has to be the best Vintage in denial blog around. (Ok, blowing my own trumpet a little bit, but hey, who doesn’t at times and this is prob the only Vintage in denial blog, I know brilliance on my par). Been watching a few films this week which was moderate as films go. Previously in my life, crochet has become my new obsession, I used to hate it but now I find it therapeutic and enjoyable. I am a person who will spend a few weeks intensely learning something and crochet has become my new best friend. Also my obsession with knitting has hit a new high, (OBJECTION MY LORD!!) Yes, I am trying to get hold of a knitting machine and a knitting loom but does  that mean I am obsessed? I don’t think so m’dear. I have been looking at knitting and crochet as it is how I intend to create new materials for my final piece. ‘The death of Haute Couture’ is becoming increasingly tested as I find and discover new ways into which it’s gravestone will tell its tale when it ends up 6 feet under the fashion catwalks.  Main reason? Primarily cost as they cost hundreds upon thousands to put on BUT there must be other theories and as I as am studying Fashion marketing as University in September I must investigate further, call me the Sherlock Holmes of the impending murder.

This page is from my sketchbook enabling you to see what I am doing at the moment!! Crochet has becoming predominant in my life as it uses the idea of knots to create a material, (just like knitting) but is done with a hook that shifts the thread in and around each other creating different types of crochet. When I first started it looked like a mix of random knots but as time progressed I mastered it. I have been moving forward from Single to double and then onto triple. In essence as you increase from S-D-T, the ladders as such from each ‘V’ increasing in size creating longer pieces of material as more yarn is woven into it. You have to be careful with it as if you’re not careful you can change the tension making it too tight or too loose. The idea behind the knots is to create a piece of material which could become part of my final piece. I have explored a range of different materials and want to continue looking at creating the flowers and other pieces.

Vanity sizing has becoming predominant within my work now as it relates to the ideas of consumerism and the idea of size inflation to boost sales and is part of the ‘ready to wear’ clothing era. Marilyn Monroe is a prime example of the shrinkage of the sizing. Back in the 50’s and early 60’s she was seen to be somewhere between a size 12-16 but today mannequins that fit her clothes are a size 0-4 which shows us that clothing brands are putting a label on a pair of jeans that should be a 10 but calling them a 4 as it gives confidence to the person who is wearing them as they think they are thinner than they actually are. It is all to do with money as they know that if you think you're smaller than you are then you will return.  My piece says that ‘Size 0 is the new 8!’ which is true and my sewn piece delivers impact, being sewn onto fabric represents the thread that could be used to sew in labels to the garments. I want to continue looking at this idea and progress it forward.

Overall I a content with my work with knitting and crochet as it relies on the idea of knots and ties as the needles and hooks pass around each other to create the new material and if I have time I want to design and create a garment that reflects the ideas of concepts that are present through my work with the ideas of vanity sizing and disposable fashion.

Ripping into fashion...

'Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you'll get...' - Forest Gump.

Vintage Myth - One off pieces are more valuable.

Heyyydeehooo guys and gals!! It has been 2 whole weeks since my last blog post!! Woooah haven't they pasted fast my dear reader chums! What a past couple of weeks it has been!! Finally got round to watching both Frozen and Tangled! BUT which one was better? I judged it on if I had to sit and watch one right now I guess it would be either. They are both sensational films and I feel I could watch them both time after time. Previously in my life I realized that I drinking knowing that I have to drive isn't my best idea as I had to spend 20 minutes outside in the freezing cold to sober up. Also that I am quite clumsy... OBJECTION MY LORD!! Quickly moving on. My fashion drawing is getting better as I can now a simple silhouette without a template which I prefer as it enables me to choose the proportions whether I am wanting to exaggerate the waist or lengthen the legs! The reason I have used the picture above as it allows you to see the different ways into which the body can shaped and the proportions that lye within it whether it be pear shaped or hourglass. What have I been doing? My working journal is taking shape but its full of miscellaneous stuffs that make no sense but I partly feel this is good and a positive thing as it doesn't follow any such pattern and allows a random flow of work that isn't expectant.

