Alun Davis....

So this week I have met Alun Davis, who just so happens to share the studio with Piers. Alun Davis is a Art Director and a pretty amazing one if that, he's worked with some of the worlds biggest publications including international Vogue, Nylon and Another magazine. He's also worked on many commercial projects with some huge names and brands including ASOS, AQUA and Adidas along with many artists including Peaches and Lady Gaga. You can check out all of his work at:
www.alun-davies.com.
What I admire most about Alun is his craftsmanship and his approach towards the small details within his art direction, as Ive seen pieces which will be featuring in his up and coming installation at Dalston Superstore, its going to be pretty amazing, I can't say too much as it hasn't gone to press yet! But watch this space.
When I think of Alun I think of strong defined triangular shapes for some unbeknown reason. Throughout his work he uses a lot of helmets which he has customised with pieces of metal, nails, broken mirrors, crystals and spikes to name a few things. The helmets are works of art themselves, when you see one, you instantly want to try it on and prance around to "Born this way"! OOHH and he's did some of the costumes for the backing dancers on Lady Gaga's recent Monster Ball Tour.
Here is a selection of images which Ive pulled from his website which I find pretty inspiring.....

Work at Piers Atkinson.....

So my first two weeks at Piers Atkinson have been pretty major! Meeting and getting to know the team. Who are so so lovely and down to earth! We have all been working on orders placed by the stockists of his Autumn/ Winter 2012, "Oh My" collection, which has been really amazing as I seem to be learning something new everyday, be it a technique, design style or finishing a hat off in the correct manor. Im also starting to understand how a hat goes from the design stages all the way through to production.
All of Piers hats are hand-made in the studio so I know how much hard work, time and effort goes into each individual hat, and lets just say its a hell of a lot!

"The furries are coming to town for Piers Atkinson's AW/ 12 collection and they aren't taking the yellow brick road. Lions and tigers and bears mix with Dorothy's of all sorts for a very mammalian millinery season, hinting at fairy tale stories set in a scary, exciting forest of love and lust" Is how the current collection is described on his website which can be found at www.piersatkinson.com. Go check the ever so fabulous world or Piers out. I can guarantee you will fucking LOVE it!

Here is the fashion film to create the mood of the collection:

Rosemary Beard Poster for the Autumn/ Winter 2012 collection

Here is a selection of the hats Ive been working on taken from the Lookbook, Ive done everything from sewing ostrich feathers onto their bases, wiring and binding bear ears, sewing feathers and crystallising veils, OOOHHHH the glamour!!

Lady Gaga in Piers Atkinson....

Gaga is known for her crazy headwear, most famously the telephone hat which she wore in the video for 'Telephone' and on the Jonathan Ross show, and what better person to team it with, the fabulous Mr Atkinson. In fact she has worn his creations on more than one occasion.....

Piers Atkinson.....

So after a short trip home back to the fabulous city of Sheffield (NOT Although I had such a lovely time with my family and friends) it was back to the grind and back to a whole new chapter awaiting me, as I was to begin my new internship with Piers Atkinson the milliner. I chose to go with a milliner as I put headdresses with everything I make and for my final collection I know that I want to incorporate head pieces. I have a big idea which I want to do properly rather than me just doing it the way I think it should be done, so therefore I thought I thought it would be extremely beneficial to go to a milliner where I can learn how to do it properly using the correct techniques. 

I chose Piers Atkinson as I greatly admire his work and appliqué techniques, he is also a friend of Alex's who helped me secure the internship. (Really I owe it all to Alex as he contacted Piers for me. Thankyou Mr Noble!) Anyway he set up a meeting (or chat) between me and Piers, so that I could show him my portfolio, which he really liked and the rest is history! 

Piers Atkinson has yearly collections which he showcases through shows and different pop up stores. His hats have gone global, and are available all around the world. He is supported by Ella Dror PR company which is the same as Alex's, which is how they know each other. 

Here is the reason why I LOVE his work.....

A New Chapter....

So it's time to start a new chapter in my London life, as Alex doesn't need any assistance during the next few months due to being commissioned to do a set of paintings which only he can do, and taking a well and truley deserved holiday!
I can put my hand on my heart and honestly say that I have had the best 3 months experience of my life, I feel that I have learnt so much while undertaking an internship with him, and met such lovely genuine people along the way! I cannot pinpoint a highlight of my internship as it has all been so amazing! Although Lovebox was so much fun! It has also cemented what I want to achieve as a fashion student and a designer and the pieces which I want to create.
Im going to miss being in the studio with Alex and Saskia so so much, but Im almost positive Ill see them again

"Worried about the boy"...

Okay so I had a spare night all to myself (Bliss) and what better to keep me company, "Worried about the boy" the 2010 drama. I don't know what it is, but I find it utterly inspiring, it seems to light a fire deep inside of me, making want to create a new look and prance around the streets of London, being the person I want to be not giving a shit what people think.
The drama documents Boy George's rise to fame and his endless love of frocks and make-up. It also documents the london fashion scene and night life during the punk and new romantic movement, at the Blitz night club, with all the scenesters of the time.
The story begins before he was famous, and tells the story of him leaving home in the suburbs and becoming a leading figure on the New Romantic club and fashion scene. It ;leads all the way up to him starting Culture Club and falling in love with Jon Moss.
Its a sure watch if you have a spare hour and a half trust me you won't be disappointed!

