Press kits

So, I've been looking at putting together press kits to, you know, get myself noticed/some kind of paid employment!

I'm going to include a cd full of images of things I've made - not the stuff I already have, not that there's ANYTHING wrong with the photography, more that the images aren't perfect due to the way the shoot had to happen. So here's my plan:

Re-shoot the garments over the summer as both a look book and some still life shots.

Hammer on the door of any and all local/free papers until somebody gives me even half a column inch and I have some kind of press.

Use my, not inconsiderate, skills at making me look better in writing than I am without lying - v handy for cv's as some of my friends will agree! - to put together a covering letter to let the press know what an awesome person they've been overlooking! This will include a couple of influences, what I've done outside college and where I'm moving forward in the future.

Carry a folder with me at all times containing the information - you never know who you are going to run into.

Then I'm going to

NETWORK NETWORK NETWORK

I'm not above cashing in on my friends contacts so if any of you reading this has any contacts/advise on the above I'll take any meetings and or criticism you want to give me!

As always MWAH MWAH!

DXX

PS you never know I might do Project Runway after my third year!

Photoshoot Pl Make up

it would be a plan but it seems I can only get so far with it until it all goes crashing down around my ankles so for now it's just a pl - quelle surprise!

Make up for photo shoot

As much as I love this:

Fan Bingbing
Vogue China June 2012 – Beauty
Editorial: “Diva Fan-tasy”
Photographer: David Slijper
Fashion Editor/Stylist: Ida Wang, Tina Chai
Makeup Artist: Lisa Houghton

It’s not the look my collection needs, it needs clean and should be easily fit into a busy lifestyle with the ability to turn into an evening look easily as that is what my muse needs.

So more like this - yes I luv Fan Bingbing:

Which can become this easily:

Nicole Kidman in Lanvin

So there are 3 looks for the various outfits which can be scaled up through the shoot:

Barely there for the work out outfit – who actually works out with a full face of make up on?

Scarlett Johannson for Dolce & Gabbana

Love this Dolce & Gabanna Spring 2010 ad (not sure who the model is – if you know please tell me!), it’s fresh, clean and healthy looking.

Laura Robson Adidas Ad date unknown, she looks healthy and fresh faced, it’s a recurring theme.

So that’s decided then, clean make up, mascara, foundation, blush, lip gloss, maybe a little highlighter to give some fresh faced shine.

For the day look a simple make up which can be added to to translate into an evening look, although obviously NOT the hair:

Katherine Heigle out and about in LA.

Or this:

Natalie Portman in Dior in Paris – she could smile!

For the evening look a strong lip with a nude eye, this was a strong look on the Autum/Winter 2012/13 catwalk which translated across from the catwalk to the red carpet:

I think this was a look from the Diane Von Furstenberg Autumn/Winter 2012/13 collection

It would be easy for her to do and would work with the garments.

So that’s the make-up decided then!

Mwah mwah!

dxx

Branding - GAH!

So I'm looking at branding for the moment. It's a pain, I can't afford to outsource this even though it's not my forté, so I should really! But I'm a poor student so I'm struggling onwards.

I'm looking for a killa strapline that isn't cheesy. Those of you who don't know me personally may be a little surprised by this - I do cheesy VERY well, so it's been tough! Here's some stuff I've thrown away so far:

Your passion is our fashion - this one actually made me through up a bit in my mouth, I was not aware there was a level of cheese in the universe that could make me do that! ;)

Etre Meilleur - French for Be Better ok but a bit posey

Aaaaaaaah Fashion! - but I thought as I'd already stolen the name of the company from Gok, this might be going a leetle bit too far

You'll never put a better bit of fashion on your kife - the bus to reality street has left the terminal and you missed it

When the going get's tough, the tough get fashion - desperation sets in

Feel the fashion - then sleazy 70's music slides in afterwards

Fashion this - I imagined a big fist with fashion this written on it, hey, I'm desperate!

Don't live a little, live a fashion - I swear at this point I was getting delusional!

It could be because I'm rubbish at this kind of thing - I am. But, I'm going with the fact I've been up since 0400 this morning due to bird song and heat. I'm British I'm not made for sunny weather and whoever thinks bird song is lovely can come and listen to the cacophony outside my bedroom window and be woken up by it!

Anyhoo the contenders are:

Great Fashion. Great Times - conjures up those lovely days of summer when your off out with your friends having stupid amounts of fun, but can I really guarantee great times?

and

You've always got time for fashion - although that doesn't really strike me as fantastic

I've decided to go with:

Where do you want your fashion to take you to today?

Which doesn't make me retch and is pretty much the best I've come up with - faint praise that this is. It is, however, much better than freelance fashion designer which is the alternative.

