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.