Elvis isn't dead...

Hello Strangers,

It is crazy to think that this time last year I was enduring the long bus journey from Oxford to London and then an hour long underground trek - enjoying an internship at French Connection!It was an interesting experience but it already feels like it was a million years ago. What I really enjoyed was being able to help out with print a bead work. It is very strange to see some of the pieces I helped with sitting in the shops waiting to be bought. Gives me a little skip in my step when I see an advert for a garment I saw at it's beginnings. It was a fantastic experience and I really enjoyed it! Thank you to the people who helped me get it and who taught me a great deal about what the industry is like.

Anyway the reason I rave about some of the garments is because I have recently purchased one. It was in the sale but £325 reduced to £150 I think is still fair :). It is the Broiderie Brogue dress in cream leather with a laser cut pattern. I can tell you the silly thing I get excited about is I remember photocopying the pattern and trying to make it match at the seams and also drawing the pattern on to a working drawing. Silly but it gives me a little thrill.I did have an occasion to splash the cash and get such a statement piece - it wasn't just for wearing round the house! It was Mr FF's Grandparent's 50th Wedding Anniversary at the end of September = A big deal! A lot of his relatives were there, some travelled from Italy and America to come and celebrate. It was lots of fun with a five course lunch and a Dean Martin impersonator serenading us all and in the evening there was a hog roast and an Elvis impersonator. It was so much fun!! I have added some pictures in this post so you can see mine and Mr FF's outfits and some of the crazy shenanigans!

Mr FF and I
Mr FF and I with Mr FF's Bro and GirlfriendThe Grandparents = awwwAnd a rather close call with Elvis!

Anyway speak soon!!
Fashion Fantasist xx

(Thank you David D'Elia for the event photographs)

'Tweet Tweet Tweet'

Once again David Longshaw has captured my imagination with his descriptive stories and beautiful prints. This collection for Autumn Winter 11/12 is an exciting mix of narrative, photographic and illustrative prints, and collaboration. So obviously I needed to find out more about it and contacted David to explain the inspiration behind the collection and the collaborations involved.What is the inspiration behind your collection?
Here's the story-A/W 2011/12 Inspiration.

Seriously Rose, I can’t bloody believe it here, they’ve stuck me in the middle of sodding nowhere with these religious nuts who expect me to go to church with them and sit shitting cross stitching by the fire ‘of an eve.’ What do they think it is, the bloody 15thCentury?’ They don’t drink and they don’t f****ing swear. There’s no one my age I’ve met other than one or two who are destined to die virgins unless one of them changes sex and their parents force them in to an arranged marriage to procreate more dull, weird looking bastards! ‘Don’t even get me started on the sodding birds! It’s supposed to be quiet in the countryside, but every morning at 5am all I get is bloody tweet, tweet, tweet; they even tap on the window- I thought it was someone at the front door at first. It’s a nightmare when you’ve got a hangover. I managed to smuggle in some booze but I’m running low.'

Tora, a wayward girl, gets sent to live with her tea-total, religious, cross stitching, aunt and uncle in the middle of nowhere, to try get her on the straight and narrow. She takes a soft toy named Frank with her, which has a pet shoe and a love of whisky.

Who have you collaborated with and how was it that you came to work with them?
This season for the first time I've teamed up with footwear designer Heather Blake. And for the 3rd season with Kirsty Ward on jewellery and the milliner Katherine Lee on a special show piece.

Heather was in the year above me at the RCA (She won the accessories prize at ITS#5), she exhibited at Somerset House during LFW, in my first season there and the LFW newspaper borrowed Heathers shoes to shoot with my garments on the blogger Katie of 'what Katie wore next'- They looked great together- so Heather suggested a collaboration.

With Katherine Lee we've worked together since my MA, were friends from home. She's a milliner now but when she first started collaborating with me she had been designing fabrics in Italy for the big fashion houses.

With Kirsty we first met at Alberta Ferretti, in Italy where we were designing. We've worked together since I started my own label.

Have any of your characters helped you with this collection?

The new characters from my A/W story have obviously helped, but also Selnec &Harriet, her rabbit (who I write with for Fashion156) are both decorating the scarf collaboration with Dominique Mosley (The S/S ones have already sold out in Rome and Hong Kong).

I hope you enjoy this collection as much as I do!! I am already saving my pennies for that beautiful shirt! As always I eagerly await the next season and hopefully another wonderful story accompanied by truly beautiful and creative clothes.Look out for articles by David and his friends on Fashion156 and his website.