If you've got anything you think would work leave a comment.

As usual, if you follow my blog, I'll follow  your's.

Mwah mwah

dxx

Fashion Show

I have major issues with this program.

First, exactly what are the rules? Project Runway is in it's 10th season (11th if you include All Stars) and Heidi still trots out the what exactly goes on every episode. This program never has told you exactly what is going on.

Secondly, the prizes. Apparently it's some kind of big NBC secret what the contestants actually win as nobody will say if they get the money bid on the clothing or if this is how much they will make of them. Again there is (allegedly) a $6,000,000 collection in all 3 stores up for grabs but nobody knows if the winner gets 6 million or that's what goes into the stores!

Thirdly, the mentors were odd choices in my opinion. The only person I understand being there is Nicole Richie.

And the winner - don't look if you haven't seen it:

::drum roll::

Kara

I think Kara deserved to win and I'm really glad she did - I want my tailoring to look that sharp!

Mwah, mwah!

dxx

I've been naughty

NO! Not that way - wash your mind out with soap! I haven't really blogged very much, ergo, I've been naughty!
I promise to do better starting, well now really ;)
This is what I handed in for my portfolio - have a look and tell me what you think. I have to say I'm very proud of the work I've done this year, I know there are flaws but I've learned SO much and I can draw. Admittedly, the only way I can draw is using illustrator put it's still valid!

This is my customer board, it's supposed to tell you she's busy and is juggling a lot of things from family to work and the influence her city has on her. I hope you get that from the board.

My inspiration boards, I was inspired by the clothing my muse needed for a week in here life, she runs a PR business and has to attend lots of different functions as well as getting through the day to day stuff.

I've named all my garments after areas of Manhattan to bring in the theme of the city she lives in. This is my work out outfit. I've tried to fit the name with the outfit based on the vibe of the area - I know how arty do I sound? ;)

A casual brunch outfit or just dropping off the kids - my muse is super woman! This collection is also about me learning new skills so I've tried to include many different types of fabric from jersey to chiffon.

Easy day at the office or brunch with the girls, she'd wear this is she didn't have any clients to see but could dress up the look if she needed to see somebody unexpectedly.

A more formal day at the office look.

A kimono style dress that can be worn for the more casual events she has to go to like a Soho art gallery opening.

A formal gown for grand events such as opening night at the Met.

My range plan, the looks all together I hope it looks like a collection even though they are very different garments.

And my colour board which I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

Tell me what you think of them and when I get the marks back I'll let  you know what I got.

So far I've only got one result which was over 70% (equivalent to a first) for my presentation, I KNOW the rest of the marks will not be that good!

Mwah, mwah!

dxx

The King was Crowned and other stories

Well, PR Allstars has come and gone and the King was crowned. Not that Mondo didn't deserve to win, it's just it was all a bit, expected. Here's my fav look from the runway:

Yes, it's a Mondo look - why are you surprised?

IMO there was nothing on the runway from anyone that made me wish I'd designed it, and Rami should have been there instead of Michael Costello.

I've been very busy writing a report for Contextual Studies along with a reflective diary and getting my portfolio together, with another reflective diary. I hate the reflective diary part but it does make you look and critically analyse your work so it's useful.

Anyhow, here's the second year boards I've added, please let me know what you think. The boards are spread across 2 A3 pages. I'll be adding my flats when I've finished the annotation. All constructive criticism welcome!

Customer/Inspiration:

Split over 2 A3 pages:

These are on separate A3 pages

 

Colour:

Split over 2 A3 pages:

So come on, tell me what you think!

Mwah, mwah!

dxx

Project Runway All Start ep 2

PR All Stars Ep 2 Quick round up of the catwalk!

Michael is repeating his whingeing this ep, you don't own the fucking colour red!

And now to the outfits - there was VERY little drama last week.

Kenley, bad remake of the 80's prom dress. Molly Ringwald did it better!

Rami darling 2 things, your skirt is horrid and makes her look big. Second the colour ALL wrong for your girls skin tone! You are SO much better than this - we get it you can do stuff that's not draping!

Gordana Gehlhausen, love the 20's feel, not keen on the panels or the fishing net on the top. It would have been more interesting to have had the netting extend the full length of the dress and ditched the V odd panels. Not loving not hating.

Mila Hermanovski average and expected - not to say it's bad but it's forgettable which is great if your girl is promoting something. She'll look awesome but the dress won't get in the way. I'd have been happier  if you'd done something unexpected with the accesories. And yes, my red gown for final collection is very expected but I'm not on bloody PR All Stars ;)

Sweet P darling your girl did not look like Cinderella unless she's pregnant and living in a double wide. The fabric is sweet and lovely and you could have done something really fantastic and unexpected but you didn't. The dress made me sad.

