Influences and Inspirations

Revolution
Designer Mary Quant has inspired and influenced me. She has inspired me to follow creative, unique ideas and approaches to fashion, to push the boundaries of fashion designs.

Figure 1, Image of Mary Quant (http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2110513_2110512_2110770,00.html)
Figure 2. Image of  two Mary Quant mini skirt designs
(http://ellefrances.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/mary-quant.html
Figure 3. Image of 7 Mary Quants mini skirt designs
(http://lamodeenchantee.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/fashion-icon-mary-quant-miniskirt.html)
Figure 4. Mary Quant black and white mini skirt design
(http://www.hotelfashionland.com/tag/mary-quant/)

I have adopted her revolutionary fashion piece the mini skirt into my own personal style. The mini skirt revolutionised women's fashion and I love how her one small risky design has become so huge in today's fashionable clothing.

Figure 5. Image of black mini skirt (http://fashion-kid.net/mary-quant-mini-skirt-1960.html)
Figure 6. Image of short hair girl, mini skirt dress (http://tha-one.com/thaone-icon-mary-quants-mini-skirt/)
Figure 7: Image of long hair girl, mini skirt dress (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-08/timeline3a-the-women27s-movement/3873294)
Figure 8: Image of Image of 7 Mary Quants mini skirt designs (http://lamodeenchantee.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/fashion-icon-mary-quant-miniskirt.html)
Figure 9. Image of two Mary Quant black and white stripped skirt (http://www.highsnobiety.com/2011/09/07/evian-2011-design-bottle-by-courreges/)
Figure 10. Image of  two Mary Quant mini skirt designs (http://ellefrances.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/mary-quant.html)

These are a few from my collection of mini skirts. I tend to prefer A-line style skirts as they flatter my figure. However my favourite one from the six above is the vintage green one.

Elegance 
Fashion icons such as Audrey Hepburn sparked off my interest in vintage fashion. My interest began when my mum made me watch My Fair Lady. Audrey Hepburn epitimises elegance, to me its about the lines and structure from her beauty to her style with iconic garments worn on and off the screen.

Figure 11. Image Audrey Hepburn Low bun (http://hdw.eweb4.com/search/audrey+hepburn/)
Figure 12. Audrey Hepburn, Smoking (http://stanbos.deviantart.com/art/Audrey-Hepburn-124984651)
Figure 13. Audrey Hepburn, black and white fringe (http://www.beautyworldnews.com/articles/9023/20140502/get-the-iconic-look-happy-birthday-audrey-hepburn-breakfast-at-tiffanys-sabrina-bangs-fringe-micro-bangs-legend-anniversary-legend-starlet-old-hollywood-brunette.htm)
Figure 14. Audrey Hepburn side smile (http://www.sheckys.com/2013/05/03/10-quirky-vintage-fad-diets/audrey-2/)
Figure 15. Audrey Hepburn red lipstick (http://remycarreiro.com/understanding-immortal-ageless-appeal-audrey-hepburn/)

Figure 16. Audrey Hepburn little black dress (http://www.annexmagazine.com/thatfashionthing-iconic-little-black-dress/)

The simple and structured dresses she wore inspire my own designs, how ever i do like to add my own twist and style to make it more individual, unique and personal.

Individualism

Gok Wan

Figure 17 Gok Wan (http://www.vsh.is/education/courses/wide/tvstylist)

Gok taught me that you can take a mass produced piece of clothing and add your own personal touches to make it unique. My trademark is belts, I add belts to everything to create more of a silhouette and curves to my outfit. Also necklaces, I think a statement necklace can really set off a simple plain outfit.

Below is an example of how I create a flattering silhouette using belts.

 Below is an example of how I use necklaces to embellish a dress. Here a layered a few necklaces to make the outfit stand out.

 

Liverpool

From a young age I have always admired the city centre of Liverpool, with its mixed character of magnificent buildings. Ecclective style from people to shops, and the fashion and attitude from a range of different characters. Creating a window of opportunity for creativeness and individualism.

Figure 18. Liverpool city centre (http://citycentralbid.com/the-area/shopping-guide/)
Figure 19. Topshop Liverpool (http://www.citikey.co.uk/display/topshop-XTA5Q)
Figure 20. Litte Red Vintage Liverpool (http://penelope-cat.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/a-vintage-guide-to-liverpool-part-one.html)

Media

Media has an impact on most peoples lives, it drives society in my opinion.

