BLACK BEAUTY - PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT

So today I thought that I Would do an update on some of the work that I have been doing for portfolio development, Black Beauty.

I am just about finished with the sketchbook and have finally started garment construction. The design for my garment is and evening gown with a veil that includes two arm holes, the fabrics that I have chosen for these my final garment are light black denim with a raised felt for the pattern and a silk chiffon for the veil. The concept of my theme is represented well within my design as my theme is beauty within the darkness, in this case the beauty is that dress and the darkness is the chiffon veil.

The design

For my designer research I looked into the likes off Stephane Rolland,Zuhair Murad and Zac Posen. I found some of there designs and collection most inspiring as they have influenced me to design garments that would represent my theme. 

(The design development boards represent the other designs that I have created will be up shortly)

Next post I will go in further detail with my design development and more about the influential imagery that is represented.

In the mean time feel free to check out my instagram (Displayed on the blog) which show some of the work that I post on there and other related work and the black beauty board on pinterest. 

https://uk.pinterest.com/theedarkmatter/black-beauty-inspiration/

BLACK BEAUTY

Black Beauty is about bringing the beauty out of the darkness and showing what is hidden within it.

When I started this project I collected variations of imagery related to darkness, looking at imagery of witchcraft, insane asylums and vintage imagery of photographs of peoples families. I used this type of research as a starting point and placing them into a small A5 sized book with the imagery and slightly annotation explaining the image more than my thoughts. I also started to do some 'observational' drawings of a rams skull which was a starting point of the sketchbook. However the images that I had taken I have ended up using them as a central piece on the page and carried on drawing from the image, creating a new kind of feel to the original image.

                               

Since I had a starting point I thought that I would do more contemporary research, using black and white photography as inspiration from the vintage feel that I capture in the small book. At this point I started to look at the likes of Philomena Famulok, Shin Kwang and Susula Roche. All three are very different from one another but all capture the same essence that could provide inspiration with my project. Looking at all of their work combined together is giving me a look on the darker side of things which makes it more challenging to find the beauty side which I love the idea of. It means that the outcome will be more challenging and more appreciated when it happens and I honestly can't wait to adventure into the beauty side of things.

SCARF IS FINALLY DONE

Here is my final outcome of the scarf that I was finally able to finish, And I managed to finish it right before Christmas.

The main purpose of me making this scarf was because the one that I wanted was roughly about £200  and came from america, so rather than spending that amount of money I decided to make one. And in total it cost me roughly £40 to make which saved me a lot of money. 

The scarf  is 50cm wide and 251cm long which is 2 and half meters long, the wool that I used is hayfields, chunky with wool. As I am 5ft9 this scarf sits just before my knee and it's quite thick. I genuinely love this scarf to bits and there isn't a day where I don't wear it. AND it's washer safe so I'm able to clean it and throw it into the washer machine when needed. 

It has been at least a good while since I had last knitted and managed to forget how to cast on, off and everything in between. To reteach myself I was able to find a few links on youtube that I found quite helpful. Obviously there are some faults with the scarf like one end being wider than the other but these mistakes happen and you learn from that.

Currently I am wanting to do a thinner grey scarf with bigger stitching and thicker wool which would be interesting.

Link to the starting process -

http://pctindependentdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/knitting.html

Link to videos that helped me - 

Casting on - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWJQvsZ6kT0

Joining on - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy__eVIDshE

Casting off - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIhhAM5MFbQ

Moulage Project (research and designs)

This project has already passed and like I promised I am finally getting round to posting about this project, 'moulage'.

Moulage as we all know in fashion is a type of technique on forming drapery. By placing the fabric on to a stand and pinning the fabric in certain areas, creates and forms a silhouette.

This project allowed me to visualize the detail that a garment could have and picture my design ideas for this module.

For inspiration I looked at A.F Vandevorst, Fall 2012 and Gareth Pugh, Fall 2012.
                                     

                                     

These collections in particular played a big part in my designs.
The two collecitons are very different form one another, Pugh's being more harsh and Vandervorst being soft but yet dramatic. However the two do express their moulages well throughout their collections.

My designs as you can see do have some similarities to origami, some of my designs do seem harsher than the others, here are four to demonstrate. The fabric that I used was hard cotton in grey, displayed on a size 12 stand.

                                    

                                    



With my designs I realized that they seemed quite complex and required some more research on techniques, this lead to me looking at Viktor & Roplh S2015 RTW. Looking at this colleciton really helped me understand the looks and possible outcome of what the final outcome would appear to be. It also helped adjust to how this could be constructed.

Next post-
About my final garment/design and how i came about it.