Back to Basics

So this week we've had free hand and figure drawing lessons. First of all I would like to clarify that this is NOT where my skills lie. I can't actually sketch well and I don't really enjoy doing it. I am much better at technical drawings, writing and the like. But we are being taken back to basics and being taught the proportions of the face, shading and figure drawing. I actually feel like I've been taken back about 5 years, since I learnt proportioning in school and the figure drawing, well, in the past year we've already developed our own style and way of doing it. And now, we are being told to simplify this and proportion that, when really, fashion has no rules. There is no right or wrong way to draw, as long as it makes sense to you. Well atleast this is what we've always been told.


On a more design note, I am really into designing underwear at the moment. I've been looking at some underwear designers and their collections and particularly like Victoria's Secret this season and I think Dita Von Teese's new 'Party Edition' collection for Wonderbra is really nice. The colour's she used are really luxe and glamourous. And the lace and trimmings look really expensive considering the underwear sets are actually quite affordable.



So at the moment, my vision for my final project at the end of the year is underwear and lingerie although I need to experiment with fabrics and trimmings to see how they work with the machine because I have a feeling that I'l have to do alot of sewing. So when I get my hands on some nice fabrics, I'l let you know how I get on with them. I've been thinking about designing underwear for a while now but thought it was too ambitious for my skill level during my first year. However, now I think I have enough basic knowledge about sewing to carry it off, although I still have alot to learn about lace, ribbons and detailing on underwear, because it can be very complicated and fiddly. But I have quite a few ideas for what to design so I'm excited, I'm just not letting myself get carried away incase it doesn't work out.

So thanks for reading (I really need subscribers and readers right now! Spread the word about Maria's Ga Ga), and I'l keep you posted.

Loveness,
Maria
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There Is No Future Without History

End of the week - woo hoo! And I've ended up staying in, making a very fattening biscuit cake followed by a good helping of workout DVD, and a tad blogging to top it all off.

We had our Fashion history presentations this morning. Was fairly successful. I finished on time and I was pleased with the amount of work I did. I've attatched a few photos so you can see. As you can see, my speciality is not freehand drawing and figure drawing but I think my skills lie in the presentation of the pages themselves and the more tecnical parts of the project. However, I got an A- which I'm very pleased about and some good feedback to work on.

So my Uni application is ongoing, I've been given some advice on some things to think about and add to my personal statement by our new tutor, which I am very appreciative of, considering she has such a wide spectrum of experience in the fashion business. She said ''I wonder if it might be worth mentioning the names of some journalists whose style you particularly like or whose columns or editorials you read.( If you don't have a favourite at the moment then
it would be a good time to find one as I know if my lecturing friends were interviewing you, they would think that very relevant...... i.e. do you have a leaning towards a certain style etc etc )''. I do have a favourite fashion magazine, Glamour, which I've been reading for about 5 years now, religiously. But of course there's always Vogue and Harper's Bazaar which are timeless. Did you know that Harper's Bazaar was first published in 1867? So they even had fashion Bible's way back then... So I plan to encorporate as much of her advice as I can into the statement.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Loveness,

Maria X

Summer's Over but Fashion Never Takes a Holiday

Hi everyone,

So I got back from a brief trip to England last Monday. I went to see family, learn to drive and say goodbye to my boyfriend who has just moved back there for Uni. It was a very emotional trip with the stress of driving and having to say goodbye but it was definitely very refreshing.

On the Tuesday I started back at college. Four of us in 2nd year and five in 1st year. It's nice to see the girls again after the Summer break and it looks like the school has changed alot. More structure in our classes and a new teacher who seems really positive and passionate about her subject, not to mention knowing alot about it. She's teaching us Fashion History which I find really interesting and through the week we've had lectures on fashion throughout the eras. She also brought some vintage outfits in for us to measure and look at. One thing I particularly noticed was how the corset has been apparent from the 1600s until really quite recently. Although it has changed in shape, fabric, look and purpose, it was still a fundamental part of women's fashion and indeed their persona. It was such an unhealthy, uncomfortable and difficult item of clothing, so why did women embrace it so whole-heartedly and hold onto it for so many hundreds of years? So this brings me to my first rhetorical question: Who actually invented the corset? Who thought it would be a good idea to restrict women so? If anyone can enlighten this subject for me then I welcome comments.

Another thing I realised during lectures is that from the 1600s until 1900, the style of women's dress didn't actually progress that much. Yes, the fashions changed but the basic long skirt, corset type style actually stayed very similar for hundreds of years. And then suddenly, BAM! (ok I don't normally say that kind of thing but I thought I'd try it out!) the 1900s arrived and fashions progressed, became more racey and seemed to make up for lost time. And you think, from the beginning of the 20th century corsets were still a big part of women's style, then the war came and designers had to radically change and simplify what were formally very extravagent creations, the seventies hit and fashion was more than ever, a symbol of status and a way in which to express personality, then on to the Eighties where scrunchies, neons and ripped jeans which were previously unheard of became a kind of uniform, to the modern day where pretty much anything goes and we take inspiration from absolutely every era in history.

So I won't rant on for too much longer, although as you can tell, I have alot of thoughts on this! We still have the rest of this week on Fashion History so I'l keep you posted.

Loveness,
Maria
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My very first blog!

Hello all,

Welcome to my new page!
I thought it would be a good start by telling you a bit about myself.
My name is Maria and I am 17 years old. I was born in England but I have also lived in Scotland, Switzerland, and am currently living in Spain with my family. I am a student at Marbella Design Academy and I'm a fashion student. I've just started my second and final year and plan to go to University in London next year and I will keep you posted on how the application process goes.

My big passions in life are writing, fashion, the arts and my gorgeous boyfriend of 3 and a half years, who has just started University in London.

I have never written a blog before but have recently been thinking that I have many thoughts that I would love to share. I also do a video blog each week on YOUTUBE called the Miss Vichera Diaries with 3 friends from school so feel free to check that out.

I am planning to blog about 3 times a week so check my page regularly.
I hope you enjoy reading my thoughts and feelings, I will certainly enjoy writing them.

Love,
Maria
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