Fabric Moment

Our most recent assignment was a "Fabric Moment" in the style of Colin McDowell. We had 200 words to write about a fabric of our choice. I originally thought of velvet but after hearing that at least 2 other people were doing it, decided I wanted to be a bit different. I couldn't think of an obscure fabric that no one else would pick so I emailed my fashion design tutor from last year. She came back to me with a couple of really interesting fabrics - coconut fabric which is quite a new development, bamboo fabric which is an enviromentally friendly alternative to cotton and Harris Tweed - my choice.

I've posted a photo of the layout below but since you can't read the text, I've pasted that as well.



Harris Tweed by Georgina Anderson

Harris Tweed is a luxury fabric, hand woven by the islanders on the Isles of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland using only local wool. The original name was tweel, Scottish for twill but the modern name came about almost by chance. In 1830, a London merchant was sent a letter from Hawick in Scotland about some tweels. The merchant misread the handwriting and understood it to be a name taken from the river Tweed which flows through the Scottish border. Subsequently the cloth was advertised and the name stuck.

During the potato famine of 1846, the Countess of Dunmore was key in the promotion of Harris Tweed. Recognising the potential, she had the family tartan copied in Harris Tweed. Proving a success, Lady Dunmore sought to modernise and perfect the production process. By the late 1840s, a London market was established which led to an increase in sales. When all other Tweed manufacturers turned to mechanical methods, the Outer Hebrides retained their traditional, hand woven methods. Production increased until 1966 when the textile industry in Europe started to decline.

However, members of the British royal family have worn Harris Tweed for generations and in 1987, Vivienne Westwood took this inspiration and created her Autumn/Winter collection using Harris Tweed. This once again accelerated the popularity of Harris Tweed and it’s still widely used today by designers such as Marc Jacobs and Thomas Pink.


Maria

The New ASOS Magazine

I was flicking through the new ASOS magazine and came accross a couple of spreads I really liked.

The first was an adorable fashion shoot with the cutest baby pigs in it (ok so maybe I just like the piglets rather than the fashion...) but I rather like the Michael Kors watch in the third photo and the tights in the second image.







Is it just me or does it make you want to have a piglet for a pet?

The second spread was an accessories spread on forever pieces. I love the Michael Kors watch in the first image but also the way it has been photographed. I love the idea of making it into a jigsaw. And on the other side is a wonderfully simple image of a classic Chanel bag. Because what's more forever than Chanel?




Maria

Barack Obama and Leather Shorts

So reading the Metro (a free, daily London newspaper) this morning I came across a couple of quite humorous pieces.

The first was a style piece on leather. Amongst several images of garments and accessories made of leather was a pair of shorts. And the caption underneath simply read, "If Kate Moss can wear them, we probably can't." I think this perfectly sums up both my (and probably most of the public's?) opinion on them. I personally can't see them lasting more than one season. Look at the leather t-shirt - that hasn't even survived the season it was born into.

The other piece was not fashion related nor really news-worthy but I just thought it was quite amusing and a great little insert to perk up your morning. It was a picture of Barack Obama peering over a lectern after the presidential seal fell off during his speech at a women's event in Washington. He then proceeded to say, as cool and unphased as ever, "That's all right, all of you know who I am."


The original article and video link are here if you want to have a look.

Maria

New Beginnings and Old Boots

So we are finally moved in and settled! It's taken a while to get internet too but I think we've finally got to the end of the initial job list.

I've also started university now. It seems like only yesterday that I was dreaming to study fashion journalism when I was about 13 or 14. Who'd of thought I'd actually get here?!

The course is a bit different to how I'd envisioned it to be. It's a lot more serious than I had imagined. Not so 'fluffy', which is actually a welcome surprise. It's not just the function of journalism and how it works but also the stuff behind it, culture and history from the last 150 years play a big part in our studies this term. I was always interested in history at school but was put off by the most horrid teacher so I am very pleased to have my passion reignited.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to go to London Fashion Week but we had the most amazing guest lecture the week after. Fashion designer Jeff Garner, who, for the second time, showed at LFW this September, made the short trip to give a guest lecture at UCA. To say he is an inspiration is an understatement. I can say with some certainty that almost every woman in that lecture theatre fell a little bit in love with him after two hours. His brand is called Prophetik and it thrives on the key values they have. Namely, (to coin a cliched word) eco-friendly. All his fabrics are sourced ethically and all dyes are grown in his garden. The packaging they use is minimal and almost all biodegradable and his garments are designed and produced in Tenesee, USA by women who were previously involved in clothing production until factories moved to the far east. Although his outgoings are high, he manages to sell the garments for less than another designer in the same proposed price bracket, meaning he isn't producing fashion that is inaccessible to the mass market.

He doesn't watch tv, or pay attention to the media. He eats only granola and yoghurt, three times a day and in his spare time, rides his horses in the country which surrounds his home. So, where does he get his inspiration from? Nature. He observes the world around him, and doesn't focus on what most of us get sucked into but really pays attention to what happens naturally. The dark forest was his muse for A/W 2010.




S/S 2011 catwalk at LFW

He arrived wearing all his own designs. A cotton shirt, hemp waist coat and jacket and hemp trousers tucked into flaking leather riding boots that he's owned since the age of 12.

