Money Can't Buy You Style !

The infamous white halter neck dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch was recently auctioned off. The dress was previously owned by Debbie Reynold's whose dreams of establishing a Hollywood Museum of memorabilia were never fulfilled. Reynold's purchased the dress for $200 (£123) however at auction the dress became the most expensive dress ever sold, fetching $4.6 million (£2.8 million).

The most expensive dress was previously coincidentally also a Marilyn Monroe gown, that she wore while singing 'Happy Birthday Mr. President'

Photograph from Google Images

Videos from YouTube

I love my job !

The weekend of the 11th and 12th June I worked with my university, The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). On this weekend we created a fashion styling event called the 'Stylists Closet' which in a previously published post I explained was an opportunity for the general public to receive style consultations and fashion advice. The two day event was a huge success with a chance for us to give out free advice and tips to the general public and to bring awareness to the university and the wide range of fashion courses they offer.

During the two days I was able to gain hands on experience in Personal Styling, with the help of the fabulous Emma Jade Parker and Steven Spencer who have worked professionally in Personal Styling for many years.

I carried out 15 minute consultations to a few women which included a face shape, body shape and colour analysis. As I completed each consultation I gained more confidence whilst carrying them out !

I think the whole event was made all the more better by the fabulous job that the Interior Design team did in creating a vintage travellers theme to the whole event. I especially adored the various coloured and shaped lampshades hanging from the ceiling. Here are some photographs of the interior decor which was sourced and designed by Interior Design students from UCLan !

my evergrowing closet !

For the second year running, UCLan's International Fashion Institute brings you the Stylists Closet.

In the Summer of 2010 UCLan hosted the Stylists Closet, a one day event wear the general public could come and recieve professionally advice on trend and style tips. Working the event was Personal Stylists Emma Jade Parker and UCLan's very own Fashion Promotion/Fashion Styling students, plus professional make up artist Natasha Litwinenko. Due to popular demand and the high rate of success it achieved the event, it is being held once more, however the closet has gotten a lot bigger !

This Summer the Stylists Closet is being held at Manchester's The Trafford Centre on 11th & 12th June, where Emma Jade Parker is being joined by Stylist Steven Spencer, and of course Fashion Promotion/Fashion Styling students (including myself). Confirmed shops participating in the event include Next, Mango and Marks & Spencers. So if you have any queries or feel confused by this years Summer/Spring trends and knowing what will suit you and your bodyshape. Click Here to book an appointment. A visit to the Stylists Closet consist of a private and tailored consultation with a professional stylist, a hair and make up make over and a look through the rails of this season's must have trends.

To keep up to date with news of this event be sure to follow the event on Twitter by following @STYLISTSCLOSET.

More posts about this event will follow !

till death do us design !

The wedding dress of Kate Middleton during her royal wedding to Prince William is been hailed as the perfect tribute to Alexander McQueen. The dress designed by the late designer's protegee Sarah Burton consists of a lace applique bodice and sleeves with a high waisted, full-skirted silhouette and a long train.

Tributes to Alexander McQueen were also paid at this years Met Gala. A-list stars attended the Costume Institute benefit in New York which this year honoured the life of the British designer. Madonna spoke emotionally on the red carpet about McQueen who committed suicide in February 2010. "I miss him terribly." the singer said "Not only as a person but as a designer. I think the fashion business is a little bit dull without him and I loved his provocative punk rock attitude"

The star studded event proved that although Alexander McQueen is no longer with us. He is still ever present in the fashion industry through his influence and designs. Celebrities such as Salma Hayek, Gisele Bundchen, and Sarah Jessica Parker all wore Alexander McQueen in his memory  There was controversy from the start of the red carpet as Vogue editor Anna Wintour arrived to the McQueen themed event wearing Chanel.

let's play dress up in the library ?

With the new concept in place, the styling for the photo shoot had to be completed. I was personally more excited about this concept as it was more fashion based rather then costume. 

For the different looks for each model I drew inspiration from this seasons collections and from garments I owned myself.

This is dress is from my own wardrobe !

I took references from the Spring 2011 R-T-W Balmain collection !

The busy print of the dress reminded me of Jean Paul Gaultier's Spring 2011 R-T-W collection !

This sheer fabric shirt is from my own wardrobe !

I was inspired by Hannah Marshall's Spring 2011 R-T-W collection and her use of sheer fabrics for her garments.

We sourced this blazer jacket from the high street !

