Dior at Harrods

This past week I attended the Dior Exhibition at Harrods…It was AMAZING!!! As soon as I walked into the exhibit, it was so exciting a full wall of mini windows filled with dollhouse size furniture and Dior perfume…

J'adore Dress

The exhibit had everything to offer, couture dresses which took 900 man-hours to make, the famous J’adore dress from the advert and a phone box filled with the scent of Miss Dior.

I was only there for an hour so was running around like a maddie trying to take everything in, including getting a wee picture taken on the Dior Red Carpet! Which was set alongside the red carpet dress worn by recent celebrities along with ones worn by histories greats such as Princess Diana and the TINY dress worn by Audrey Hepburn.

Dress worn By Audrey Hepburn

Me on the Red Carpet 

But the Highlight of the Exhibition for me was the collection of the toiles from Dior. This was a little insight to the behind the scenes into Dior’s Sewing rooms, the Toiles were all made from a muslin, exquisitely made for a toile…showing where the atelier had made amendments, adding fabric here and there, taking darts out, tacking where the pleats are going to lie. And you don’t realise how much detail each garment has until you see it all stripped back with no pattern, embellishment etc. Truly amazing!!

Toile Exhibit

  

I came out of the exhibition feeling sincerely inspired…maybe one day I can be as good as that.

Here are some inspirational Quotes from the man him self to keep you wandering...

"Elegance is an ensemble where the invisible is as important as the visible"

"May Every heart slumbers a dream and the couturier knows it: every woman is a princess"

Ashley J

LONDON...

Ok so here is a quick run through that has been happening the past few weeks. 

First of all i did my very first commission for a real client. creating a very simple a line dress made from a vintage checked fabric. My client was a 53 year old women, who wanted to be comfortable while still being able to breathe in her clothes as cycles to work. 

It was a fantastic opportunity to make a dress for some one and to get paid for it. This also helped fund me to get to london....

Heres a wee sneak peek.. 

I have just moved down to London to study a Post graduate Diploma in pattern design and garment technology at London College of Fashion. I am vey excited to start i just picked up my student card yesterday so i now officially a student a LCF. But it is all very daunting having to MOVE to london and not have a date to go back home. Starting up a new life down here new friends etc. 

So so far it has been going pretty well even though i have only been down for a day or two. But i have stuck gold and found a fantastic little flat sharing with 3 other people. Its on the 7th floor so it is quite high but fantastic views and beautifully decorated i love it. 

Next step find a job.....on the list of things to do 

Weekend....Managed to snag myself some fashion Show tickets for Designer Ashley Isham held at the stunning venue Goldsmith Hall. Pictures will follow.... so keep your eyes peeled the next few days. 

And today, Yes i also managed to get tickets for the 02 Arena in London to See Florence and the Machine!!!!! OMG i cannot WAIT! So excited to see her in December. However the tickets have sold out so fast she has had to add another date to her tour so she will now be playing on the 5th and the 6th of December at the 02.

So So many things happening right now just hope it keeps going this way!

Ashley J

Spencer

Just this week has seen the launch of a brand new brand "Spencer" based in London.

Spencer is a new women’s wear brand brought to market by The Social Tailor (www.socialtailor.com) Colin Gilchrist is the Creative and Marketing Director working with Judy R Clark (http://judyrclark.blogspot.com/) who Colin appointed to lead the design.

This collection is a diffusion range that has three elements of professional, leisure and evening wear. Spencer creates a chic edgy look, with simple staple pieces. They use bold colour blocking with large print in a flattering cut, to create this high end look.

Here is a preview of there Autumn/Winter 2012/13 collection.

And they will be showing in London February 12th – 14th at PURE, Stand M102

Hope you enjoy!

Ashley J

Ashley Isham

During September 2010 and January 2011 I worked for a company called A.I Designs. Ashley Isham is an evening wear designer based in London, however he is originally from Singapore and regularly travels between his home in London and Singapore.

He dresses a list of celebrities, with a large clientele is Singapore and Asia and often has commissions for royalty. I found out about Ashley Isham from my previous placement at doll. Since then I have been a constant follower of him, I love Ashley Isham designs, and once you work there you realise just how much celebrities approach him for dresses: Kimberly Walsh, Lady GaGa, Cheryl Cole, Geri Hallowell, Florence Walsh and Kylie, just to name a few. So he does get a lot of press, however he doesn’t seem to sell much over here, I think this is because his work is more red carpet and apart from celebrities in Britain we don’t attend formal events that you would wear this sort of dresses. 

My whole experience at Ashley Isham’s has been so beneficial I have learned so much during my time there. I would recommend it to anyone, the people there are just so nice and they are there to help you out and learn. Whether it learning how to do a rouleau loop, thread an over locker, how to do a pin hem, everything! And each time I have came back from London I feel like I have grown up a bit more and have more life experience. I love London and hope to get a job down there once I finish university. Even just being in London you are surrounded by fashion all the time, the sample cutter at Ashley’s also worked at Betty Jackson so the past two seasons I have got an invitations to Betty’s show in Somerset House. From being in London I now keep up to date with various new designers.

A Few Quotes from Ashley that I love!!

“Ashley we need to change your name, you now called Junior OK!?”

"So when you getting back to Ireland?”

Shown above is images from Ashley's S/S 11 AND A/W 11-12 and Kimberley Walsh ready for the Oscars wearing Ashley Isham. and Below is me with the Designer himself...

Ashley J