This picture is a page from my sketchbook so that you can see what I'm up to at the moment! This page is on the history knitting allowing a brief timeline to show it through the 20th century. Knitting goes back to the 3rd century but I decided to focus my attention on the 20th as it relevant towards modern history. I have put in knitting my own sample as it shows the weave within the knitting itself and shows a physical representation of what I was talking about. The decade into which I focused my attention was the 1950's as it was the height of Haute Couture and knitting. I will have to do more research into this area as it relates to my work and how the death of Haute Couture is relevant. I have knitted with carrier bags to show the ideas of disposable fashion and how it has effected Haute Couture.

This piece relates to Adam Saaks who a fashion designer/artist who takes a t-shirt, puts slits through it and then creates a series of knots to create a new structure and integrity to the material as it changes the shirts properties and how it looks revealing more skin creating a rock chick look with the strands. He is renowned for his work with Ed Hardy and the idea of cutting up his shirts, this worked for both parties as the cutting into the shirts helped represent this brand further as it symbolized the ideas of rock and his customer base. Adam Saaks is known for this and is his trademark, it still entrances me how he goes with it and creates unique one off creations from nothing but a t-shirt, a pair of scissors and his creative box. This relates to my work as it is seen as changing how a garment looks and the ideas of up-cycling rather than recycling. This starts to question where the death of haute couture sits and what the real answer is and how it can relate to my project which I will find out soon.

Overall so far I content with where my work is going, yes, my work is going a tad slower than it should be at  the moment but the work will be done and sleepless nights are inevitable but I will deal with them when I come to them.  

Doing the paperwork...

A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man. – Lana Turner

What a week it has been!! We are now over a month into the FMP and we should all be stressing past ourselves with the idea that Dan told us of living and breathing our project and everything that is consumed around it… I’m living and breathing (thankfully, or I wouldn’t be blogging to you my faithful chums). BUT when it comes to doing it with fashion and my FMP, you want the honest answer? I guess I’m not. Previously in my life, thinking that asking people questions on a subject matter that they have no clue on was a good idea… I did get some good answers tho! Also that I finally won at Bowling!! Don’t applause even though would be very much welcomed, thank you very much to you sir thank you please. Yesh, I guess winning was a triumph in my debacle as I never win and been called a sore loser on many occasions, but now being called a sore winner OBJECTION MY LORD. Even though creating an ‘L’ with my right hand in victory and shoving it in my opponents face this way and that was part of my way of showing I had done good for society and mankind. Such fun.
Now back to what you are here to learn about, even I have forgotten. Oh yes, Art Foundation work which is slowly taking over my life in such a way that even cleaning has become more interesting and a better sort of a distraction.

This picture relates to where my work on the paper garments had begun as this image represents the tweaked dress that it originally came from. (See first images at top of page). Looking at newspaper and how it can be shaped has enabled me to analyze and show the ideas behind disposable fashion and how it can be adapted allowing it to show how you can create a series of different garments simply from one. The drawing was constructed from pencil and promarkers and I feel my drawings are progressing rapidly as I watch more and more YouTube video tutorials on Fashion design and illustration. The pens allowed me to create shades of light and dark to create shape and emphasis. I took inspiration from the tuxedo with the tail creating the shape and flared nature and details. I felt inspired by Gary Harvey as he created a paper dress.

Experimenting with water colour has enabled me to look at using a different way of drawing dress design and is allowing me to play around with brush strokes and tones as a way of determining the best way of drawing objects. The water colour allows me to create flowing lines which fade out into nothing showing depth and the diverse nature between light and shade. Using strong lines and colours allow me to deliver a powerful outline that provides me with enough detail as the designer to then go on and make the garment. Overall within this part of my project I am happy with what is going on and how it is progressing.

Doing some further more diverse research into the effects of fashion on the high street has allowed me to gain opinions from others as a way of coming away from the secondary sources that we all become reliant on. I used Facebook as a way of gaining valuable 1:1 information on my area of study. I asked, ‘Do you think the London Riots of 2011 affected the image of fashion?’ and ‘Do you think we are seen as the puppets of the high street?’ From these answers I gained a range of different answers and conducted this with a variety of different results. I could be seen as an experiment as it has allowed me to see who responds and what responses I get with the different times of day that it was posted. This can be accessed if requested or maybe I could post them on another post? Who knows…
Overall I am pleased with the amount of people who have responded to my questions or mini survey.

Drawing the fashion figure...

'But I don't wanna go to heaven, If you're going to hell, I will burn with you.' - Lea Michele

Vintage Myth - Everything smells of the dead.