L.O.V.E.B.O.X Installation...

So it was the week running up to the big unveiling of the Loveybee installation. Which meant we was on set from 8 in the morning till 8 at night finishing off the last bit of painting while the boys and Annie (A fabulous set designer) start making the installation a reality.

To begin with the weather was shit and we had to invade someone else's tent to carry on with the painting which all went exceptionally well with the help from some of Alex's friends. This extra help got the painting done really quick and the boards were up in no time. 

Once the main structures were erected the bad boys and my Matthew went up onto the top of the structures, arms stretched apart with lengths of ribbon tied to them. They looked like gods and defined the word fabulous! 

The whole installation was breath taking, it made you want to go into the tent and dance. Seeing it instantly made you want to get off your face and dance like Beyonce! Gotta say Mr Noble is a genius!

Here is the master piece in its full glory....

"What a woman!".....

I was lucky enough to go to Lovebox on Sunday night to see the head-line act GRACE fucking JONES and all I can say is wow just wow what a woman! I can honestly say she fascinates me, she excites me, just the thought of her makes me want to burst into a puff of glitter. She's a walking legend. I mean what 64 year old runs and climbs about on stage in six inch heels and a thong! She puts most girls my age to shame! Don't even get me started on her legs...they go on for miles!
What I loved most about her was she kept changing her Philip Treacy hats! That woman is mental!
Her performance was amazing (even if I was off my face). The bitch still got it!

Slave to the Rhythm was my favourite song she sang! Here is the video!

Here is a selection of images from the performance of the year!...

Work it Sista!!...

Unfortunatly I couldn't get the time off work to go to Loveybee throughout the day, but heres Jonny Woo working his tight ass in custom made Alex Noble which I assisted in making! YOU WORK IT SISTA!!
Fabulous is a understatement!

BITCH STOLE MY LOOK!

Graduate Fashion Week 2012

Along with the studio being manic, my nights have equally been manic, making the outfit I had designed for myself for Graduate fashion week. I was going to see the Salford's fashion show at 7 o clock on Sunday 17th June.

The floor length cloak which I had designed to wear was going to be the most extravagant thing I had ever worn. It consisted on feathers, hair extensions, leather and a lot of chiffon. It was made up of huge shoulder pads (which meant I couldn't walk through a door face on as I wouldn't fit!) which were covered in blackbird style feathers, with black hair extensions coming out of the front and back, with an under cloak made from six metres of gathered chiffon. It took days to create the pattern from scratch, and actually make it all, however it was all worth it and I was more than pleased with the outcome of it.  I teamed the cloak with a string vest and leggings with a leather side panel, topped off with grunge eyeliner and black nails! As good as I felt I got some pretty weird looks on the tube there, however all eyes was on moi! haha

I got papped a few times at graduate for various style blogs which was extremely flattering. It was so good mixing with people who actually understand you and are all in the creative world which has become my life. 

Before we went to the Salford show, we went around all the exhibition stands to see the competition which we had ahead of us. Here is some of the work which pleased my eyes.....

I wish I could remember this girls name to credit her, as I simply loved her sketchbook, the layout, the drawings and the concept behind it all. All I know she is from Nottingham trent university, here is a selection of pages from her sketchbook ill be taking inspiration from.

I found the University of East London's exhibition stand interesting. As it had life size illustrations hanging from the wall and garments on stands surrounding it. It was like one big calico heep! (Without the cat piss smell of it!)

Now for the Salford show.....

The Salford show was a big pop of colour, with many of the collections being sport inspired. I don't think I've seen so many hoods on one runway. If it was me showing I wouldn't want to do a hood if someone else was or I would change the design to create a new shaped hood, which hadn't been seen before. I can't understand why someone would want to do the same thing as someone else. The whole show was a bit samey samey. If you saw one garment you had seen them all. I felt like there was no drama, no couture, nothing new and nothing BLACK! My eyes craved black! Each collection was a strong ready to wear collection, which did work well. I just think its your uni years, let yourself go and do what you want! I just don't think I can grasp the concept that fashion is a business and people have to wear them. In their defence they did have stiff competition from the graduates who had previously shown last season at Salford, however who am I to judge I'm only second year and I'm really distinctive in what I like and what I don't. If its not dark, gothic and bondage up, I won't like it!
To end on a positive there was some interesting shapes and silhouettes seen and all of the garments looked extremely well made. They all looked like they could have been hung on the rails of Harrods next to Versace. Each collection was styled to the max which looked great and created a whole look which the customer could buy into.

Here is some collections from the Salford show......

Out of all the collections Jessica Wood was my favourite, due to the colonial shaped shoulders, going into hats. I loved the nude and black colour palette, it worked really well together. I thought the look was very now and very Mugler. Lady gaga would love it!