White Christmas

I hope everyone is ready for a white Christmas!! I know it is not snowing yet but time will come....

I would like to share some beautiful white Haute Couture with you to get you into that glittery, white christmassy mood. 
As you can probably tell i love a bit of embellishment and sparkle and these embellished trousers shown below by Antonio Berardi are A-M-AZING!!! i want a pair so much..... in my dreams, if only i was like a foot taller.. haha

Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!!!

Ashley

Jan Taminiau  fashion  shoes 

Givenchy fall 2011

Pattern vs. Historical Fashion

Pattern in fashion, is a very important aspect, it could make or break a collection. For my final collection I want to use a lot of pattern and texture, while the silhouette being inspired by historical costume. Two designers who are very good at this are Vivienne Westwood and Yinka Shonibare.

Vivienne Westwood has always been inspired by historical fashion and replicates 18^th century corsets in her collections along with her “mini crini” [her reinvention of the crinoline], emphasized waists and her innovative draping. If you take away the fabric that she uses it would all look very historical, but because of the modern and unusual way she uses fabrics it makes the garments. For example if we look at the way she uses tartan: the way she drapes it and styles it, the traditional Scottish-ness is forgotten because you are drawn to the “je ne se qua” of her pieces. Vivienne westwood just has a flair to innovate she is a living legend, and has her individual style, you can look at one of her pieces and automatically know that it is hers because of the impeccable drapery and folds, or her use of fabric.

Vivienne Westwood "Mini Crini"

Yinka Shonbare is another designer who often uses English colonialism to inspire his collections but the fabric he uses are traditional African fabrics. Which automatically juxtapose the garment’s. You can see where it was inspired from but the use of fabric modernises it and your eye is drawn to it for this reason as it is unexpected.

Yinka Shonbare use of Caribbean print

This is what I would like to achieve through my collection I want it to be inspired 19^th Century riding wear but I want to juxtapose that silhouette by using modern weaves and fluorescent threads/ribbons to achieve that shock factor and make you wonder why has she done that? By doing this I would hope that it makes you think of the safety restriction that were often forgotten about in the 19^th century, but now a days is very important through the sport.

Ashley J

Design an outfit for Leona Lewis

Here was my entry for a TalentHouse competition to design an outfit for Leon Lewis. 

I Designed an Open Back Jumpsuit made of antique gold tweed an turquoise twill, with lots of panelling and a feature zip and surcingle.

Ashley J

Ribbon Neck Piece

One Of my most recent project was creating this fabulous Neck piece which I created to compliment  a summer coat.  It  is a bit wild and Fun, but it was a very rewarding piece, after all those long nights of continually folding ribbon. If I can remember right I think there is over 100metres of ribbon even maybe 200 metres [it was a while back I cant remember]. But here are some photos. Enjoy!

Model: Emma Clare Cummings

Photographer: Jaime CJ

Stylist: Jaime CJ

Accessory: Ashley Duncan

Ashley J x

Mare Machines

Mare Machines is the name of my final major project, what I have been working on recently and have a hell of a lot of work to do until I reach the end, but it will all be worth it.

“Humans are enslaved like horses and horses are made into machines”

- Anna Sewell, Black Beauty.

My collection is based around this quote, essentially meaning that people have turned into slaves to society because they choose to conform to what is considered acceptable and the norm and because of which are slaves much like what horses are to a certain extent. The silhouette is inspired by 19^th century riding wear and I want to combine this with modern day endurance riding. Endurance riding is Long distance riding starting from 10K rides all the way up to 160K rides, so a lot of work is need to get you to this level. By incorporating aspects from the endurance riding I want my collection to be comfortable, wearable and juxtaposed tweeds with flourecents. 

I want to create a high fashion collection for A/W RTW. This will be aimed at a successful business women/ celebrities such as Helena Bonham Carter. 

19th Century Side Saddle 

Endurance riding 

Endurance Ride

STAG White Junk Pop up Shop

This Saturday past, Aberdeen seen the second Stag pop up shop. Held at Korova   on Bridge street 1-6pm. The theme was "White Junk" so the girls decorated the venue with white junk: old tyres, traffic cones, white walls and the beautiful white collection of dresses made by graduate Sian Parker.

This time the shop was vintage free and full of new and up and coming designers like Heather Grant and Hannah Duncan along with Accessory designers Kelly McAllister with her unique chain mail jewellery and statment pieces. And SOS (Save old Stuff) a unique label which re-uses old jewellery incorporating them into photo frames and wedding bouquets made to order so you can choose your colour scheme and if there was a special necklace or ring you wanted to incorporate to make it more personal. 

There was so many things going on it would take to long to tell you all, but  had a great day I bought a cute little dress from Jaime CJ, some Christmas cards from Alison Bell with some cheeky comments written on them, had my hair styles by profile hair and got a glitter tattoo from Doris. 

Overall it was a good day and I think the Stag girls did well while also selling there "Fawned of" collection of printed t-shirts, jumpers and dresses.

If you weren't there this time, make sure you keep up the STAG Duo to see what there next event will be....

Ashley J

Kevin Morris:  Sculptor

Kelly McAllister 

SOS (Save old Stuff)

Heather Grant

Something About Mary...

Mary Portas is an expert in the retail department, she has the knowledge every new business want to know! She is most famous for transforming Harvey Nichols and there world renowned window displays. Since then she opened a PR company Yellowdoor, which has been very successful and worked with many big brands. She went on to make a few TV series' transforming fashion boutiques, bakeries and even antique stores to a successful business. 

Now Mary has dove in head first with her whole reputation on the line to see if she really is as good as she says she is. Mary has launched her own brand "MARY" through House of Fraser. The Brand is aimed at women over forty and it is a lifestyle brand....a place where you cant only get staple pieces to keep you stylish through the seasons but you can also buy your coffee, stylish home accessories and maybe even a cheeky dildo (if she was allowed). She is a headstrong women who doesn't like the answer NO, with this in mind she has certainly pushed the boundaries of House of Fraser, she hasn't got everything she wanted, but just about!

From recently being involved in the David Nieper Competition, creating a 5 piece collection  for the over 50's.  I have realised that this market is in desperate need for some life to be injected into it .... I think it is great what Mary has done! Also loving the way she has used models that are the age she is targeting to, I think this makes all the difference!! And the women look chic and confident she doesn't make them look old she makes them look 10 years younger.  She has tapped into a great market while achieving a modern, contemporary shopping experience! A definite see the next time I am in London Town!

Ashley J