Valentino Couture S/S 12

Valentino's couture S/S 12 collection is beautiful, this stunning lace blouse above is particularly striking. It's crisp white colour and  sparkly embellishment reminds me of a children's book which contained some beautiful illustrations of a 'snowy day fairy.' 

This blouse also reminds me of a piece of design work I completed a few years ago now but is still one of my favourites. I designed and created a mirror based on jewellery. It was during winter so a lot of inspiration also came from Christmas decorations and embellished dresses which were particularly popular around the Christmas party season.

I placed hand embellished pieces of white fabric over a pear- shaped glass droplet. 

Prints, motifs and lot's of Decoration!

"For this new London generation, it's less about the cut and more about the form you can decorate-that's become the big thing in fashion, decoration. It's become the fast, easy way to project your personality on the clothes"

Fleet Bigwood, MA Print tutor at Central Saint Martins. Elle Magazine February 2012 

Giles

Meadham Kirchhoff

Erdem

Christopher Kane

Louise Gray

Mary Katrantzou

These are just a few of my favourite examples from London. So many collections from Spring/Summer 2012 have proved very inspiring. Collections are filled with colour, fluid fabrics and decoration resulting in upbeat, fresh and modern pieces! I've never wished I could afford designer more, but I'm excited to see how some of the trends are interpreted by the High Street in the weeks to come!


Images- style.com

The Sanctuary of Childhood

I came across the work of textile artist Rosie James recently and I was reminded that I had looked at her work before. I found her use of transparent fabrics and loose threads very inspiring for an art project based around childhood. I was originally presented with the title 'Sanctuary' which made me think of an emotional place where you feel content, safe, at peace and therefore confident. I think that it is difficult to achieve this but for me the closet thing was childhood. A child has few inhibitions, a wonderful imagination and is hopefully surrounded by loved ones who provide comfort and security. 

These are a few of my favourite pieces of work from the project.

This is a multi-media piece. I used watercolours and hand stitching on hand-made paper. Making the paper was very much a trail and error experience! I placed pieces of loose thread in the paper mixture before it dried and I really liked the effect created.

Necklaces!

For many years now I have believed that no outfit is complete without a necklace. Even if I've slept in and am in a mad rush to get to Uni, I will take the time to de-tangle that one necklace that looks best with my dress but not the time to find my coat.

A few of my favourite.

My friend recently bought me a small gold spoon on a very long chain and I absolutely love it, it's small and delicate and well it's a spoon on a necklace! Before the spoon entered my live, my favourite necklace was a small harmonica which I played (I use the word 'played' loosely) a little to often and drove those around me crazy!

Jewellery has always been my way of personalising or adding a unique touch to a mundane outfit. As a student it's a great way of creating a unique outfit on a budget!

My doll necklace which I found in a fabulous vintage store in Dublin always attracts a lot of attention, I love dolls but apparently lots of people find them creepy! 

Although most of my necklaces are gifts, I like to find them in vintage stores and online at Etsy and Liberty Blue, the latter also have a store in Belfast.

Pre Fall 2012

I wouldn't say I have a favourite designer or that I ever really like a whole collection. Instead I find I like just a few outfits or key pieces by several different designers, sometimes I just like the mood of a collection. I've picked out some looks from a few Pre-Fall collections that particularly stood out to me.

Dsquared 

Donna Karan

Donna Karan

Helmut Lang

Helmut Lang

Rag and Bone

Vera Wang

Vera Wang

Images www.style.com

Christmas Carols!

A few days ago I painted the window of  a local shop, I had just returned home and I got a call asking if I would paint it the next day so I quickly came up with this idea. I used acrylics, painting the base colours first then scrapping away the paint to add the decorations and details. 

This is certainly not my best piece of work, it's a bit tacky and lacking in sensitivity but working backwards is difficult and if there is ever a time for a bit of tackiness it's Christmas!

Funny Face

Although Breakfast At Tiffany's is my favourite film I love the wardrobe in 'Funny Face'. In one scene, Hepburn having been reluctantly scouted as a model and whisked to off Paris, poses in some of Givenchy's beautiful creations in equally beautiful places in Paris! This film was nominated for Best Costume Design at the academy awards.

Givenchy and Hepburn had a collaboration and a friendship that lasted over 40 years.  Hepburn once saying; "I depend on Givenchy the same way American women depend on their psychiatrists."