We are now in the 3rd week of the Final Major Project and I feel that I haven't done half as much work as I should of by now!! What am I going to do about this? I guess I will have to work harder and push myself further than I ever pushed before. I am scared as this is my final hurrah. Previously in my week, a trip to Ikea turned tasty when I was attacked with a soft toy and towels!! Also realizing that I no longer belonged within the kids section as I am now 20 and not 2. OBJECTION MY LORD!! I am 20 in age but not in my mind. I feel more like a spring chicken rather than a cow ready for the slaughter house. I have also realized that within a relationship there has to be give and take in terms of compromise. Makes you feel closer as you are coming to an agreement together.  This past week I have been concentrating my project towards my degree into which I will be studying at University. Fashion Buying and Merchandising is more than looking at clothe. Its considering the customer and there needs and what they require. After a talk with Dan I have been able to progress my work and what it entails and how to push my work forward. I am looking forward to expanding on my studies within this area!!

Your probably thinking how does this picture relate to my project? I was thinking this to until I realized the meaning behind it and the hidden meanings that sit behind it. This piece shows the separation between upper and lower classes and the differences within the class. It allows you to see the subtle inklings of there social class. I.e. the huge picture and stature. There faces are giving nothing away in terms of what there thinking and have to sit in a position that is comfortable as they will be sitting in it for a while. What does it have to do with Haute Couture? Is it killing it or helping the industry? I would say there are as they are the sort of people who can afford to wear it but are not. They may have the money but there not spending it on expensive one off pieces of clothing, rather on materialistic goods.

Jum Nakao takes another play on the Haute Couture and has created a series of garments that represent the idea that the material doesn't matter and inadequate when it comes to delivering Haute Couture fashion. The garments were walked down the catwalk and then ripped off to show that materiality doesn't come into beauty and it was all about the instant memory rather than the continuing. The collection took over 700 man hours and almost a tonne of paper to create. The ripping of the garments shocked the audience which is what Jum wanted. The shock and intense that would be created. The instant emotions that were put forward and shown at the time are the ones that would be carried forward for life. This collection is a spectacle and even in its destruction, it has a certain elegance and he has sewn the invisible.

At the moment I feel really positive about what my work is doing and how I am taking it. After sitting and talking with tutors I can see and concentrate on the next stages of my project and what it entails. Currently looking at sweatshops and how the history of what is going on in the industry. The sewing machine and the sweatshops are what I believe to be the key players into the death of Haute Couture as the public require fast fashion and ready to wear garments. They want everything now meaning that people are forced to work in conditions that are unsafe and don't meet guidelines. The throwaway society has enabled this to happen meaning that people want cheap clothing. Haute Couture garments start from £10,000 whilst high street can be as little as £2. They want tomorrow, today.

Personal life...
Harvey has not taken to the new collar and keeps acting like Thumper off Bambi to try and get his collar off!! Maybe soon Harvey. Also he has an urge for milk... strange? Love the boy tho!! 11 this year tho!! Partner is doing well!! A mischievous trip Ikea occurred this past weekend which involved pushing each other into sofa and whacking each other with cuddly toys!! Was fun and was good to sit with some food and get some 1:1 time.

The death of Haute Couture...

Lily Allen's reception dress. 

'My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She's ninety-seven now, and we don't know where the hell she is...' - Ellen DeGeneres

Vintage myth - Everything is to your taste.

Pathway ended on Tuesday which is relief and we have now started on the biggy!! The Final Major Project or as we know it as, the FMP!! I can't tell you how scared I am now that it has started and it is real!! I didn't have a clue what to do or how to start it, this is my final project at Cronton so I want it to be bigger and better than ever before and I want to test the skills that I have learnt and picked up over the past going on 3 years!! What a week it has been guys and gals, previously in my life, I have realized I dither when it comes to buying clothes! OBJECTION MY LORD!! I don't dither, will not really...OK, you got me, I spent 20 minutes wondering around The Works in Liverpool about which Sketchbook to buy, considering the amount of pages and the gsm (grams per square meter), I went for a A3 sketchbook with 130gsm which is ideal for what I am doing. On the other hand, Mr Glen's rule is make an decision within 20 seconds or you won't buy it at all because your over thinking it! His concept is bloody fantastic! (Sorry for the language). He picks something up and decides instantaneously whether to buy it or not, you should of seen my face!! I was speechless as I tend to dither over a bottle of coke never mind a pair of trousers.