Media influenced me in the process of choosing my year 11 prom dress. I adored Jennifer Lopez's 2007 red carpet dress. I used this as my inspiration to design my own prom dress.

Figure 21. Jenifer Lopez Red Carpet Dress (http://www.posh24.com/photo/1343573/jennifer_lopez_cream_gown_diam)

The Grecian style and the embellishment caught my eye. These two features would be the main inspirations of my dress. I took my own designs and the photo of the original dress to a dressmaker.

Above is one of my own designs, and below is the idea that the dressmaker came up with that i sketched.

The finished piece.

As i am a perfectionist and always like to tweak and outfit to make it my own I did add myself a gold diamante necklace and the waste band to nip in the waste a little more and just to add a little sparkle and personality.

Sketch Book Work

Prom dress design.

Prom dress design.

Prom dress design

Ball gown designs

Ball gown design.

Ball gown desings

 

Recyclable dress design

Recyclable dress design

Tattoo design

Tattoo Design

I've always loved unique and quirky tattoo designs. I never wanted to copy or use an image off the internet for my own tattoo so I've always done my own doodle sketches of different tattoos.
Below is one example of a design I have done myself. I am still not quite happy with the design yet and it is still a work progress. 

I've always admired the decorated Indian elephants. They signify strength and wisdom. This is personal to me as it represents obstacles that I had to overcome in my life.

Figure 22. Photograph of Indian Elephant http://www.reenaahluwalia.com/blog/2013/5/18/the-magnificent-maharajas-of-india
Figure 23. Drawing of elephant http://www.shutterstock.com/s/elephant/search.html

Below are beginning ideas, sketches and doodles of the tattoo design that I have drawn.

I am still currently working on creating the perfect design and hoping to have the final piece as my own tattoo once it is perfected.

Vintage Wedding Design

I designed the table decorations for my nans wedding. I suggested a vintage theme and started to research into vintage designs. I came up with a mood board and a few extra ideas, such as sweet jars and cake stand centrepieces.

Figure 24. Vintage cake stand (http://www.shutterstock.com/s/elephant/search.html)
Figure 25.
Figure 26. Vintage cake stand (http://consultant11241.blog.so-net.ne.jp/)
Figure 27. Photo frame table numbers (http://www.theweddingofmydreams.co.uk/collections/centrepieces-vases)
Figure 28. Rose cupcakes (http://vintagerosecupcakes.com/Vintage-Rose-Cupcakes)
Figure 29. Glass cake stands (http://www.lafotosaliomovida.com/dining-table-centerpieces-ideas-looks-complete-with-ikea-cake-stands/wedding-diy-vintage-glass-cake-stands-ikea-cake-stands-design-3/)

 I sketched a few ideas of the other ideas and pitched them to my nan. We discussed what flowers to use and what sweets to fill the jars with.

The rose candles were used in the final design and the flower was an inspiration that there should be simple flower arrangements. We decided on the picture framed table numbers, traditional sweets to fill the jars such as bonbons and two single roses and gypsy grass for the flower arrangements.

The final piece came together, we added sparkly gem stones, balloons and champagne bubbles for the children to ensure that there was something for everyone. It was visually pleasing and offered temptious treats and fun to accommodate all age ranges.

 

A-Level English Work

My English A-Levels coursework included writing an essay on either language and power or language and gender. I chose the topic language and gender. I analysed images of wedding dresses over a 50 year period (1950s-2000) and commented on what the fabric and techniques used to make the dresses said about the specific time period, and also the gender roles and issues from that time.
The image below are photographs of my work.

 

 

GCSE Art Work

GCSE ART- Recycling
For my GCSE Art Exam my work was based on the theme of recycling. My idea was to create a dress out of recyclable materials.
The body of the dress was made out of chicken wire and for the rest I used only paper from magazines and catalogues.

 

 I researched into designs of recycled dresses and decided on paper as my material and base my designs on these 4 styles below.

Figure 30. Paper dress left (http://magpies-laundry.co.uk/2011/04/recycled-dresses/)
Figure 31. Paper dress right (http://www.madeinslant.com/2011/09/dresses-made-from-recycled-paper-by-papier-couture/)

This is my first design that I drawn. I labelled the design to show exactly what materials I was going to use and ensured everything I used was recyclable.

Below is my second design which i decided would be the design of my final piece. I did the same to this design as I did for the first and ensured all materials were recyclable and clearly labelled and outlines equipment needed.

Below is the final piece. It took 10 hours to complete over the course of the exam period.