6/5/15- Colour Development

Today I decided I needed to work on colours for my collection. I have a problem that I tend to not colour in my designs because I find it quite a fiddly task which isn’t enjoyable but it is important that I show colour. I asked Becca about this problem and she recommended that I coloured in the designs using photoshop as it is a quicker process and you can use the exact colours you want. So after this I scanned in my designs and used the magic wand and fill tool to colour the designs in. I am using a fairly subtle colour palette as I want the shapes and fabric to be the main focus. I also tried out in the different designs changing the main colour focus to see what worked well. I think I like a mainly neutral palette of black, greys and white and then using my prints and blue to add detail and interest. After using this technique today I think it is one I need to use more as it is a quicker way of accurately and experimentally trying out colours in my designs and also where I could use my prints. To improve I need to make the lines in my drawings smoother and possibly more solid as they didn’t always show up well on photoshop which make some of the design a bit distorted. 

Today I also thought more about my final garment, I have decided to make my duvet coat and I tried to do a bit more research into how I can colour it. The methods I thought of were dying, covering or spraying and I think I am going to dye the duvet as it will mean the fabric will keep its duvet qualities such as the existing seams and quilted quality which is something I want to keep as it will give the coat a rawness like that I was inspired by in Nick Hedges photographs. I do now need to think about what dye I can use and how it will be affected by the duvet fabric. At the moment I think a Dylon machine dye will work the best and the most suitable duvet I can get is a poly cotton which should hold the dye. 

Next I need to continue generating designs and developing on what I like so I can start to get towards a more final outcome. I also need to begin to think about constructing my garments and what I am doing in this as I need to begin making it next week. 

(Colouring my designs, authors own, 7/5/15)

5/5/15- Design Development

This weekend I began to expand on more detailing for the project. I looked at frills from extravagant clothing, bankers suits and a pair of tracksuit style trousers, I did this so I had more to contrast with the oversized draped fleece and duvet and to give my designs more detail which should make designs more successful and create more interesting paths for my outcomes. I mainly did this by picking out the details and drawing them become creating quick small sketches of tops or bottoms using these details in different ways and proportions. Particular details were more successful than others, I think the frills and sections of suit jacket worked the best as detailing particularly on the bottom half of the figure and from the tracksuit trousers the large pockets and three stripes. I found that all these details were most interesting on one half of the body instead of as dresses/ jackets etc as this is something different to my usual comfort zone so is pushing me. 

(Looking at details, authors own, 5/5/15)

Today began when I spoke to Sarah about my project, she told me that she liked having these new elements as a contrast to the duvet and fleece and that the almost very layered and almost throw together look contrasted with the minimal duvet was working well. She told me to think about how the rich are often quite over the top and sometimes obscene and that I could incorporate this with the layering. She told me that I should go back to the panelling idea and bring that back in and to work with the frills and suit sections. From this talk I manage to gain a bit more clarity to the ‘look’ of my collection and what I want from it, I also feel more confident with some of my ideas and layering. Sarah also made me realise I need to decide on fabrication and colours more strongly and that I should try and push myself in terms of colours as they feel very safe at the moment using black, grey, blue, white and golds. Some clashing or bolder colours could push the idea. 

From this talk I then began generating design ideas trying to merge all my ideas together and create a clearer picture. To help myself do this I decided to use the title 'A Confused Society: where the rich and poor are the same’ as a guide to how I want the collection to be a mix and contrast of both rather than one dominating the other. I think now I need to continue designing as I have been today creating looks contrasting the different aspects so I can work out what exactly I want to do for my outcome. I then also need to work in my colours and fabrics as this is very important in making my collection successful. This will also help me in planning what I am going to make as my outcome which I need to decide by the end of this week so I have enough time to make it. 

(Generating design ideas, authors own, 5/5/15)

4/5/15- Inspiration

Spreads from Dazed spring/summer 2015 edition

This weekend I have been trying to find a better contrast in my project especially to contrast with the duvet idea because of the comments of my tutor last week where she said all my designs were following the same silhouette and needed new ideas. I have been trying to extract more details from the rich areas of research such as frills from expensive dress and suits like bankers wear. I also started looking for ideas that already exist that sort of capture the mood I need to create in my project. I found these too spreads in the recent Dazed magazine which capture some of the mood. The first image shows two photographs one of a structured suit and one of a draped loose sack dress, this shows the dramatic contrast I need to create in my project, the Dior and Gareth Pugh outfits have a strong contrast in fabric and silhouette which will be useful to keep in mind when designing so I don't go back to the comfort of silhouettes I continually design. The second image shows an oversized suit which takes the rich business man/woman element and combines it with the second hand ill fitting clothing which Becca suggested I explore last week. This Vetements suit will be some inspiration going forward.

Today I also decided I need a title for my project to give it some character and almost a story which will help me when designing my final collection. So far I am undecided on this, my current ideas are 'A Confused Society' and 'The Rich are Broke', I like the slightly comical element of the second so I think I need to keep gathering ideas till I find one which feels right.