PUTTING MY WAIST BAND ON MY 70S STYLED TROUSERS...

After completing the construction of my stripey trousers it was time for the waist band to finally go on the trousers. I thought I would insert piping into the top layer of it to maintain the theme of highlighting seam lines and it surprisingly worked effectively. I then had to hand sew a hook and eye onto the opening of the trousers and hem the trouser legs making sure they were level. Now I can safely say I have completed my own trousers that I have designed myself!
They are now ready to be photographed.

CAPSULE COLLECTION DESIGNS...

The final task of this brief was to design a capsule collection for a designer that believed in sustainable methods. I got the tasks of designing for Stella McCartney so had to make sure it suited the target customer of her brand and incorporate inspiration and my own trends within the design. It was quite difficult to design with restrictions as you had to make sure it would identify her brand identity whilst remaining creative within your designs. I had a colour scheme similar to what she would have in an autumn/ winter collection with a few garments that were more vibrant to bring the collection to life. I had to include tailoring, knit and office wear as this is the main target customer for her clothes. In these designs I used similar prints but changed the repeat of the pattern or silhouette so it fitted in with my trends making it more individual to me as a designer. Overall, I think this brief has gone really well and I have managed to complete the tasks with meeting the deadlines and think I have produced some strong designs to take through to the manufacturing brief.

Which one is your favourite?

CHOOSE YOUR DESIGN AND HAVE A GO...

At the moment I have been working on some trousers designing them and then having a little go at manufacturing them. I had an idea that I wanted a spiral going round one leg and a gathered knee using a striped fabric to relate to unit 8 as I have a trend of prints. I got this idea from drawing on my toile and and then cutting up all the pattern pieces, trace them off and create the new patterns for manufacturing. To identify the design lines I was going to use ruffles but then piping was suggested so I thought it would be a new skill and would look more bold for the seams. I chose a vibrant colour that was in the colour scheme of the fabric to use for the piping but realised I didn't have enough so I had to problem solve and find an alternative. I found piping alright to work with the piping I started with was easier than the other type just because it was on tape that measured 1.5cm seam allowance so I didn't have to measure it out. I also created a waist band and now up tot the stage of hemming but want to do something different so I will do that next time.If I were to create these again I would make sure the piping doesn't cross at the front stopping the piping before it meets and I could have considered flattery to the thighs and used vertical stripes rather than horizontal. Another thing to consider would be following the design lines of the piping down the back leg and maintaining that line through the gathered knee to make it even and fluid.

SHIRT DECONSTRUCTION...

Last Monday I attended college so I could deconstruct shirts to create my own silhouettes and shape development on the mannequin. I used collars, cuffs and button stands to layer and create shapes that could either relate to Stella McCartney or any of my trends. I thought this was a good way to see how I could manipulate trousers as the briefs that we are doing at them moment are based on the design of trousers. Wouldn't you try this?

THE CHOSEN ONE...

The designer I have been given to research into is Stella McCartney. I am pleased with this choice because she links in with my trend prediction of clashing prints so I should find it inspiring to produce designs from. I didn't really have any expectation of what I would have picked but I think it was the right choice for me.

PACKAGING

RESEARCH INTO LATEST 4 COLLECTIONS

The design principles that I have notice are part of her designs are: repetition(prints); emphasis(embellishment, cut away) and balance using asymmetric shapes to create ambiguity. She combines both elements of masculinity and femininity into her collections using juxtaposition to create both feels and looks for both genders

TREND SPOTTING - A NICE WAY TO SPEND YOUR WEDNESDAY...

Today was our day in Manchester and we spent our time in a gallery and pouncing on innocent people that we liked the style of. I asked about 5 different people that linked in with clashing prints which is one of my chosen trends. I got one No but the rest of my chosen few were up for it. I also got a few sneak peaks of window displays as American Apparel had a mannequin modelling an Elizabethan influenced style and Vivienne Westwood had prints as the priority in the window display. I was really lucky to collect a variety of different prints and it just shows that people are starting to where them on the streets. I must say a thank you to all of the people that took part in this little photo shoot for street style, means a lot.

PAISLEY AND FLORALANIMAL

STRIPES

PLEATS

TRIBAL PRINTS

Which print do you like the best ?