My fashion design experience

When I was in senior school I got given a work experience sheet and was told to write down what I wanted to do for a week. As I really wanted to work in clothes shop, I put fashion retail down as did two of my friends. Sadly, I didn’t get to experience working at H&M as I’d hoped but instead we were sent to Nottingham Trent University to experience a week on a fashion design course.

We arrived full of excitement, thinking we would be making clothes that we could take home at the end of the week and brag to everyone that it was one of a kind. We never did get to use the sewing machines, but the week did open our eyes to the work that goes into every item of clothing.

On our first two days we had to look at what the high street was selling for spring 2009. The theme was depression chic so there was a lot of dark clothing. We then had to use Photoshop to display the items found and what shop they were found in. This took a lot of editing and a lot of time but was a useful skill to learn as I instantly had a better understanding on current fashion and sticking to a theme that I was given.
Here is what my finished sheet looked like:

After getting some inspiration we were given some templates and colours and told that we were going to make outfits out of tissue paper circles. I did lots of designs, but this one is my favourite:

After drawing up our designs we were let loose on the mannequins, tissue paper and pins. This was my favourite part of the week, although I wish I could’ve made it life size and wearable!

My week on a university fashion course was a really good experience and taught me a lot about fashion and how it all gets put together. I have a greater appreciation for fashion since that week and my love for clothes have grown as well as my creative side. If I was given the chance, I’d definitely do it all again!

Where are you sunshine?

Toward the end of March, England experienced what seemed to be an early summer. However, this was a cruel trick as the shorts weather was exactly that – short. Over Easter the British weather became itself again, and rained a great deal determined to take back the joy it had given the people of England a week earlier.

Shops remained hopeful that the sun would be returning, and on my numerous shopping trips over the holidays (Thanks to my birthday) I found the optimism to be both refreshing and annoying.

As every year, supermarkets overstocked on ice-cream and clothing shops redressed the mannequins in the windows to look like they are in an exotic paradise as soon as the sun came out. I will admit that I was extremely happy to see the shops filled with pastel colours and the hint of nautical clothes that have never completely died out from a good few summers ago.

Anyway, as I walked past Topshop I couldn’t resist looking in the door. Usually I bravely walk past Topshop without peering in because I know what they sell is so overpriced and tempting, and as a student I just can’t afford that lifestyle. This day I could take the risk with a purse full of cash and desperation to spend it. As I looked in I noticed an array of beautiful pastel hot pants that would look amazing when I go to download festival in June. It may be raining like it has done every year, but at least I’d catch a cold looking good.

Sadly, I nearly caught my death just looking at that price tag and so opted for the cheaper option of a bucket of Dylon and some cheap white shorts. So I headed to H&M to find these white shorts I had in mind and instead found an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up. Like the pastel shorts I had seen five minutes ago, were gorgeous colourful skinny jeans that had a much smaller price tag at £15, and were more appropriate for the weather we seemed to be doomed with. I also had a £5 off gift card so just had to grab a pair of the aqua beauties. A great buy if you ask me! Turn ups in summer and with Uggs in winter. Yes, I am happy with that.

After my one great buy I felt on a roll and was excited to hit the Easter sales. I expected the sales to be amazing, but sadly I was wrong. I actually came home from shopping in Sheffield, Nottingham and Derby buying NOTHING from the sales. And the same goes for online. With no nice clothes left to buy, I resorting to spending the rest of my birthday money on getting a tattoo – Easter sales, you can explain this to my mum.

So to sum up my Easter holidays; I was just a hopeful girl packing only sun dresses and sandals in my suitcase home, to wake up in my own Nottingham bed the next day to the sound of heavy rainfall and spending the next two weeks in my boyfriend’s hoodies and buying jeans and plimsolls just to survive my time at home. I experienced shopping in the snow in leggings for the first time, which is something I hope never to try again. I got my hopes up at the sale posters and disappointed at the sales and I spent most of my money on decorative items for my room, tattoos and DVDs as it seems I will be spending most of my ‘summer’ inside.

Still on the search for white shorts and Dylon and determined to wear them to Download festival regardless of the weather. I’ll let you all know how that goes.

Shoppers love Gok!

A few months back I posted an audio clip of an interview me and a few girls did with a fashion student at Sheffield Hallam. I wondered how Bens rather professional opinions would be compared to those of shoppers found on the streets of Nottingham.

