Saturday, April 30, 2011

fashion illustration inspiration

I'm spending the day working on a new fashion croquis (template of drawn figures) as I have a project due for my interview next week. My current drawing/watercolor style, seen below, doesn't really fit the aesthetic I'm designing into.
I am in love with Peter Som's fashion illustration style, although that doesn't fit this aesthetic either, but I find it really inspiring. Do you have any favorite illustrators? I'd love to see!

senior thesis: look #2

This is the second look in my collection of 8 for my senior thesis in fashion design at the University of Cincinnati. To find out more about the concept development and inspiration I took for this project, check out my posts here and here. The first post explains a bit about my concept for this collection, which I've named Linguistic Relativity. The second post goes a bit deeper into the concept and shows the charts I made based on research.
Click here to see the first look from my collection.

For this project, I took a lot of inspiration from words in foreign languages, masculine and feminine perceptions of garments, the different ways cultures perceive color, and the number (plural vs. singular) of certain words.
This is the first look I've finished in final fabric this quarter. It has two pieces, a sweater and pants. The sweater was developed after learning the German word for cardigan, "ein strickjacke." To me, this word sounded a little like "straight jacket," and that's where the idea took shape. It's basis is a simple cardigan sweater with an industrial zipper closure, but with draped pieces wrapping around the body and even constricting the arms, it begins to take on a straight jacket feeling.
I'd like to surprise everyone at the end of the month with photos of the whole collection, but I worked so hard this week completing this look in final fabric that I'm giving you a little sneak peek of what the back of this garment looks like.
I've finished the pants in their final fabric as well, a lightweight wool gabardine, but I haven't taken any photos. As I studied these languages, I noticed that in some languages, like French, the word for pants is singular, "un pantalon." But, in others, like Spanish, the word is plural, "los pantalones." I began to wonder what a singular pant would look like as opposed to a plural pant, and this is what came from it. I didn't want my singular pant to just end up being a skirt, so the pant has the crotch dropped so low that it's hard to tell if there are actually even two legs. You'll see my ideas for plural pants over the next week or so.
What do you think so far? Do you have any opinions on these designs or the concept in general?

Friday, April 29, 2011

fridays are freeing

Happy Friday!
Although I always have schoolwork to do throughout the weekend, Fridays just always feel so magical... especially when the sun shines the entire day, after rain for two weeks straight. It was still a bit chilly this morning so I bundled up in one of my favorite cozy outfits.
scarf & belt - samples from internships
dress & leggings - h&m
cardigan - lands' end
boots - target

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Trend Alert: Flatforms

Platform heels and wedges are quite obviously hot for spring 2011, but lately I've been seeing something just a bit different, slightly intriguing: the flatform. Just like wedges, but, well, flat, these shoes have been seen in several major runway shows.
(derek lam)
(3.1 phillip lim)
(derek lam)
(derek lam + prada + vena cava)

I somehow overlooked these shoes when the spring shows debuted. What do you think... would you wear flatforms? Jury is still out for me. I find the look kind of awkward. I don't like when my feet look or feel so chunky! I do really like the 3.1 phillip lim ones, although they do have a slight heel and aren't truly flatforms. And I'm generally in love with Phillip Lim.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

blog show & tell

I've been wanting to create a little space on the blog for something of a blog show and tell. Basically I think I read some pretty cool blogs that I'd like to pass on to you for inspiration and such, and I'd love to hear from you guys about what you're reading (or writing!).
So, feel free to comment with a link and a little explanation about one of your favorite blogs at the moment... or if you think your blog is awesome and you want to have a chance to be featured, leave me a link to that.

Without further ado, the first blog I'd like to feature is kind of silly, but we all need a giggle now and again. I give you Dads: The Original Hipsters
Featuring a photo and a few quick words about how cool dads were and how hipsters now imitate them, this blog never fails to make me say "that is so true!" After looking back through photo albums of my childhood in the late 80's and 90's, I've realized my dear old dad must have been the coolest dude on the block.

So, what are you reading lately?

Monday, April 25, 2011

senior thesis: look #1

I'd like to continue to explain my senior thesis here on the blog, and today I'm going to start introducing each look and explain the specific inspiration behind it. To find out more about the concept development and inspiration I took for this project, check out my posts here and here. The first post explains a bit about my concept for this collection, which I've named Linguistic Relativity. The second post goes a bit deeper into the concept and shows the charts I made based on research.
For this project, I took a lot of inspiration from words in foreign languages, masculine and feminine perceptions of garments, the different ways cultures perceive color, and the number (plural vs. singular) of certain words.
This is one of the looks I actually sewed during Fall quarter. The look is made up of a leather vest and a chiffon ombre dyed dress. The leather vest is a kind of integration of masculine and feminine details. On one side, you have a very structured vest - gold metal buckles, a tailored bodice, a notched collar. Then spinning around, the back curves upward and transforms the other side of the front to something more playful and feminine, more like a cropped jacket or bolero with strap detailing.
The dress was inspired by the way that the Japanese culture (and a few other cultures as well) views color (source). I found it really interesting that they do not distinguish between blue and green - they're seen as the same color. You can use the words for "blue" and "green" interchangeably. For example, if you came to a Japanese stop light, and the green light came on, you could say that it was a blue light, and not be incorrect. If this isn't making sense, I suggest skimming that wikipedia link above, it's really interesting!
Anyway, I wanted this dress to be a reflection of this color phenomenon, so I hand dyed an ombre effect onto my chiffon, creating a light green to light blue gradation. I wanted the audience to almost not be able to tell if it was really green or really blue.
I'm going to get some better photos of the collection when it's all said and done, the color isn't completely accurate, but I suppose you get the idea. Check in later this week to see more of my collection!

my design work at fossil!