Speak soon! Have a lovely style post coming up and some seasonal trends from Cabot Circus.
Fashion Fantasist xx

Feeling Frilly

With all the rain I am already starting to think about Summer! Have found a couple of pieces that I can't wait to wear once the sun starts shining again.This dress is from Primark and I was immediately drawn to the print. It reminded me of vintage fabric and even though every other person will probably have this dress I still think something about it is unique and interesting.These sweet frilly shoes were found in the Topshop sale! I am very pleased I have finally bought these shoes as I have been lusting after them for quite some time!! They were perfect to go with a dress that I had for a wedding. Here is the dress, it is from Great Plains and I snapped it up at a French Connection Sample sale for £15!!!So as you can probably tell I will be wearing some frills this summer - and I can't wait!!

Hope you are all staying warm and dry!!

Fashion Fantasist xx

Happy New Year

And Happy Birthday to my blog! It has been a year since I started blogging as Fashion Fantasist and what a year it has been. I was not expecting this blog to turn out the way it has done. It started as a way to make a digital profile for myself and my designs but has turned in to a lot more.

I don't think any of the opportunities I have experienced this year would have happened without this blog. It has helped me meet new people, I have been invited to fashion shows and events, I have written for other blogs and online publications and of course it helped (with Twitter) towards getting an internship with French Connection.

Writing this blog has expanded my fashion horizons. If I have found a designer or piece of work I have found interesting or inspirational I have tried to make contact with the designer, which has been a very rewarding experience discovering other peoples inspirations and aspirations.

A highlight of this year for me was to go to London Fashion Week!! I only went the one day and saw one show but it was amazing. As you all know I didn't shut up about it for posts and posts. Thank you to Kirsty Ward and David Longshaw who gave me that opportunity it was amazing to meet you both and I wish you the best of luck in 2011. At LFW I also met the team behind the hugely successful Young British Designers who I had the pleasure of writing a guest blog post for. Wonderful people who I think are doing exciting things for young British designers.

One of the best and most challenging experience this year has got to be my final university collection. It was difficult to get in to the swing of things but through it I discovered a real interest in photographic and Trompe l'Oeil print techniques. I am currently trying to create some garments that I can market and sell... But look out 2011 for that. I also experienced a real passion for meeting new people whilst helping with the PR for our University fashion show. I created a twitter account and managed to get the most coverage our university shows have had. It was also very flattering to have my work featured in an online publication.

Going to shows to cover them as a journalist/blogger was something I was not expecting but it has been a real delight to do this for both Culture Candy and Guide2Bristol. Hopefully this will be something I will continue to do in 2011.

Working for French Connection as an intern was such an eyeopening experience. I learnt so much and met a lot of very friendly people. It started out as just photocopying and sticking together artworks but as I got to know people better I started to contribute more. This may seem like a small thing but in the 2011 a/w range there are bead combinations that I helped create and that is so exciting. I brushed up on my Photoshop skills and actually feel more confident on Illustrator. All in all it was fantastic - hard work but well worth it!!! (Thank you to Rachel again for the gig!)

All in All it has been a whirl wind of a year. 2010 has been hard work but I think 2011 will be even harder. I am going to be continuing to look for work, start creating more designs, keep working hard on this blog and keep talking to and meeting wonderful people. Of course like every new year my resolution will be to stop chewing my nails! Hehe!

Sorry I haven't done any images in this post I wasn't sure what to choose!!! But here are some gorgeous shoes I have my eye on...Finsk Boots....... Well I can dream - that is why I am a Fashion Fantasist! (They are also really lovely in black!)

I hope you all had great years and thank you for reading my blog, following and supporting it. Wishing you the best 2011!!!
Fashion Fantasist xxx

Iris Van Herpen

I just wanted to share with you the beautiful craftsmanship of Iris Van Herpen's work. As a designer I really like a fantastical element to a garment and what is more fantastical than a garment that looks like water is splashing over it. Iris Van Herpen's Spring Summer 2011 collection is so interesting.

(These images were found on the Blow Presents Blog)

Her previous collection Autumn Winter 2010 is also stunning - strips of fabric and those iconic shoes that seem to have been featured in most magazines.

(Thank you Blow PR for the Photographs)

Speak Soon
Fashion Fantasist xx

Happy Birthday Cabot Circus

The shopping center Cabot Circus is going to be Two and what an amazing Birthday Party Fashion Affair they have planned!! On the 25th-26th September Cabot Circus will be hosting a Fashion Weekender which will have free fashion shows showcasing the hottest new season trends.

