Once Upon A Time...

This shoe was designed with Alexander McQueen in mind. The theme is 'Fairytale'. Now obviously this posed the problem of which fairytales would look best as a shoe and which elements would represent them. I explored a few fairytales, including Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Alice in Wonderland, none of which seemed to give the right look that McQueen may have possibly gone for if it were he who had been designing it, for example, I felt that playing cards looked too tacky. I concluded that the best two fairytales were possibly the two most obvious; Snow White and Cinderella. This meant that I could have an unconventional heel (the apple) which I thought was something that McQueen may have done. I took inspiration from Cinderella's glass slipper by using clear plastic for the toe. I didn’t make the entire shoe body from the plastic because I thought it would look too plain, instead I took inspiration from the physical storybooks fairytales are printed in. I tea-stained newsprint paper and bonded it to fabric, writing famous phrases from various fairytales, such as "Why is a raven like a writing desk" and "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair", in calligraphy and then pleating it so it appeared like pages of a book.

Child's Play

(Source: http://www.yusu.org/ents/calendar/2011/03/08)

Fusion is York University’s annual performance for Rag, a display composed of fashion, dance, music and lighting effects. The theme for 2011- Fusion Playing Games, from childhood to casino, video games to parties, the show had it all- Barbie and Ken, Super Mario dancers, monopoly models and cyber game players, it was incredible to watch, so full of energy, and I was lucky enough to be a part of it.

'Twister', My Dress (Central)

Twister was my theme. I designed and made a dress to be shown in the Party Games section of the show along with 7 other Twister-themed dresses. This was an amazing opportunity for me as it was my design out there to be shown in a fashion show, and I got feedback that the Twister dresses in particular got really good reviews.  Prior to the show, I was offered and interview in Haus magazine, where I was asked a few questions about my designing and why I wanted to get involved in Fusion: 

http://hausdigital.com/2011/02/19/ross-spedding-the-future-of-fashion/

Fusion 2011 Official Website: 

http://www.fusionyork.co.uk/

'Cluedo'

 

 

'Ballet Chess'

'Super Mario' Dancers

As Mad as a Hatter!

"You shouldn't be asking, 'why are you wearing a hat?', What you really should be asking is why are you not?"- John Galliano

My Headpiece- Front View

Millinery- my elective for the past week. It was the first time I’d done this, (excluding a fascinator in my A Levels) so as well as learning the techniques, I wanted to go all out and design something a bit more than the average hat or headpiece.

I chose the concept of birds getting caught in barbed wire as I think the contrast between something so delicate and a raw obstacle such as the barbed wire an intruiging one. It was a follow up of my initial thoughts on man versus nature. Also, because of my diverse theme, I felt I could harness all of the skills I had learned through my millinery elective.

Moodboard

Final Design

Initial Design

Initial Design

My Headpiece- Right Side View

My Headpiece- Left Side View

My Headpiece- Top Close-Up

My Headpiece- Facial Close-Up

It Was Acceptable in the 80's...

Dressed for the 80's (Source: Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150382962190006&set=a.10150268103670006.486120.602640005)

…So why isn’t it now? Why has street fashion become less exciting after the 1980’s? The 60’s, 70’s and 80’s saw many different and exciting styles in dress, the 60’s brought about the ‘Space Age’ styles of Andre Courreges, Mary Quant liberated women with the miniskirt, BIG hair psychedelic colours, faux furs and plastic raincoats. The 70’s introduced Punks, glam-rock, David Bowie, flares, leotards and platform shoes. The 80’s brought around men in make-up, Madonna, spandex dancewear, New Romantics and acid washed jeans.

Andre Courreges, 'Space Age' Fashion, 1960's (Source: http://kazucopy.wordpress.com/2010/06/13/long-live-courreges/)

Adam Ant, 1980's (Source: http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/yradish/41634/the-new-romantics-playlist/)

For the past decade we have been revisiting styles from past decades- skinny jeans, leotards, hi-top trainers, neon, horn-rimmed glasses, loafers, leggings and parkas. I don’t see anything wrong with revisiting these fashions, as I myself love to wear skinny jeans, hi-tops and most of the styles that we have revisited the past decade, however, it does not seem like the 00’s really had an identity that was new and amazing like those from the 60’s-80’s, its identity was more about recycling previous styles. We recently had a party where the theme was 80’s. Everyone went all out- bright make-up, big hair, spandex, drainpipes, sweatbands, hi-tops, double denim, you name it, someone was wearing it! It was amazing! I had so much fun, even before the party just getting all glammed up. You could see that everyone was loving it, and they all look totally awesome!

