Apparel Design

The beauty of design has the power to make me catch my breath. Something that seems so simple, like a lone autumn leaf still drifting around, has such beauty in the infinite details of colour, texture, line, weight and composition. The beauty of a gnarled tree, of a solemn cathedral, of street art scrawled in the subway, of the cacophany of light in Times Square: all evidence of design that inspires. Fashion does not exist in isolation, but is increasingly influenced by, and influences, art and architecture. The boundaries are blurred.

As designers, one of our most valuable skills is observation. To observe architectural, sculptural and artistic details expands our creative possibilities. We only have to walk out the door to be exposed to breathe-taking design.
I encourage you to open your eyes and seek the extraordinary beauty around you. And if you get the chance to travel, take it. Our world is an amazing place.

Julie. xx

Some excellent design magazines featuring fashion, architecture, art and travel are Wallpaper, Surface and Nylon. Check them out, preferrably on paper. Online versions of magazines are only dim replicas of the hard-copy originals.

Posted by Julie at 02:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

There are rules, you know.
Specific, detailed and unbreakable: The 5 Rules of Shopping.
The Rules were inspired and collated by a number of my friends who alternatively love and loathe shopping, depending on the day. So whether you’re a lone shopper or the bring-a-buddy type, the rules are here to help. Take it from those with much experience, a nose for bargains and more cool-ness in their little pinky than the Vogue style team put together.
Ok, Number 1.
Look beyond the usual. Consider things you usually wouldn’t. Different colours, different styles. Spice up your life and just give it a go…if only in the change room for a giggle. You never know. Which leads to rule number 2…
Number 2
Try it on, baby. Take it off the rack and try it on. Clothes can be uncannily deceptive when they are flat and hanging. Even if it looks ugly and you’ve never worn anything like it before. Try it on. My favourite dress is testament to this.
Number 3
The comfort and honesty test.
When trying things on, make sure you walk and sit in the clothes. (Sometimes I’ve even been caught dancing.) Sitting is important, especially for jeans - plumbers’ cracks/butt cleavage/major muffin tops is never a good look. Unfortunately, this was learnt from personal experience. Also, if you’re brave enough to exit the change room, check yourself out in the larger mirrors outside, so you can see yourself from a distance to get the overall picture. Be honest. Whoah, take it off; could be better; or, niiiice.
Number 4
Righto, before you whip out the cash ask yourself the following: why are you buying it, can you afford it, will you wear it, do you need to buy other things to go with, and do you have already have 50 of them in your wardrobe? But all this doesn’t really matter if you don’t follow the most important rule…
Number 5
Do you love it? You’ll know when you see it. Everything just…fits.
So, bottom line: if in doubt, don’t. Too many shoppers suffer Remorse.
Buy what you love, what fits, and what you can afford. And happy shopping days are here to stay!

xx

Posted by Julie at 11:44 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Be warned. I have soap and I’m not afraid to use it. Don’t be fooled into thinking this the hygiene police. I am talking about the Ugly Crime. The next time I hear someone describe another person as being u-g-l-y, I will wash their mouth out with soap.

Beauty and fashion are inextricably wound in a web that should catch admiration and confidence. Instead, we catch the disease of comparison. Blind comparison and imitation destroy us and our expression of self. Fashion, if nothing else, is choosing what clothes to wear each day. It is this choice that is a blessing and curse. The agony of too-small jeans, not-clean jeans and sick-at-the-sight-of-them jeans. Choice is as tricky thing because often is comes down to being right or wrong, hot or not. But is this really the case with fashion?

Fashion is overflowing with choice of colour, style, trends, designers. Who are you, who do you want to be today? One day I can channel the 80s in chuckies, rolled up trackies and retro parka (my sister will be horrified when she reads this), to Twiggy boots, tights and minidresses, or give me flowing scarf to knot around my neck and Grace Kelly, eat your heart out. But the beauty of it is, is that I can choose. I can be who I want and how I feel on that particular day. And nobody can tell me that’s ugly. Being beautiful is the opposite to being fake. So you can’t go wrong (even if you choose particularly ugly socks or shoes) if you express who you are.

And if you need inspiration, I suggest you start with things and places and people you love. Think art, music, Japan, London, Melbourne, friends, old movie stars and designers from all over the globe. A great place to get info is www.jcreport.com and www.fashion.net

So, you ain’t got no alibi -
Get thee style…preferably you own!

x

Oh! and in support of all bloggers, check out my new fave blog, little vlog 1 and 2.

Posted by Julie at 02:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Spotted in the halls around campus some nifty sketches and crafty designs thanks to the fashion illustration students and the FSA (Fashion Students Association).

Fashion Illustration student sketches

FSA lunchtime Project Runway

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