The weekend celebrations will start on the 25th with shows presented by Television star Gok Wan. He will be offering advice and tips suitable for any budget and of course being his fabulous self - Remember it's all about the Confidence! The fashion shows will be taking place at Cabot Circus and Quakers Friars during the day. Cutting-edge pieces from the high street will be shown alongside the best of the designer brands. As well as seeing the pick of the new collections there will be extra inspirations and style advice added by Auntie Gok. Who sounds like he can't wait - "Since the opening of Cabot Circus Bristol now boasts the best shopping in the South West with an amazing mix of high-street and designer brands. Bristol has a very unique style - it's urban, edgy and cool. I can't wait to see what Bristol has to offer on 25th September!"The Stylish Celebrations will continue on the 26th with House of Fraser and Harvey Nichols both showing dedicated shows. A perfect opportunity to scope out the best new season pieces from fashion to shoes!

The weekend will be filled with a variety of styles to suit every fashionistas taste - from gothic chic and military fashion to animal print and bohemian romance. The revival of the classic camel look is being celebrated as a big trend this season. Also a sample of the grunge glamour look which is comfy yet stylish and has been hitting the catwalks. Each show will be created by top stylist Ricky Partner, who has worked with a host of designer names including Jasper Conran, Matthew Williamson and Julien Macdonald.

The Cabot Circus Fashion Weekender is being held in partnership with Breast Cancer Care, to raise funds for this vital cause. Goodie bags will be on sale throughout the weekend, with all proceeds being donated to the charity.

Retailers featured in the fashion shows over the weekend include House of Fraser, Harvey Nichols, Urban Outfitters, Warehouse, Zara, New Look, A-Wear, French Connection, Reiss, Ted Baker, Ollie and Nic, Aldo, Schuh, Azendi and Hobbs.
Now you may have noticed if you have visited Cabot Circus this week a perspex box with some desirable items inside... These are 'Gok's Top Picks' guests will have the opportunity to enter a prize draw on the Sunday and win the contents. You may have also noticed if you have visited this week a washing line has appeared... This is to Air Your Dirty Laundry - Fashionistas are being urged to bring their most embarrassing items, fashion faux pas and just plain awful 'What were you thinking!?' garments and bravely hang them out for the world to see on the 'Washing Line of Shame' for a chance to win a one-to-one styling session with Gok Wan.

Now this weekend sounds like it will be so much fun with discounts of 10-20% in most of Cabot Circus' iconic stores. Unfortunately I will be unable to attend because I am attending a Christening but if you can DO go and check it out!!!

Enjoy
Fashion Fantasist xx

What A Stud!

Why is it that I have only just discovered these studded beauties!!? They are Kurt Geiger 'Electric' and are out of stock. Admittedly they were £180 anyway so the likelihood is I would have probably never have been able to afford them, but I could have pretended...

Oh Well!
Fashion Fantasist xx

'A Gladiator Brogue Hybrid'

Is how Mr Fashion Fantasist described these babies that I bought on Tuesday (24/8/10)...They are Teardrop Oxford Shoes from Urban Outfitters aaaaand I liked them so much I was very naughty on Wednesday (25/8/10) and bought the same in black!I don't really feel that bad about buying them, personally think they go with everything!

Best Wishes
Fashion Fantasist xx

Clogs Vs Cobbles

Welllll when Clogs first came back on the fashion scene I was very anti clogs. I think is the chunkiness of them with an open back - dislike. But I hate to say it - I have found a pair that I adore and now own! They are a lace up pair from Miss Selfridge. Just adore them, they look amazing with a pair of trousers I bought from Zara. However it seems that as much as I aesthetically love them they are hell to walk in!! I am ok on smooth flat surfaces - say indoors. But outside......



I wanted to show them off to Mr Fashion Fantasist so I wore them recently to the Harbourside Festival.... BIG mistake!!! The shape of clogs means that the 'wooden' sole is curved so I kept falling off balance especially on all of Bristol's cobbley streets. So Mr FF frightened that I was going to snap my ankles and irritated that we were walking the speed to snails bought me some lovely, flat, white tennis shoes from Primark (£2).

After that we both enjoyed the day a lot more! I am still trying to persevere with the clogs because they go with a lot in my wardrobe, but I think I will find that I will walk everywhere in my white pumps and once I get there I will sit with my lovely clogs on!

Has anyone else a fashion disaster or funny story? Do share and I might not feel so silly!

Best Wishes Fashion Fantasist xx

Shopping Trip

I went to Westfield in London on Sunday and I thought I would share my purchases with you! :)

Shoes from Aldo

Shoes from Barrats

Jersey Floral Dress from French Connection
Front

Seaming that looks like corsetry

Back

Ted Baker Jersey Biker Jacket Amazing sale item £129 reduced to £69!!

Front

Back

The beautiful lining

French Connection Top
Front

Back

Shoulder Detail

Hope you have enjoyed my random purchase update!
Best Wishes
Fashion Fantasist xx