That Graduate Fashion Week 2009

Sorry I haven't been blogging in a long time. I've had so much going on and I didn't know what to exactly put on my blog? Should it just be fashion related? I always found that quite difficult, I'm still in the learning process of understanding fashion and style.

Yesterday I was working backstage at the 2009 Graduate Fashion Week as a dresser. It really is a great experience and anyone serious about having a career in fashion, I suggest being a dresser is something you should do. Me being me, I arrived too early ONE HOUR in fact! I saw one of my tutors Louis De Gama, he is also an amazing fashion designer so look at his work. I bumped into him and he suggested I take a look around the exhibition at the other universities so I bumped paying for a ticket since I was a dresser and got a free ticket instead!

Every university was amazing in it's own right and congratulations to all the students graduating this year. I had read in the Metro (yes I know!) that the great fashion blogger Susie Bubble had her own stall and of course I went over to meet her. I explained to her that I had my own blog, but I just didn't know how to start it out, what to put and what not to put. She was very helpful and gave me great advice which I will keep with me not just for the blog but overall in life.

'Don't think about it, just do it....let it flow'

It's really true. Why should I care for what people will think, not everything I do be their cup of tea, right?! 

So here it is, a new day and a fresh start. 

Here's my blog.

As I said before I was lucky enough for to be a dresser for my university. Since I arrived early I had a walk round seeing such amazing work and talent and hoping that one day my work will be there. 

At four I met the other dressers, some slightly overdressed to be dressers for me personally, but hey whatever floats your boat. We got our passes and unloaded the racks of clothing. People rushing by or rather running to start getting set up. Once we got backstage it finally sunk in I AM BACKSTAGE AT A FASHION SHOW! Models names posted to their own racks and hair and make up getting briefed, it all became so real. We put all the garments on their assigned racks and waited for the models to come. One by one they all came in, I got my dresser kit out I seemed to be the only one who brought anything, actually I was.

- pins; dressing and safety

- needle & threads in array of colours 

- lint remover 

- masking tape

- silk scarf

- cream

- boob tape =p

- water, just because I don't want to faint!

I thought I may of overdone it, but honestly it all came handy.

Finally my model, Lydia, came and she was a gem when she came over with a big smile on her face I knew she wasn't going to be a diva. She came over introduced herself and ask our names. We did a run through and of course things were missing, it's fashion! Thanks to my amazing dresser leader Rochelle, it all got sorted out and we found a way round the problem.

Hair and make up took ages, so I got her something to eat and drink (and Oreos, because everyone loves Oreos!). I didn't understand why it took so long to straighten her hair when it was already straight?! We was literally putting on her first look on while she was getting her hair and make up done in the line up, it sounds easier than it actually was. Great teamwork there!

The show went off with a snap, bang, crackle & pop and I felt so proud to be a part of it a small part, but a part of it.  I finally feel part of the fashion industry! Doing my degree it is great of course, but being outside London I miss all the hustle and bustle. Hopefully next year I will be driving and I will get the opportunity to network more. This opportunity has really made me want to do it more I love fashion and being a dresser is a great way to learn the ins and outs of it. Thats why its called backstage it's behind the scenes...or behind the seams....gosh I am sad.

Anyways,

love ya much xoxo

And yes there was male models, and yes they were hot, but gosh they know it.

I Need To Go Shopping, plus a rant!

Ergh! I am dying to go on a big shop, but nothing is saying buy me buy me loud enough for me to notice and if they do it's too expensive. Topshop is a bore, same things, maybe Kate's new collection will be any better. I need some retail therapy, nails done, hair done. Plus, i need to think about the holiday, which is apparently going to happen, but no one is moving there asses! i have decided to make a list of things I must buy

- Swimming suit if some sort......that flatters my figure and don't make me look like a seal!

- High heeled gladiator sandles....No I can not walk in heels, but this will be my practice shoe, in my size!

- I really nice burberry bag, sample sale.  A nice bag straight up!

- All Saints clothing (Don't they have a sample sale of some sort?!)

-I JUST WANT TO GO SHOPPING ARGH!

Evisu Day Three

Today, we went to Ben Sherman who have the licence to make shoes for Evisu to see the new collection they have are bringing out.  We got onto the bus passed Tottenham Court Road to God knows where and I sat in on the meeting about the new collection hich for them is SS10. I haven't really got alot to say about it not not that interesting it is just there, some of the range is quite nice and a few I would buy myself, but nothing ground-breaking. I've taken some of the pictures of the showroom and got an advertisement I am not sure what collection, but here it is.

Evisu Day Two

I started the day working with William and him telling me a little information about denim, which was quite interesting and the differences in stitch and weight. He gave me the opportunity to research for SS10 line and explained what direction they wanted to go in which like flight jackets, biker jackets and a take on America 1940/1950. The times of pin up girls and when America went to war with Japan and the influence it now has on Japanese fashion. Personally, it was very older man influenced. The concept he has begun with is called 'Biker & Bombs'. I was given a few images which they collected, magazines and clothing which he got from Japan. 

In the afternoon I had to chance to go with William to go to Selfridges, to show them the new range which is from what I heard is the for celebration of Selfridges 100 years. Evisu is making a limited edition range of 100 t-shirts and 100 pair of jeans with 100 pockets. The t-shirts are black with Selfridges yellow embroidery each one will be numbered e.g 1/100, 2/100 etc. the jeans will be available in four colours and they will be 25 of each colour. 

We met Ollie and William basically explained the range, and then we went to the shop floor to Evisu concessions and met Jeni who interned at Evisu before and is now working in their store and she told me about herself and what she is doing now. Once we got got back to the office the PR guy for Jagged Edge was there, picking out what the guys wanted while they were eating in Nandos.....yes they are normal girls. Finally, they came in, well two of the group and their posse of bodyguards and kiss asses!  The guys were really nice and there was no ego at all. I expected them to be assholes personally as they have a bad rep when it comes to concerts singing like three songs after making fans wait for like 15 minutes, but they are lovely guys. 

Evisu Day One

Day One

For my first day I begun the day meeting all the stuff and helping pack all the sale stuff into boxes and making a list of what I am sending in each box. After this I met the designer of Evisu, William Kroll, he came straight out of Central St.Martins and into Evisu as an assistant designer and now the designer. He told me a little about himself and then showed me some of the stuff he brought back from his trip to Japan which he takes every 4 months. He had various fabric swatches of denim and explained the difference in the denim and a little about what he did on his trip, like visiting factories and how they used to originally colour the denim with natural indigo dye.

I also had the chance to work with Mark (aka Macca) who works on the graphics, advertisement and marketing side of the business. He gave met he job of taking the photographs of the shoe range for Evisu, as the shoe range was not on the website at that time. It was only to trainers and I had to do it from different angles of the trainers had to be the same. The battery kept running out and it was difficult to make sure that all the angles were the same. Mark use photoshop to adjust and make the images suitable to be displayed on the website. Sadly, I have no images of them, but I am sure you can see them on the website soon. 

Through the whispers through the office, gossip was going around the Jagged Edge wanted some jeans to wear for the UK Asian Music Awards in London. Obviously they wanted them for free which was okay as it would give exposure for Evisu also, but many people in the office had no clue who they were except Mike who was one of the younger guys in the office, and me of course.