Searching for Silhouette Inspiration

Before starting to drape my final year collection I took part in some silhouette tutorials, where we draped on the stand with tailored garments creating shapes and silhouettes. It was a really great exercise that not only helped loosen me up but informed some of my most interesting designs that I'm exploring as part of my final 12 looks. I would recommend exercises like this to anyone before they start a collection, it's a great starting point and really assists in informing silhouette, shape and design. 

I then took the photos of these drapes and created proper garments on the body in photoshop, I think this line up really reflects the direction that i want my collection to go in.

Dior

These are some images of my favourite Dior Haute Couture pieces. The sleek tailoring and structured nature of the garments make for eloquent designs, where simplicity creates impact. 

Dior Manniquins at a Red Cross benefit show 1954, Cachottier Spring/ Summer 1951.

Bleu de Perse Autumn/Winter 1955-56, Dior draping on a live model, Mystere de Paris Autumn/Winter 1955-56, Parc Monceau Spring/ Summer 1963. 

Gascogne Autumn/ Winter 1950, Meilhac Spring/Summer 1953, Zemire Autumn/ Winter 1954. 

Image Credit- Pochna. M, 2004, Dior, Assouline Publishing, New York. 

Batik Textiles

For my final year collection i want to incorporate a 4-5 textiles prints so i can have a few in each look creating rhythm and movement for high impact designs.

I came across a great website The African Fabric Shop, which operates out of the UK dealing in fair trade textiles from all over Africa. The textiles are mostly purchased straight from the small communities that produce them for an agreed fair price, or as the in the case of the shwe shwe fabrics, from the textile company of which 40% if owned by the workers.

These are hand dyed Batik textiles from Ghana, i love the bright colours and their organic feel.  

I'm also looking into creating my own textiles, possibly using the Batik dying method, so that my collection is more personal.I really like the energy and movement that the Batik wax crackling affect creates and I think it reflects the adventure and excitement of Safari travel. 

Image Credit- The African Fabric Shop

Safari's New Look

Sketching away, these are some initial designs for my collection. I'm really inspired by Dior's New Look. The actual collection, Dior's first in 1947 was called Corolle, but after the editor of Harpers Bazaar exclaimed "it was such a new look", it became more commonly known as such. I'm looking at adding the signature fullness of the New Look, but doing so in the creation of structured built up hour glass and trapeze silhouettes. 

 Image Credit - Maria Buszek 

Couture meets Safari

It's my final year of university, and for my major project I'm creating a 12 look collection inspired by haute couture of the 1950's particularly that of Dior meets African Safari. 

I'm really excited about my theme, I'm imaging built up structured and tailored designs, clean sleek lines, with the interjection of African wax prints and African inspired batik textiles, in exagertaed trapeze and hour glass silhouettes. These are a few pages from my design journal, including a short visual narrative i designed to explain my theme.

Dior galor, she wanted more...

Adventure, excitement, travel... safari you say?

Africa, so far away...

Such a strange place...

Timid at first, inside she hid... 

Into the wild she ventured...

Advenuture, excitement, the things she did see...

Queen of the jungle...

She feared no longer...

All that she saw... 

She would take with her forever. 

Dion Lee RAFW

This was Dion Lee's second show at Rosemount Australia Fashion week since his debut as part of the TAFE show in 2008. Under the glass sales of the Opera House he unveiled his collection to a crowd who had been eagerly awaiting it all week. Pleats, knots, digital Rorschach blot prints, slashes and and artful construction I really admire the fresh and unique style of Dion Lee. His look is clean, edgy and modern, resolved designs that are strikingly beautiful.

I really admire Dion Lee as an emerging young designer. Hoping to work in the industry, possibly as a designer when i graduate, i find his success at such a young age and early stage in his career inspiring. I think the reason behind his success is the fresh contemporary nature of his designs, simple and clean. I feel I design in the same manner, and i certainly favour sleek tailoring and structure. I want to try and embrace these qualities when creating my final collection as I feel it is well received by the current market. 

Image Credit- Fashionising

Alice McCall

Alice McCall has some beautiful sleek stylish pieces in her collection.A little bit flirty, a little bit fun there were bold prints and colours but my favourite pieces below, were understated elegance and simple detailing.  

Image Credit- Zimbio