Professional Photo Shoot-Cruella Inspired; Model and Bulldog.

So this was moment I was waiting for…. my professional photo!

I didn’t know what to expect; I was hoping the model would look really sleek and sophisticated and then the dog would look cute and kitsch. In an ideal world-I would have liked the dog to have been positioned side wards but beggars can’t be choosers!

I am happy with the photo-I think it has the feel I was after and I do think that my little bulldog looks rather swell!

I decided this will be the first outfit of my-hopefully-six! The collection is based on the fictional character; Cruella Devil. Basing it on her signature hair which is half white and half black; I’ve looked into this significance deeper looked at opposites, split personality and schizophrenia. This was then what was investigated in a style design, applying it as half good half bad; half sculptural, half drape, half feminine, half masculine, half tailored, half floaty…

 

I like the symmetry and asymmetry of this outfit; the long tubular skirt is ultimate symmetrical with darts and a straight hem. Then the top is asymmetrical with half pattern, half plain, half structure, half soft; half lapel and collar, half sleeve; half fitted jacket, half drape top. This was then also applied to a matching dog coat-made from half sequin fabric and half woollen dog tooth.

The thought behind the dog coat was being Cruella was a notorious dog catcher, I thought it ironic to have a dog as part of the shoot. It was never to be a Dalmatian as that would be too obvious but it was only when I investigated that most dog apparel is suited to small-bag size dogs. After more searching the only larger dogs to be glamed up were breeds such as whippets and greyhounds. So as an owner of a British bulldog, I went in search to find what there was for this type of breed. I was appalled that the only outfits advertised were; pirate outfits, lion outfits… really stupid fancy dress costumes and I found that really bad. So I’m going to reach out to the breeds that other doggy designers frown upon; bulldogs, boxers, staffies, pit bulls and if I can get anybody wanting anything for a Great Dane or a Rottweiler with measurements I shall do this as well!

I hope this photo captures the two sides of the outfit and emphasises the power behind the outfit and the attitude within it. I also hope this showcases the glamour that is available for bigger beautiful slobbery dogs!

Professional Photo Shoot of First Final Garment.

So this week was my first experience of taking part in a professional photo shoot. As part of my last year doing my Fashion and Textile course, we (the students) pay to have one professional photo of one of our final garments of our collection. This will then be used in the end of year broachers and our own individual postcards that will be also be at the end of year shows such as Graduate Fashion Week and New Designers

I look at it as the first example of your work that will be shown to the public, to showcase your abilities as a designer. So I felt very aware of what I need to do in my now final year and how I wanted it to be portrayed in the photo shoot.

My years final garments ready for the photo shoot!

 

If I’m honest my final collection is turning out to be something totally different to what I had anticipated although I am trying to go with the flow, as time is not on my side and things need to be getting done! So what was originally supposed to be my final outfit could actually be one of my first designs in the collection, as I realized I wanted to make more structural outstanding pieces.

Toile of the top half of the garment.

 

Although with all this in mind, I am still proud of the construction of the garment (even though it was longer than scheduled!) I took the time to bind all the inner seams and finish all the hems correctly and I am still very content with that.

Interior seams.

 

Me-slaving away!

 

The photo shoot went well in general, all the models were lined up in order for each student and we were lucky enough to have professional makeup artists and hairdressers on sight to get the models ready. Once the hair and makeup was done; onto getting the garment on.

My model Claudia getting her hair done by Feathers Salon Group from Colchester.

 

 

The make up company MAC were in charge of the make up on the photoshoot.

 

Pablo finishing Claudias make up.

 

I never realized how small I had ended up sewing the skirt-it was suppose to be a size 10 and was originally made form a size 10 pattern-but I must have sewn in smaller and it ended up being tiny! Also the length had been increased by about 10cm! So it was a good job the model was long and slim so it fitted her beautifully. It possibly was a little snug around the hips, but gave a lovely tight look to the tubular skirt.

Ready to take some photos.