Mondo, I love you, you mexi pixi you, but really? BAD mother of the bride dress, this dress made me eat chocolate.

Jerell Scott, why? Why did you raid the soft furnishings from the 70's theme bar down the street? Why? She looks like a walking bloody sofa man! The skirt is in a really soft material and looks heavy. And breathe!

Kara Janx young and youthful she is NOT. You used sad curtain material and she looks like she should be in The Sound of Music. Oh, and the hem is uneven.

Anthony Williams there is a touch of the drag queen about this but I like it - betcha shocked aren't you! - I like the gloves but think if you're going to go with styling as strong as them you need to keep the rest of it hard. Her hair was too soft at the back and the shoes were average.

Austin Scarlett I love this dress. I could have lived without the black tulle tbh and think the bodice design would have worked on it's own if done in a flat metallic instead. You don't look at this dress and think that's a days work and you do with most of the others so far with the exception of Mondo and Kenley.

April Johnston lovely, wtf were you thinking? If your dye had worked it might have saved the dress but the dye is VERY bad and the dress isn't good enough for you to overlook it!

Michael Costello it's no big secret that I hate the whineyness of this person and wonder if he's in denial as he pings my gaydar quite a bit, but this dress is FABULOUS. I even like the feathers and I'm not a feathery person. Not loving the strap at the back, I get why it's there but I think the dress is enough without it.

And Sweet P is Auf'd for me it would be hard to choose which of the garments by Sweet P and Jerell I dislike the most. I'd like to say Jerell cos I love the P but I think they made the right decision.

I'd have been happy if either Michael or Austin had won based solely on the garments - that feels so good to say after the last few seasons of PR that we can judge based on design not drama! And Austin wins - yay!

I'm probably a little harsh - shall we blame my hormones or rather, this is all stars and my expectations are HIGH!

On a general note I'm LOVING the fact the judges are making sense and giving out constructive criticism and Joanna Coles is VERY good in Tim Gunn's role, but I am missing him.

Can ANYONE remember what the perfectly nice woman is called who's hosting this?

Having annoyed another group of designers I'm Auf!

MWAH MWAH!

dxx

The Golden Globes

Because I can :)

Melissa Macarthy in Badgley Mischka

Love that she's in Badgley Mischka, hate the colour, the fact it's a big girl cliche gown and her hair. Love her though! Dressing for your shape is important but this isn't it.

Connie Britton in who the hell knows?

For our UK readers you may have seen her in Spin City.  Sweetie, there's vintage and there's charity shop rummage bin. This is a red carpet event please dress for it, going shopping down town it's ok to dress like this but the RC needs more hon! HATE the shoes, love the clutch but not with this dress.

Diane Lane in Reem Acra.

Love this it's Hollywood glamour old skool! At first glance I thought this was Catherine Zeta Jones but it isn't. Daine Lane our UK audience will know her more for the fact she's Josh Brolin's wife. Love the accessories - the clutch is enough to commit mild violence over. FABULOUS dahlink!

Emma Stone in Lanvin.

Nice to see somebody in colour but I'm not sure about the panels at the side. Not loving the bag but the belt is freaking awesome. Teeny bit goth and I LOVE that. Liking the hair as well.

Kate Beckinsale in Roberto Cavalli.

Usually don't have a bad word to say about her but could you have done this in colour? Other than that MISS THANG!

Kelly Macdonald in Lorena Sarbu

Kelly? Why are you wearing a mu-mu? Nice bag though.

Mirelle Enos in Naeem Khan

Erm, before anyone says I'm gingerist I live with a ginger person - 2 if you include The Cub. This is not a good colour for gingers. I'm not sure about the bodice shape either but I quite like the skirt.

Kelly Osbourne in Zac Posen.

I know she's been caned by the critics for her hair but I like it. Why shouldn't she dye it any colour she wants? Don't like Zac Posen frocks though they never seem to quite work. Kell, you look awesome on the weight loss though.

Julianna Marguiles in Naeem Khan

I love the fact that you went with a colour, but this? This is all your stylist could come up with? Another freaking mu-mu which makes you look shapeless - I've seen you on The Good Wife, you've got curves, werq them!

Helen Mirram in Badgley Mischka

Saw this and jumped up and freaking down. How awesome does she look? The colour is great, the accessories are phenomenal and her hair is sublime. Queen Helen does it again!

Yes, there were a lot of other badly and well dressed slebs but Queen Helen won the night for me.

Well I've pissed off another load of slebs, stylists and designers so my work here is done.

Till next time!

MWAH MWAH

Dxx