For the Final Major Project I have started by watching a documentary on the secrets behind Haute Couture which enabled me to get inside knowledge of the industry that lies within the fashion houses and enabled me to get an idea into what makes this way of dressing people such a lucrative business. There is fine line between making something viable for a club member to wear and something that is completely garish and impossible to find an occasion to wear it to. Lily Allen had a £200,000 dress made by Karl Lagerfeld  who is the creative director for Chanel. (See first image) and is handmade by the man himself. It is inspired by 1920's vintage with the squared off collar. Is it something of a spectacle and is reaching the top end for a dress. The piece opposite is another Chanel creation which is constructed for the Haute Couture bridal collection. The exquisite details on the bodice, hate and lower skirt makes for something that fits and flows over and around the contours of the body beautifully, something like this would carry a hefty price tag, get your credit cards at the ready girls and also a serious overdraft!!

Continuing with the project, I need to find the routes into how and why Haute Couture is dying a slow and painful death, my first port of call is the high street where all the elements from Haute Couture end up in some form or another as designers take influences from there shapes and colour palettes. The shop window is what makes or breaks a shop as it encourages shoppers and is advertisement to the world.This is the shop front to Ted Baker and is simple showing into the shop whilst displaying the garments.The simple block text that runs across the top of the page doesn't interfere with the rest of the window. Panels of glass deliver the light and creates the modern atmosphere.

Personal life...
Another week has passed and yet again not much has happened....
Harvey has realized that climbing onto my bed frame gets him the attention that he desires after I ignored him in place of a  couple of hours extra sleep.
Glen is doing well, 7 months last week!! Jolly good! We are doing well and we are moving at a steady pace. Learn more about him on a daily basis!!



Closure to the Pathway...

Alexander McQueen

The final Piece

'I have a dream' Martin Luther King.

Vintage Myth - It will have worn out in a few days.

Pathway is coming to an end now and I am beginning to finalize the sketchbooks off ready for marking by the infamous Marilyn. To bring you up to speed, Marilyn is an unknown lady who Dan has been talking about and haunting us with, she will be the one who looks at our work to determine our fate. What a week it has been and Friday was the busiest as final pieces had to be made, I hoped and prayed that mine would be completed. It was horraaahh, more on that in the next paragraph, Naughty. Previously in my life I have been told my obsession with Yankee is getting out of hand. OBJECTION MY LORD!! I have 50 tarts and numerous jars but I am not obsessed but I do love the smell of them. This past weekend I visited Warrington City Centre which was fun as they have a lovely ice cream parlour called 'Scoop' which entitled me to 6 scoops of ice cream. Mwaahhhs. I do love ice cream, I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. Anywhooo, I sorted my room out top to toe moving my Swan teasmade and 50's vintage tea service went into the loft for storage for when I move out eventually. I will never let of my vintage gear as it makes me who and I am it's what I love.

Development for shoulders. 

Anyway back onto pathway and the reason why your reading my blog. My Foundation studies. The final piece has been done but does need tweaks here and there. I have further been looking at the ideas of shoulder pads and advancing the geometric shapes, focusing on a continuous flow throughout the work. I continue to question the what's and if's and possibilities that could be linked throughout it. The pieces above continue to exploit the figure and exaggerate and disfigure the body.I have chosen to look at shoulder pads as it exaggerates the body and makes the person top heavy, I want to take in the waist to represent Metropolis. A collar would balance out the hips, they came into fashion during the 17th Century with the use of ruffles which I have converted to spikes to cover my geometric ways.

More development into shoulders.   

The piece is the finalizing stages before I drew my final piece where I finalized the ideas and concepts behind the shoulder pads and the shapes that would be placed in and around it. The decisions seem petty but add to the evidence into the decisions that I have made when it comes to drawing the final piece. Squared off vs Sphere'd off is a decision between cubed shoulder pads and sphere shoulder pads. The final piece has been given squared shoulder pads as they harden the garment and outline the figure in a stronger form and prefer them as they look less puffball and more power-puff as they dominate the shoulders and deliver and prowess and confident stature that reflects the ideas behind the geometrics. Exagerating the shoulders and other elements brings back in the start of my project when I was looking at alien and obscure shapes that challenged the catwalk. Alexander McQueen was a major research response as he uses obscure shapes and objects to challenge what fashion is and what it could be.