 

Once in the studio, the photographer was really good and helped get the model into position and guided her poses. After a few minutes, he found a stunning pose twisting the top of her body and lifting her arm to behind her head; elongating her and showcasing the clothes.

Claudia posing for the photo shoot.

 

I was like a mother hen; I didn’t realize how protective and paranoid about my pieces I would be! I was constantly fluffing them-pulling the collar into place, pinning it, pulling the hem down… I know I must have been a pain to both the photographer and the model but I felt it needed it to be perfect, I had such a high expectation of how it would be.

And I would like to think it went quite successful, I think the mood and feel was what I had envisaged-creating a posh, stuck up attitude that looks very sleek and slender.

It went well until….  I had to get my British bulldog into the studio wearing her matching jacket! She was good although will all the people and the attention she was quite excited and hyper which made it difficult to place her for the photo. I admit I probably wasn’t helping as I was getting more and more stressed and uptight, but all was well in the end!

Me getting Elizabeth-my british bulldog, ready to go into the set.

 

The coat from the top.

 The photographer said he had the shot (I wasn’t sure) so we will have to wait until after the Easter holiday to see the final picture! Hopefully with the model showcasing the garment and then also the dog wearing a matching coat with matching lapel, it will have a sophisticated but slightly funny-possibly tacky, tinge to the shoot!

Claudia and I... 

The Secret Vintage Fair in Colchester.

Last weekend I was lucky enough to take part and help out with the planning of a Secret Vintage Fair that was based in Colchester Castle… and it was amazing!

I had heard about it through a tutor at the Colchester School of Art so I decided to put myself forward to help with the planning but then also for modelling. The fair consisted of various stalls and stands selling vintage or vintage inspired merchandise and was to be held in a secret location; which then turned out to be Colchester Castle!

 

The stalls where spread out over two floors inside Colchester castle (which happens to be the oldest Norman castle in England!) which looked amazing with the old brick walls and high ceilings. Being in a castle, it could have been hard to keep warm but the organizers had made a wonderful job and it was comfortable and snug. The only negative was it was rather dark in there although I think it added to feel.

Most of the people who were working on stands and also visitors, had dressed up for the occasion with most people inspired by the 1940’s and 1950’s; wearing curled up-do’s, red lipstick and fitted little pencil skirts. Throughout the day here was also a long list of “vintage style” performers such as the Haywood Sisters (who were amazing!) that added to the whole feel of the day. When you entered the castle it felt as if you had entered a time warp as you walked in as everything changed and you went back in time.

The inside of the castle.

 

 

 There was live music all day either by groups or singers performing on a stage situated on the bottom floor and also two fashion shows at 12 o’clock and at 2 o’clock. The outfits for the shows were from the local stalls at the fair such as Revolver-based in Colchester and others that had been given mood boards based on the themes within the fashion show.

The fashion show themes were

·         Cute and Kitsch; based on dolls houses, pretty pink bows and feminine flowers.

·         Spring/Summer 2013; based mainly on the monochrome that has been popular this year.

·         Eveningwear and Bridal.

 

Cute and Kitsch.

 

 

 

Spring/Summer theme; influenced by this seasons trend of monocrome.

 

 

 

 

Eveningwear and Bridal;

 

 

 

The grand finaly!

 

The castle was bursting at the brim and queues were reportedly backed down into Colchester high street. I believe a good time was had by all!

I didn’t realize how popular an event like this would be but it sure showed that there is a market for it and there are plenty of people that enjoy the vintage, retro style. The next time there is anything like this on again round this area I will defiantly be attending, I enjoyed helping out with a bit of the organizing and also with the modelling. I feel I also learnt a bit about vintage styling. I found the whole experience really inspiring seeing all different past fashions and fashions that people had done their own spin off; making it more modern. I came home wanting to completely change my entire wardrobe!

To find out if and when there will be anymore Secret Vintage Fairs happening soon, check out their face book page The Secret Vintage Fair.