Last summer I interned at Fossil, and got to work on a whole variety of awesome projects. One category that was kind of my baby was the key fob group! I designed or worked on most of the summer and fall 2011 key fobs. I am SO excited to say that they are finally arriving in stores/online for sale!! The elephant was completely my work, and it was my all time favorite, and I also worked on the multi flower here! I'll be posting when more of my work comes out :)

Sunday, April 24, 2011

easter weekend in photos

Happy Easter! This has unfortunately felt like a short weekend, but it's been good all the same. Here's what went down.
-rain in Cinci for days upon days=backyard flooded, basement flooded
-dead tree in front yard was chopped down. I want to plant another
+got 12 hours of much needed sleep Friday night
+3 1/2 hour long church service on Saturday, so beautiful
+dyeing Easter eggs with mom and dad
+eating candy for the first time in 40 days
+lunch at my aunt's with a bunch of my relatives... +mimosas +tea cookies
+Sunday night watching my season 1 dvds of "American Dreams" with the bf
tomorrow it's back to work on senior thesis!

Friday, April 22, 2011

final fabric

in 5 short weeks, this pile of fabric will be a pile of garments.
stress!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Wooden wedges from The Gap!

Needing interview clothes is such a great reason to go shopping. In May I'm going to be taking a quick trip to Dallas (which is already a delicious 80 degrees!) for two days of interview activities. I realized this weekend that I only have one pair of heels that I can stand to wear for more than an hour, and they don't go with much, so I'd better get to work breaking in a new pair. I've had my eye on these wooden platform wedges, and luckily, I found some coupon codes + free shipping that made these 100% leather, wooden soled shoes a steal. Today, I welcomed these babies to their new home in my closet. Can't wait for that warm, non-rainy weather so I can strap these on!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Wouldn't It Be Nice - Zooey Deschanel cover

I am a huge Zooey Deschanel / She and Him fan, so I must share their cover of "Wouldn't It Be Nice." I love that song, and this is now probably my favorite version of it. Cuteness!

Monday, April 18, 2011

Monday Outfit

I did not want to get out of bed this morning - my tummy hurts and the last thing I wanted to do was go stand and work in the studio all day. So I at least wanted to be comfy. Hello, loose oversized sweater and leggings. I added the combat-ish boots from Target because they make me feel like I'm gonna get stuff done. Even though I left school after 2 hours and didn't really get anything done. :)
Scarf - sample from internship
Sweater - H&M
Leggings - H&M
Boots - Target

Weekend in Photos

Well that was a pretty good weekend.
Highlights:
+Indian food/Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince with the bf
+Dairy Queen Banana Split
+Party for my cousin who will be entering the Navy in a couple weeks
+Shopping/interview outfit planning with my mama
+A nice Palm Sunday mass
+Fixing up an old chair
+Tennis at the park with Katie, my dad, and the bf
+yummy family dinner
+catching up on episodes of 30 rock with the bf

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Leave Behinds

Remember that interview I had? Welp, I was selected to take part in the second round of interviews! I'll be flying out to the company's home office in early May. I started wondering what I would wear, and then I found out it will be two days of activities... two outfits, oy! While I'm spending some time shopping/outfit planning, I'm also thinking about something called leave behinds.
A leave behind is a small representation of yourself or your portfolio that you can leave with potential employers after your interview to help them remember you amongst their many candidates. You can also send out leave-behinds with your resume to spark employers' interests. The graphic design area of my college is taught to design these, but for some reason, we never were in fashion design.
Since I am very actively trying to acquire a full-time job before I graduate, I began to think about creating a leave behind to try and help my cause. I designed one before that last interview that was basically a very small scale portfolio, but I didn't have time to get it printed on cardstock or resume paper, so it felt rather flimsy. I have two interviews this week, along with that second interview in May, so I would really like to create something interesting and good quality.
Here are some that I have found while trying to teach myself about what leave behinds should be...

Have you ever designed a leave behind? Do you have any advice, or any favorite examples? I would love some ideas!

P.S. Quick Edit - I just came across this designer's adorable collection of resume, portfolio, and a whole thank-you package for her leave behind. So cute! Check it out here.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Butterbeer Cupcakes from amyBITES

This is the post where you find out about my love for all things Harry Potter. When I saw this Butterbeer Cupcake recipe from amyBITES last week, I knew I was going to spend the next possible weekend baking.
Until I can finally visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida, to taste some real butterbeer, I'll just have to eat dessert. These cupcakes are rather sinfully delicious, using lots of butter and cream soda to create this wonderful creamy butterscotch flavor.
The recipe should make about 18 cupcakes but somehow I ended up with 19 full size and about 15 mini size cupcakes...which is no big deal because I was taking them in to my Harry Potter-obsessed studio, I just wish I made a little extra icing.
But overall, they were great! Everyone at school seemed to really like them.. I mean, they're so decadent, they're hard not to like. Hopefully I'll get that real butterbeer soon :)

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Tilt-Shift Photography Inspiration

I love tilt shift photography, it makes everything cute and little, like little toy towns and people we used to play with as kids. I have a camera app on my phone that includes the tilt-shift effect and I'm so excited to play with it. If the weather warms up tomorrow maybe I'll walk around campus and see if I can't get some cool shots. Here are a few of my very favorite examples of tilt shift photography.