"Video Killed the Radio Star!" (Source: Facebook-

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150382962190006&set=a.10150268103670006.486120.602640005#!/photo.php?fbid=499729331274&set=a.499728971274.270660.557101274)

"Gold! Gold! Always Believe in Your Soulllll!" (Source: Facebook-

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150382962190006&set=a.10150268103670006.486120.602640005#!/photo.php?fbid=499729741274&set=a.499728971274.270660.557101274)

"When You Call My Name, It's Like A Little Prayer!" (Source: Facebook-

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150382962190006&set=a.10150268103670006.486120.602640005#!/photo.php?fbid=499729796274&set=a.499728971274.270660.557101274)

"Eye Of the Tiger!" (Source: Facebook-

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150382962190006&set=a.10150268103670006.486120.602640005#!/photo.php?fbid=499731166274&set=a.499728971274.270660.557101274)

"Let's Get Physical, Physical!" (Source: Facebook-

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150382962190006&set=a.10150268103670006.486120.602640005#!/photo.php?fbid=499732016274&set=a.499728971274.270660.557101274)

"It Was Acceptable in the 80's" (Source: Facebook-

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=557101274&aid=270660#!/photo.php?fbid=499730036274&set=a.499728971274.270660.557101274&pid=6607167&id=557101274)

"Let's Do It Like They Do On the Discovery Channel!" (Source: Facebook-

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=557101274&aid=270660#!/photo.php?fbid=499729906274&set=a.499728971274.270660.557101274)

"The Final Countdown!" (Source: Facebook-

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=557101274&aid=270660#!/photo.php?fbid=10150386345865156&set=a.10150296465120156.532803.713955155)

"Ice, Ice Baby!" (Source: Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=557101274&aid=270660#!/photo.php?fbid=499729856274&set=a.499728971274.270660.557101274)

I’m hoping that the coming decade sees another major change in fashion that will be as memorable as the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s are now 40 years down the line. Staying with the philosophy of the 00’s fashion- revisiting fashions of past decades, but putting a new twist on it, being more Avant-Garde, more exciting, more different, but with more individuality. Perhaps an even more futuristic turn on the Space-Age style of the 60’s, creative, over-the-top make-up on men and women, insane hairstyles with unconventional colourings and adornments, something a lot more exciting! Lady Gaga, for example- individual, different and very exciting!

Final Piece for Foundation FMP 'Futuristic Sportswear' (made by me, May 2010)

Final Piece for Foundation FMP 'Futuristic Sportswear' (made by me, May 2010)

Gray's Anatomy

Skeletal Leotard Front (made December 2010)

My final garment is based on the human skeleton, specifically the ribcage. The theme came from elements of the textile artist Caroline Broadsheet, who inspired the loose pleats that form the appearance of a ribcage on the torso front. The garment is made from a skirt, baggy blouse and a dress top. I made the garment a leotard because wanted to keep the silhouette the basic human form. The loose sleeves form the shape of a forearm bone in the silhouette and the ruffles add texture as well as the appearance of bones down the hips and the pattern on the skirt fabric creates a rib-like appearance down the back of the garment.

Skeletal Leotard Front (made December 2010)

I am happy with the overall design of the garment, however, I feel the construction could be improved as I found making it on the mannequin difficult as it was the first time I’ve done this. I should have also put facings around the neckline and leg holes and used a longer zip so that the waistline would fit over the hips.

An Artistic Approach...

I find illustrations to be a good way to express how garments could be worn, how the fabric lays on or drapes from the body and to present an idea of the fabric textures in a design. In these three of my illustrations, two show a representation of fur. I particularly like watercolour paints to show fur because they represent texture as soft, smooth and ‘fluffy’ in a flat and subtle way. I feel the tearing paper method has its advantages to in that it is obvious that it is representing the appearance of fur in a larger scale, but the texture appears to be rough and stiff. I like the use of an animal’s head or simply parts of an animal’s face upon a human head, such as the eyes, because they add surrealism to the illustration and make it appear more interesting to look at because it is different. This technique would also be effective in illustrations of garments that are made from faux animal skins, hides and furs, such as leathers (bulls or buffalos head), or adorned with feathers, such as peacock feathers (peacock head).

