This was a mini brief where I had to use many different types of fabric WITHOUT cutting it. We were allowed to pin, twist, twist, knot and pleat but not things that would cause any long term damage to the material.
Inspirational research.
I have to say...whenever I think couture I think of top fashion designers...DIOR and McQUEEN and such people, and im pretty sure if you say the word fashion...people will say that too! But if i am honest i ADORE designers like these. Yes they are very...popular, but they are some of the most talented people on the planet!
Dior has always been an inspiration to me. His work was amazing in the 1900's (especially the new look period-jacket and knee length straight skirt) and has carried on to be mind-blowing.
The current Dior website
I particularly love McQueens work because since his death his work has been far more interesting to read into. For example, the colours he used just before he died, were colours like...Reds and golds which are pretty religious and clearly shows he was showing his emotions through his work.
McQueens website
OOOH...As couture is one off production...its very much like costume which is probably why i get a massive buzz from analysing couture work like theirs ^^^^ like this vvvvv
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This could easily be adapted into a costume because of the endless possibilities! To begin with though...this was part of McQueens last collection that he HIMSELF designed. It was a closed viewing of the collection and it clearly shows the emotion and McQueens feelings behind it. The feathers and the glove on one arm imply to me that he was aiming for an angel kind of look...this is also shown visibly through the colours and style of the dress and other garments in the collection. Inspiring Artists. I suppose my inspiring artists are pretty much part of my inspirational research! Fashion designers to me and amazing artists...its just a different type of art =) Clothing Research. I decided to get a good idea of the types of clothing that is 'draped' i would do a load of research into current and past clothing items and styles. I found things like; the Sari, Toga, Burka, Scarf and lots more, but i liked the more cultural ones like the Sari because they had reasoning behind them =) The toga, Sari and Stole. All kinds of draped materials that create clothing that i find very beautiful and amazing. I thought that the sari represented an indian or middle eastern toga...whether it be new or old =) LOVE IT THOUGH...deffo my fave! Fabric Research. Looking for fabrics around the house that your mum will let you take (not the tablecloth or curtains) and trying to think whether or not you could make something interesting out of them is really quite difficult...probably the most difficult part of this project!!!! However, i found that i was allowed to cut the tucked up bits of the curtains off, so i could use them as belts and headpieces etc. I also found, that a simple belt could brighten something up perfectly! Soo i started finding just any old fabric and didnt care what it looked like...because i new i could make something out of it. The things i rustled together were things like, wooly undersheets for a bed and bin bags! Heres a more accurate list of the things i collected...baring in mind out house resembles something from a traditional moroccan/crazy house...as you can tell if you click that >>> You will understand A weird mirrored fabric that looks quite horrible (but actually looks FIT in our study =) This is our curtains...that i chopped the bottom off of!) Its got mirrors that have been glued in and stitched round the edge and i would say it is a pretty heavyweight fabric. Good old bin bag...you know the drill =) I have no idea what this fabric was...but i found it in a cupboard and its very pretty. Its a really lightweight fabric and very shiny...it has a very slippery surface and im not gonna lie...i have no idea what it is! Plain black netting. Cotton based. (Dont know what this was ever used for but its mine now) This fabric has this print all over it and i originally bought it to make a dress with but i got cross with it coz its extremely stretchy... and slippery and impossible to sew...(but im halfway there so there will be a dress in this material soon) Absolutley gorgeous traditional sari fabric...VERY EXPENCIVE! It is what is is and i think its very beautiful =D Wooly fleece fabric that was once an under-sheet...ITS SO SOFT! Its pretty stretchy but it will do perfectly for this mini brief. Very lightweight and beautiful fabric. Its made from cotton and is printed in some ares with a gold printing ink (used to be a throw for the dog bed!) =D Its pretty see through but still nice =) Design Ideas. This design is made from the bin bag material...i think it will be high necked and pretty sure i want it figure hugging so it looks kinda like PVC (maybe more like latex...has a slight shine to it). Coz' im not allowed to cut or damage, il have to use a bag which already has holes in, like one used for old clothes or something...and then one of the holes can be the neck hole! My Aunty got me some really nice sari fabric from bahrain so i though i would make a sari with it! (duh!) I think i will create a traditional sari out of the gold, silver and burgundy material. This will work well because the sari fabric drapes perfectly along the line of the body. Probably will end up as a prom or party dress coz' it will be quite short due to the length of fabric i have chosen. Its the curtain fabric that is gathered together at one end...so il have to try and incorporate that into the making and pinning of the fabric/dress. The dress suits being short because the style of the fabric. I want to create a silhouette with very sharp edges so the design stands out amongst the others. Pinning and tucking the bin bag (wet look material) should make it easy to create the sharp shoulder bones and having the bottom of the 'top' tighter will make it look more powerful. The skirt is made out of the elegant gold curtain again...which i think is pretty with the bin bag =) So winter based! The under top is sleek and slippery and very fine elegant fabric which drapes into perfect long lines and creases...the wooly jacket is made out of a fleece which contrasts with the other fabric really nicely. I think this design will look very pretty =) This is my least favourite design but I am using it as more of an experiment to see how the fabric lies along the body of my mannequin. I think it would look really good as a shawl because the fabric is very drape-y and lightweight which means it will flow nicely. It could be a scarf too? These are my mothers curtains that i am hoping to turn into a dress of some sort...I know the style i want to create as ive played around with the fabric already and i think ill just have to see what happens when i get it on the mannequin. However i am wanting it sort of like that sketch, because the colours are very 'indian' and 'moroccan' so i would like the skirt of the dress to be slightly longer to suit the style. |
Mini Dress...
Wooly Dress...
Going Out Dress...
Lace Dress/Skirt...
Traditional Sari...
Jacket and Top...
Top and Skirt...
Dress...
Design Board.