The jacket we sourced in reminiscent of 3.1 Phillip Lim's Spring 2011 R-T-W collection !

These wet look leggings are from my wardrobe ! 

For the male models look we took inspiration from the Spring 2011 R-T-W collection of Burberry Prorsum !

125 years of happiness !

This year Coco Cola celebrates 125 years of producing everyones favourite soft drink.

The brand has opted for a 1950's vintage looking branding and advertising for the occasion.

I have found this old Coco Cola advert to commemorate this occasion, 

starring my icon Marilyn Monroe.

the way of the dragon !

Through film, art, music, tv, food and drink, we learn about other countries cultures. By eating a meal, learning a language or visiting another country we gain an insight into that countries history and way of life. 

I am mostly fascinated by many aspects of the chinese culture.

Geisha are traditional female Japanese entertainers. The most literal translation of geisha into English would be "artist" or "performing artist". Historically, geisha often began the earliest stages of their training at a very young age, sometimes as early as at 3 or 5 years. 

Geisha always wear kimono. The colour, pattern and style of kimono is dependent on the season and the event the geisha is attending. In winter, geisha can be seen wearing a three-quarter length haori lined with hand painted silk over their kimono. A kimono can take from two to three years to complete due to painting and embroidering.

The chinese culture still has an impact and influence on our lives today, especially in the fashion world. 

Spring 2011 Ready-To-Wear collections demostrated the influence of orientalism

Here are images from the Louis Vuitton Spring 2011 Ready-To-Wear show where it is evident that Marc Jacobs has drawn inspiration from Chinese culture and fashion for his designs.

It may be of interest to know that many famous and emerging designers that we highly fond of are of chinese decent.

Jimmy Choo is a Malaysian of Chinese descent, Choo initially handcrafted his own shoes and bags. Choo’s shoes are known worldwide, and he has a celebrity clientele including Nicole Richie, Katie Holmes, and the late Princess Diana.

Anna Sui is an international fashion designer. She studied at NY's Parsons School of Design. She opened her first boutique in New York in 1995, later opening an additional stores in Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Osaka. In addition to clothing, her lines now include shoes and cosmetics.

Derek Lam studied at the Parsons School of Design. After graduation, Lam worked under Michael Kors for 12 years. Lam’s clothes, like Kors’ reinvent American sportswear. He launvched his own line in 2003. Lam’s clothes have clean silhouettes in feminine fabrics. He also has a line of jewelry and shoes. He has many fashion design awards, including the CFDA Perry Ellis Swarovski Award.

Phillip Lim is noted for this feminine streamlined clothes and his attention to detail. He currently sells his clothes under the label 3.1 Phillip Lim. He launched his collection in 2004 and found immediate success. Lim says about his clothes "make them feel respectful, yet desirable all at the same time"

Vera Ellen Wang was born and raised in New York City and is of Chinese descent. Her parents were born in Shanghai, China, and came to the United States in the mid-1940s. Wang is a successful fashion designer best known for her wedding dresses. She started her career as a fashion editor for Vogue magazine. After failing to find a suitable wedding dress for her own wedding, she designed one herself. Later she opened her own bridal boutique, initially selling dresses from other designers but later own she launching her own line of wedding dresses. She got international exposure from the dresses she designed for skater Nancy Kerrigan, who wore them to the 1994 Olympics. 

love is in the air !

For my fashion photography module I have been asked to document my day to day life through photographs.

Day 1 

On Valentine's Day my boyfriend came up to Preston to stay with me for a couple of days whilst on a rare occasion we both had some free time. Hayden (the boyfriend) stayed in my flat whilst I went to a lecture which was very annoying as no sooner had I said hello, I had to say goodbye.

However, when I did return back at my flat, I came back to a balloon filled bedroom. Hayden had spent the last two hours blowing up around 40 balloons.

This was my Valentine's Day card !

fashion sees red !

With Red Nose Day approaching the fashion world has decided to leave its mark on the charitable event, Comic Relief in many ways. 

Firstly her majesty of British fashion, Vivienne Westwood has designed a collection of t shirts that are available to buy online http://shop.rednoseday.com/Group.aspx?GroupId=33 and in TK Maxx stores. 

There are several designs mostly featuring celebrities dressed as historical figures. The t-shirts cost between a mere £9.99 and £15, with £5 of the proceeds going directly to Comic Relief. 

I'm sure these will be flying off the shelf !