Personal life...
Harvey now has a new collar which after many years without one has not taken to it and is demanding a removal which won't happen as he needs one. Bad luck Harvey.
Partner is doing well and going strong as always, we have began taking adventures to places and letting ourselves go. Enjoying coffee and ice cream parlours that enable us to divulge into the simpler pleasures in life. A trip to Ikea and Walton Hall gardens is in order tho!!

Geometry in notion...

Paper round the neck

Paper on shoulder

'A spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down...' - Mary Poppins.

Vintage Myth - The clothes won't last as long.

Pathway is coming to a close this week so my motivation to finish is sky high but with a helping of clouds as my head continues to work towards a final piece. Previously in my life, I became obsessed with a chicken bag, OBJECTION MY LORD!! It is a lovely bag but carrying it round Liverpool and  in the real world wouldn't be so much of a rosey experience but more of one of carrying a handle of thorns. I also have had my hair cut, sneaky photo alert, Naughty. Yes, I finally decided that the huge amount of fibrous hair that comes out of head had become to much so visited the barbers for a chop. Another car boot descended on me this past weekend also, the temptation from the tat that people had on there table was never going to be an appealing prospect. Sometimes I wonder why some beings ever bother bringing there so called 'viable sellable and worthy items' but rather they are hardly salvageable to a hamster. Yes, I did buy a couple of DVD's and a few nik naks but that's besides the point. People at car boots have optimistic expectations to achieve £25 for a rusty teapot when the numbers all I want to here are 20p, 50p and £1! Next time I'll show her where to shove her poxy £25 teapot.




Liam Brazier

Anyway back onto the reasoning why your reading my blog. My Art Foundation studies!! Well they are going well and am fast approaching another 1/2 sketchbook complete. I have continued to look at the deconstruction of shapes and began the ideas behind what the final piece will be at the end of this week. I finally completed a time plan and began looking at a couple of different artists and designers to forward my studies and back up my work. Liam Brazier is a Freelance Illustrator who's work has been in demand from Apple and Samsung who are two massive technology giants. His work takes on an almost pixelated stance through the use of quadrilaterals and triangles. I take to the concept of breaking down an image to its simplest form. I felt inspired by him as he uses geometric shapes which I have been looking at as part of the garment construction. He used block colours to deliver light and dark and keep the dynamics of the object upon which it is based upon. His work centralizes around a point and linear segments which further into the creation. I have used him as I will be creating an illustration as part of my final conclusion to the pathway. I will have to look at the use of colour and how to create a 3D piece on a flat surface.


I have also looked at Bryce Aime who is a London based fashion designer who moved from France in 1988 in search of the ultimate dream of being recognised as a top fashion designer. He focused on creating collections that brought forward the women who understood luxurious fabrics, elegant cuts and precise fabrics. This piece is part of his Autumn/Winter 2012 collection and is made up of predominant lines and hard angles; this becomes the set DNA for the whole collection. He uses the idea of negative space and cold colours to deliver the sense of an 'ice queen' or as such eradicating the person wearing the clothing allowing the focus to be primarily on the garment. The head piece is strong against the shaded tones that are present within the shirt and leggings. The shirt is blacked out to extenuate the silhouette and break up the angular pattern on the top and bottom. His work takes on the hourglass figure and aims to disfigure the human body through illusions alone. I have been inspired by Bryce Aime because of his use of angular elements that become structures on the body and protrude from different parts of the body.

Combining influences behind Liam Brazier and Bryce Aime will help push forward into a final piece. I have been using biro as it takes on different tones and allows you to press hard for dark shades but be skittish for the lighter tones. I will also use Promarkers to put in lines and acrylic and watercolour for the block colour that is shown in Liam's work. From the first picture you see there is paper item on a baby mannequin which has helped with determining the positioning and how they sit on the body which can depend on the size of the piece of paper, the material and how you wish for it to hand. It was an interesting experience as it allowed me to look at proportions and what I am trying to achieve in the real world.

Personal life...
What to tell you guys and gals this week, Brother went to see Bastille on Saturday which sounded amazing and wish I had been there. Glen and I went to youth group as usual which enabled me to show him around the world of 'Firebox.com' and show him around my life online. Youth group was good and I managed to get him a 'Some people are gay, get over it' t-shirt. Harvey is getting into a routine which is good for him but bad for me as I want to be able to sleep the night through without his tail whacking me in the face or him meowing down my ear.