Representation of fur in layerd torn paper (Made by me (Parcel Paper), November 2010)

Laura Laine-style Illustration (Drawn by me (2B Pencil), November 2010)

Illustration of a Fur Jacket using layering, collage and continuous line techniques (Drawn by me, (Black Fineliner, Watercolor Paint), November 2010)

Illustration of a Satin Skirt and Knitted Wool Cardigan using mixed medias, including collage (Drawn by me (Parcel Paper, Masking Tape, Watercolour Paint and Oil Pastel), Novemeber 2010)

Two of my favourite fashion illustrators are Laura Laine and Jasper Goodall. I like Laine’s use of tone on long-legged, skinny stylized figures and how there is clearly a lot of time spent on the detail of the hair and pattern and drape of the fabrics. 

Laura Laine Illustration (Source: http://littlewillow.com/200802)

'Artemis', Laura Laine Illustration (Source: http://www.phantasmaphile.com/200803/laura-laine.html)

I like how Goodall uses abstract figures (some with animal heads) to create odd silhouettes whilst at the same time allowing the figures to have a slight 3D effect through either shines of light to show fluid surfaces, or through photographic elements. Another interesting aspect of his illustrations is that each is life size, with only the top of the body down to about halfway down the thighs drawn. He does this so that the images can be then photographed being held by a model wearing leg-wear and shoes that make it appear as though the image is coming to life.

Jasper Goodall Illustraion (Source: http://trendland.net/20081105/jasper-goodall-illustrations)

Jasper Goodall Illustration (Source: http://www.anewspace.infopage4.htm)

Il Etait Une Fois A Paris...

Eiffel Tower- Parc du Champ de Mars, Paris, France (Photograph taken by myself (November 2010)

Paris…a city full of art, fashion and culture, we saw it all! We climbed the Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame, visited the Eiffel Tower at night, sipped coffee in a café at Montemarte and took a quaint little cruise down the Saine. The city truly is beautiful, with its neo-classical stone architecture, wide streets and array of stone statues.

Eiffel Tower- Parc du Champ de Mars, Paris, France (Photograph taken by myself (November 2010)

Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France (Photograph taken by myself (November 2010)

A Gargoyle of Notre Dame, Paris, France (Photograph taken by myself (November 2010)

One of my favourite places was the Musee du Louvre, which, in itself is an iconic landmark in Paris, previously being Palais du Louvre. Its enormous collection of art, sculpture and interiors make it a truly inspirational place. My favourite galleries in the museum were where the Egyptian, 17^th and 19^th

Centuries and Renaissance collections are located because I love these periods in time, especially Ancient Egypt and the Renaissance. I think that the photos I took in these galleries could prove inspirational for some of my future designs.

Sculpture in a Gallery at Musee du Louvre,  Paris, France (Photograph taken by myself (November 2010)

Egyptian Statuette in the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Gallery at Musee du Louvre,  Paris, France (Photograph taken by myself (November 2010)

Stature of a Sphinx in the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Gallery at Musee du Louvre,  Paris, France (Photograph taken by myself (November 2010)

17th Century Cabinet in the 17th Century Gallery at Musee du Louvre,  Paris, France (Photograph taken by myself (November 2010)

We also visited the Musee de la Mode et du Textile at the Louvre to see an exhibition on designer collections from the early 90’s to the present day. I really enjoyed this as I got to the work of my favourite designer, John Galliano’s work for Christian Dior. Unfortunately, none of the garments from my favourite collection (Spring 2004 Couture- Egyptian theme) were on display, I did get to see a spectacular gown from his Fall 2004 Couture collection (Austro-Hungarian Princess theme) which is another collection I particularly admire. It was amazing to actually see the very same couture garments that I first saw paraded down the runway in photos from Style.com and in shoots from fashion mags in reality, where you could almost reach out and touch them. The attention to detail in every garment I saw was of outstanding quality and I hope that I will be that good one day. The exhibition defiantly had a bigger impact on me than any other I have seen before.

Gown from Christian Dior's Fall 2004 Couture Collection displayed in the Musee de la Mode et Textiles, Paris, France (Designed by John Galliano (Photograph taken by me (November 2010)

Skirt and Jacket from Christian Dior's Fall 2005 Couture Collection displayed in the Musee de la Mode et Textiles, Paris, France (Designed by John Galliano (Photograph taken by me (November 2010)

Jean Paul Gaultier Metal Bustier displayed in the Musee de la Mode et Textiles, Paris, France  (Photograph taken by me (November 2010)

Close-up the corset detail on a designer dress displayed in the Musee de la Mode et Textiles, Paris, France (Photograph taken by me (November 2010)