I asked boys and girls, and tried to find a range of different dress senses so I could compare the effect a different dress sense has on a person’s views on fashion.

I asked a few questions, because let’s be honest no-one wants to be stopped from shopping for too long! I made sure I asked some questions that were asked to Ben, but also wanted to find out about the actual person I was interviewing such as their favourite shop to compare that with what they were wearing.

That is why I chose to make this video and not audio, because when you hear about you want to see it.

So enjoy watching these lovely shoppers talk about Gok, clothes shops and style icons.

£25 Dr Martens?!

No, your eyes are not deceiving you!

If I could get down to London I would definitely take advantage of this offer!

I paid around £60 for my lilac pair, and although the patent pairs take a while to break in, they are the most long lasting yet beautiful shoes I own. These are great in ice, snow and rain, perfect for festivals and can bring a pop of colour to any outfit.

As seen on many models, and many catwalks, these are shoes that have never gone out of style.

Not everyone is a fan of bright colours, but that’s not a problem. Dr Martens cater for everyone! Just look at how well they complete this boyish look on Agyness Deyn…

 Make sure you don’t miss out!

What I loved at London fashion week 2012

London fashion week has brought our attention to new looks that we are dying to have in our wardrobe.
Here are my favourite looks for girls from the week. Some are a bit out there, but I’m expecting to see a lot of copy cats on the high-street!

I loved the Mary Katrantzou collection, with the nude outfits and bright outfits making it such a diverse collection.

Peter Jensen brought a new dimension to vintage clothing, combining classic styles with bright colours. My favourite outfit from the collection was;

Holly Fulton’s collection also caught my eye, as again, bright colours are brought to the catwalk with a bang. Words just cannot describe my love for pink and black!

I love this dress by Peter Pilotto, the electric colours with the black make it a really stand out piece.

Sophie Hulme’s collection was casual and chic, clothes you would see super models in when they’re off for a Starbucks. This is one of my favourite lines from the whole week!

Other looks I love!

Michael van der Ham

Mulberry

Louise Gray

Sister by sibling

Antoni & Alison

I do not claim to have attended London fashion week, and none of the pictures are my own. Photos taken from: http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/catwalkreport_v2.aspx?seasonid=27

What’s high on the high street

The scene is set in Sheffield city centre, the rain is falling but there are still crowds of people dodging in and out of the variety of shops scattered around.

With Meadowhall being such a popular shopping destination, the city centre is definitely over-looked, and wrongly so as I managed to stop a few busy shoppers to find out what their favourite high street store was in Sheffield city centre.

I had to do a lot of searching, to catch someone outside a shop door, or on a bench taking a break from all their running around but I eventually got some opinions which might help you plan a trip to this bundle of retail goodness.

Shopping is NOT just for girls, as I stopped Daniel, 28, to find out his favourite high street store. ‘I moved to Sheffield for Uni three years ago, and always come into town on my breaks’ For himself, Daniel likes to shop at Footlocker and Subway every so often for a bite to eat. He also has children he loves to buy for where TK MAXX works a treat. ‘It’s so cheap and everything is brand name. You can shop for anyone there.’

As a girl, I love a bit of pampering and primping so Sheffield city centre offers some great shops for this. Agreeing with me is 22 year old Amy from Sheffield whose favourite high street stores include Lush and Boots. ‘There’s so many shops here, even little streets that you might miss first time, it’s such a good place to find what you’re looking for and just get lost in the shops.’

A lot of people that shop here are residents of Sheffield and know it well, but I did find two shoppers from elsewhere, both with very different tastes.

Sharna, 18, is from Derbyshire and experienced her first day shopping in Sheffield. ‘My favourite high street store is New Look because it’s got a huge range for cheaper than River Island and Topshop. The New Look here is a bit small though!’ Although the city centre does have smaller outlets than Meadowhall, it is a convenient place to shop if you’re nearby, or just got a train in, as the train station is close by.

Finally, I spoke to George, 19. George is originally from Nottingham but often comes to Sheffield and always goes shopping. ‘When I come up here to see my girlfriend, we always go to the city centre. We went to Meadowhall once but it’s not as convenient, and really has the same shops as the centre just on a bigger scale.’ George’s favourite stores included Game, CEX, HMV and H&M. ‘I love games, music, clothes, and all these shops are on each other’s doorsteps.’

So as you can see, there is something for everyone in the centre if you just look. This place has it all.