It isn't just designers who have caught the charity bug, supermodel Lara Stone launched this years Comic Relief campaign by recreating the iconic seen of Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch (one of my favourite films). Lara said "I had so much fun being Marilyn Monroe for the day and recreating such an iconic shot with a Red Nose twist"

My Embellished Day Out !

On the rare occasion that I had a free day with no lectures, errands to run or sketchbook work that needed completing, I decided to have a cultural day out. I visited the Harris Museum and Art Gallery in Preston Town Centre. I regularly visit the museum for inspiration when it comes to project themes and ideas. I also carried out a photo shoot in the museum for a previous project entitled 'Spirit of the Fashion House'. Whilst on my trip out to the museum I discovered there was a textiles exhibition currently on entitled Embellished: The Art of Fabulous Fabrics. The exhibit includes richly decorated clothes dating from the 1700's to the present day. Textiles such as samplers, patchwork and tapestry are all being showcased for the first time straight from the museum's stores.

I took several pictures on the day of my favourite garments !

One garment in particular caught my eye as I thought it was very innovative for the era it was made. 

I'm referring to this printed silk Lancashire Daily Post dress dating back to 1897. The dress was originally worn by a woman called Clara Dewhurst to a dress ball event in Preston. It is printed with a page from the Lancashire Daily Post of 16th January 1897. The adverts relate to Preston and even include on for Halewood's Bookshop, which is still open on Friargate. Newspaper-print dresses were in fashion for evening wear in the late 18--'s and early 1900's. Lengths of fabric could be printed just as easily as paper. The result was a highly on trend outfit for its time. 

Embellished: The Art of Fabulous Fabrics will be at the Harris Museum & Art Gallery until 23rd April 2011. The exhibition is free entry, for more information visit www.harrismuseum.org.uk.

The Ghost of Christian Dior's Past !

My next project was entitled 'Spirit of the Fashion House'. For this project I was given an A-Z list of 22 designers/fashion houses that I had to research. I was then asked to pick one which I would then research more in depth and then carry out a photo shoot to create a double page spread for my chosen designer. The double page spread had to be then edited to create an advertising campaign for a perfume for my chosen designer/fashion house. The advertising campaign had to capture the essence and spirit of the fashion house.

I decided to research Christian Dior, more inparticular Christian Dior the 1950's. The majority of my research, both text and image, came from a book called Christian Dior by Diane de Marly. I loved it so much I bought it.

From reading the book, especially the chapters on his work during the 1950's, I discovered how Dior came about creating the 'H' line and 'A' line, what colours, shape, fabric and silhouette he preferred to use, and how the war effected his fashion designs and decisions at this time. I learnt that Dior's designs whether a coat, dress or two piece suit always accentuated the waist. Volume was a key word in Dior's designs for skirts and dresses which at the time was controversial as during the war money and fabrics were limited. Whilst completing this project I had to assure that I only took influences from the 1950's and did not imitate previous trends or advertising campaigns.

My favourite image from this book was an illustration by Rene Gruau of a Christian Dior design. The hat  is amazingly extravagant and luxurious and the dress is elegantly sexy. The models waist is accentuated with a small skinny belt which I think I will use as inspiration in my photo graphs. Hopefully I can attend the Rene Gruau exhibition currently showing at Somerset House, as I think his fashion illustrations are incredible. 

Using these images and further research I had completed I carried out my photo shoot in Harris Museum in Preston town centre. I chose this location because of it's old furniture and features such as the staircase and marble flooring. I must thank Steven Walker who is Front of House Manager for allowing me to shoot within the Museum. Thank you to Nick Roberts for lending me his camera on such short notice. Finally, thank you to Becky Leadbetter who modelled tremendously for me in such extreme weather conditions. 

I sourced a black dress which I customised by adding a small split near the bust and added a petti-coat underneath to create volume. I added a small black patent skinny belt to the waist to accentuate it similar to Dior's designs of the 1950's. I put lace gloves on my model as through researching and looking at images I noticed models wearing them. However to make my photograph more apparent I put lace gloves on my models as lace is on trend and was seen in the Spring 2011 collection runway shows of designers such as Erdem. As well as noticing gloves as a chosen accessory, I noticed that in the 1950's hats were worn a lot by the models. Once again to keep my photographs recent and on trend I sourced a embellished head band which had a vintage and glamourous look to it. 

During post editing I changed my photo graphs from colour to black and white as I thought the design and atmosphere I was trying to achieve worked more successful in black and white.