Lucy Alice fashion portfolio: May 2013

BA HONS..........Approved by Vogue Italia

Photographs from the vogue italia web page with the improved image of my photoshoot from my final major project

BA HONS......Back stage graduate fashion show

Image of my final piece illustration in the promotional degree show book

Setting up the catwalk

The finishing touches of makeup

Reading to go

Backstage with the models and makeup artists

My models all lining up ready to get on the catwalk

A selection of snaps taken behind the scenes and on the catwalk at my graduate fashion show

BA HONS......final project photoshoot

studio shoot and location with creative collage shoot designs

BA HONS......Final project designs and stand work

The final design sheets

I wanted to challenge myself and design complex creations with the oversaturated shapes and seaming to reflect my visual research. This is my final university project so I want it to show interest and focus on my strengths in design as well as concentrating on certain aspects that I find is a weakness for me such as the pattern cutting.

Producing my collection

The technique of modelling on the stand is a way that I have been able to express my ideas visually. It allows me to be really creative and fluid with the fabric and using this technique will hopefully be a way of producing intricate structures and silhouettes.

The next step is continue with this development process by experimenting with design shapes straight on the stand and brings forward the natural curved layering created in my samples in the creative pattern cutting unit to inspire my designs.

Intial Stand work to create a pattern

Here is a photograph of the development of the hip section on the stand. I decided to first model the shape I wanted to create using calico so I could then take it to create a paper pattern.

The design is intricate with the layering of the folds and the way I have manipulated the folds so that they twist and create forms taken from the root inspirations from the photographs.

I wanted to challenge myself and try to work out how to create a paper pattern from this piece bearing in mind that I created it with just one piece of fabric. To help guide me I took photos of each section and marked the folds and manipulations in different coloured pens, marking in number codes to tell which section is attached to another. I will also put all the information onto the paper pattern so I could make it up again.

Draping on the stand

Here I have created a draped hip detail influence by my design idea from my illustration. I first used toiling cotton to drape with using the gap where the hip panel will be to guide me with the measurements.
I manipulated the fabric creating a cowl pleated detail taking photos while I go, once I was happy with the design detail I then started marking the pleating using pen focusing on where I will need to pleat and notches

From there I made up a paper pattern for it just going with my own intuitive of how to create a pattern for it. I then made it up in scrap tulle I had as I thought the thickness and the texture would represent the organdie I would like to use. I was really pleased with the outcome I think the detail looked really effective and reflected my original design

Creating the root embellishment using cording incased into the layers of the jersey fabric. using the machine embroidery foot to stitch into the curved lines.

The finished cord effect

BA HONS......Final Project sketch book and design work

Final major project.....The end of Alice

The starting point to my idea concept and the beginning of my sketch book.

Here I created a collage of my idea of Alice (I) leading into the metaphor of change through her journey in the woods. The wiring placement represents the branches and the beginning of the growth process that Alice faces.

The title ‘The end of Alice’ is a metaphor for my personal development within my thought processes and journey in design. I want to start this sketch to show the progression of my journey as well as my muses. Taking forward the idea of a story and capturing it within my book.

I want to continue with developing this narrative further and being able to translate this within my design work and development of ideas within my sketch book. Sometimes I find it hard to write in words what I feel and to express myself so I want to relate this within my creative work.

the journey of my muse Alice, naive and somewhat afraid of leaving her childlike comforts behind, the journey through the woods symbolizing the changes of her maturing but also bringing forward a rather theatrical and dreamlike feel. The collage and textural elements created in my sketch allows me to express and display the story from inside. Writing what is in my imagination is hard but revealing it through art helps brings my thought processes to life.

Incorporating Natural formations through research and sourcing

The layering formed in this photograph has been created by an alien like body growing onto the branch. A sort of fungus has attached itself around and along the shoot; the body formed has a tier effect within the development of its skin. The single deposits feel brittle and delicate to the eye, each molecule curves in shape and texture creating a frill like detail.

Sketch Book development incorporating inspiration, sketches and ideas of material

The effect it portrayed reminded me if a collar, the fungus growing onto the neck of the branch. Again this would be interesting to manipulate on to the stand and to experiment with different thicknesses of fabric to try and achieve a similar effect. I will go on and reflect my sources in initial design sketches.

I wanted to start incorporating the natural formations I sourced and see how I can identify the shapes to reflect the growth of the female form while reflecting the development of my ideas.

This image was sourced while looking for inspiration; it displays a model covered head to toe in a white stretch tight material, pulled in positions by this thick rope that’s entwining her body.

The image of the figure reflects two stories that I want to explore, one the robe twisting around the body signifies the root of the tree, the second thing I noticed was the placement of where the rope was entwining to create a focus point on the developing shape of the bust and the definition of the waist.