His designs are ethereal. They definitely have an air of Amish simplicity and are very reflective of the traditional dress of a south American farmer and his wife. Somehow he manages to take these theories and transport them to the catwalk in a very modern, wearable and present form.

I can confidently say that Jeff Garner is a designer to keep an eye on. His ideas and values are both traditional and revolutionary and I'm sure we are to see many more great things from him. From my own point of view, I defy anyone to sit in his presence and not feel a sense of comfort but also enlightenment and not walk away with intrigue and a feeling of real interest towards to idea of ethical fashion.

Maria

Selfridges and our very beautiful little flat

So our offer was accepted! We weren't expecting it at all as we had been advised that our offer probably was a bit inadequate but luckily, the land lord said yes! It's a quant little, one bedroom ground floor flat in a 1930s building. Even the lift looks like it came from the Titanic! Our flat is right on the end of the block so there are lovely, big, original windows in both the lounge and bedroom. Lots of storage and the bedroom and lounge are quite large. There are still a few things left to buy (bedding, chest of drawers etc) but the move in date is the 9th September so we are very excited for then.

On a more fashionable note, we went shopping on Oxford Street today. By far one of my favourite places is Selfridges and I spent a good couple of hours in there perusing all the beautiful things. I bought a couple of O.P.I. nail polishes (Siberian Nights and At First Sight if you want to have a look) and a pink academic diary. Also, these boots from Dune. A bit of a luxury but I figured I'd get a lot of use out of them this winter.



Also on my wish list is a new hand bag for every day. I've been looking at this in black and this Marc by Marc Jacobs and this Michael Kors but I'm still undecided. I don't think I've found the perfect one yet!

I'm spoiling you with this post as I also have an outfit photo from yesterday.

Top - H&M, cardigan - Zara, shorts - H&M, ballerina flats - New Look, bag - vintage, "Gina" necklace - custom made in Camden, ring - my Grandmother's

Loveness,
Maria
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Adios España! Hello London!

Another month (to the day!) and I am once again guiltily posting another blog. I’m going to put it down to the “summer” state of mind but realistically I haven’t had a lot of time to sit and contemplate fashion. However, as far as I’m concerned, my summer is almost over now so normal blogging procedure will resume.

I finished working on the 9th August so I had a few precious days to top up my tan and pack all my worldly belongings before returning to the UK – not a task taken lightly! But barely before my bikini had time to dry I was on my way to the airport, with an over-stuffed suitcase, a one-way plane ticket and teary eyes, patient and lovely boyfriend in tow. After and emotional good-bye, I bid farewell to the land I now refer to as "home" and reluctantly boarded the flight back to the UK to commence flat hunting with my boyfriend (and soon to be cohabiter!).

This is now the second day of flat hunting and we still haven’t secured anything, although we have made one offer that we are waiting to hear back about. Finger’s crossed although we aren’t holding out much hope for that one.

On the fashion front, I have been trying to dress vaguely in style on our outings so I will post a couple of photos when I get round to uploading them!

Loveness,
Maria
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Confessions of a Blog Neglecter

It’s been a month since I last blogged, a shameful confession but nonetheless true.

Since starting this job I have been non-stop working between 10 and 14 hours a day, 7 days a week, it’s exhausting and doesn’t leave me a lot of free time. But I’ve found some on a quiet afternoon so thought I would update my beloved blog.

Somewhere around the beginning of this month, we finally had our catwalk and graduation show. It was an amazing night but I will save the details for a big post I have planned, once I have acquired some decent photos, so watch this space.

I also sent off my final grades and diploma to the University for the Creative Arts in Epsom, Surrey, who proceeded to change my “Conditional” offer to an “Unconditional” offer which means that I am guaranteed a place. I am so excited to start in September and although I will miss my life here in Spain, I am looking forward to a big change.

My first pay check came around the second week of this month and because I have no time to actually go out and shop, I stayed in the comfort of my room and shopped online instead! Unfortunately, ASOS started their summer sale on the very same day so I couldn’t resist the urge to have a look. Sooner or later I found myself entering in my card details and the next thing I knew I had an order confirmation email in my inbox. The following photos are from the website but I will post outfit posts (when I finally get rid of this uniform!) as I wear them...


I thought this was a simply shaped dress with a twist in the form of the print. I plan to wear it in summer with flat sandals and a tan and in winter with a battered leather jacket, black opaque tights and ballerinas.


Suzi Smith. Because you can never have too many black clutch bags. Especially ones that are in the shape of a bow.


Something a little different but I think it'll take me through at least two seasons. The back is open which is quite interesting and again I plan to wear it in both the remainder of the summer with sandals and in winter with a black tank top underneath, opaque tights (the jury's out on what colour...?) and ballerinas.


A cute summery skirt I plan to wear with billowy blouses and relaxed tailoring.

I have also taken to going to the beach for an hour or so in the mornings before starting work. It’s not too hot at that time and the perfect excuse to wear my Vitamin A bikini, naturally.

Sorry it’s brief but the fashion inside me has had to be quashed slightly for this month due to work, but I’ll be up and running properly again come August! Promise!

Loveness,
Maria
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