I’m Home!!

What’s Up Party Peoples! I’m home from NYC and even though I LOVED it, my heart will always be in London. Whilst away, my bank balance has taken rather a large hit, However I love my new purchases to pieces and am so excited to wear them.

Anyways, Though being on Holiday is amazing, I was actually quite excited to return to college and see the gang. We had a hand in for our newest pieces and are all super proud of them. Some of you might remember my post about “The Great Dress Debate”? Well that was my newest assignment that is now complete. I didn’t win the war between my tutor and I, but next time, she better watch out!

Below is a picture of my dress (With the white zip). I was so pleased with the final result, and think it represents the 60’s really well!

Well thats all for this week folks! Please leave a comment below if there is anything you want us to post about. Ideas would be great!
Lots of Love

Beth

Designer Wannabe’s
xxx

New York, New York!

Heya you lovely bunch!

Hope you’ve all been well and Enjoying a nice Easter Break. I have some super exciting news… Next Monday I’m off to NYC!!! I have to admit, I have done really well over the last couple of weeks containing my excitement. However, over the last couple of days, my control has been lost.

In Preparation for my trip, I ventured to Westfield for a few wardrobe updates. Going to one of the greatest fashion cities in the world, I feel a slight pressure to have a fabulous wardrobe – and though I will be purchasing a tone of new bargains out there – I still want to look stylish as I shop.  Taking this into account – I found shed loads of bargains here in the UK and am just as excited to share them, as I am to wear them!

Here goes: My Westfield Shopping Haul –

Uniqlo:

£9.90 Minnie Mouse T-shirt – Item Code 143773

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Top Shop:

£28.00 Wide Brim PU Fedora Hat

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New Look:

£24.99 Jurassic Shoes

£22.99 Coachella LS Crochet Top

£24.99 Denim Patch Pocket Tunic

£19.99 Aztec Sporty Playsuit

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Gap:

£44.95 Pink Floral fit & flare dress

£44.95 Blue and white stripe Stripe seersucker fit & flare dress

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Cath Kidston:

£12.00 Paradise Fields Water Bottle

£24.00 River Daisy Plimsolls

Was £12 (Now £6) Paradise fields Large Pencil Case

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Shall we say that I had a very successful trip and cant wait to wear all my new purchases! Would love to hear what new things you guy have brought recently so please leave a comment below!

Lots of Love

Beth

Designer Wannabes

Xxx

The Great Dress Debate



In this post, I’m keeping it short,

As there’s nothing new that I have to report.

Except one problem, I encountered today,

Where different opinions were put on display.

The dress that you see,  is it orange or yellow?

The debate that it caused was far from mellow!

For a pupil who tries to be the best that she can,

A beautiful garment is her ultimate plan.

Now you take a look and help to select,

What colour zip, you think looks correct?

Alterations Challenge:

Heya you wonderful people, I’m so sorry we haven’t posted anything recently, but College work is slightly more time consuming than people believe.

As many of you know (and if you don’t then you’ve missed out), There is a brilliant show on BBC two at 8pm on a Thursday.

Well… There used to be!

Tonight is the grand final, and though I am utterly devastated it’s the last one, I am so excited to find out the results. The show is great for picking up tips and tricks on how to approach projects, as well as being hugely entertaining to watch. The book is really great too, and breaks down all of the final garments so that you can make them yourself.

In honour of the sewing bee final, tomorrow at college we are doing an alterations challenge:

Our given fabrics are:

• 1 Men’s Shirt
• 1M of fabric.

We will have 30 Minutes to transform both of these into a brand new and original design.

Any ideas would be great, so please leave some comments below!

Love to you all

Beth

Designer Wannabes

Xxx

Make It Yourself!

Hello  you wonderful people!

I have to admit, this week we haven’t been up to much. Between sketch-booking and pattern making, we haven’t really had much time to be interesting! However, we do hope to visit the knit and stitch show this weekend which runs from the 5th – 8th March. I am so excited, and cant wait to hunt down a few new patterns for a bargain price.

http://www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/spring/

Speaking of patterns, I have a new favourite: The Clemence skirt, from Tilly and the buttons new book: Love at first stitch. It was such an easy skirt to make, and the result left me proud to put my name on it.

Last weekend I was going out with some friends and I decided I needed something new to wear. Me being me, I decided  was going to make this gorgeous skirt on the Saturday, ready wear on the Sunday. I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea or not, but my determination got the better of me, so off to the fabric shop we went. I chose this amazing Heart pattern on blue cotton, and the minute I got home, the front room turned into my very own sewing studio. It took me five hours (not counting the hour break I took to watch the Voice), and at 11:45pm I had the finished product.

I completed my challenge to complete my skirt before my outing, and I have to admit, it felt AMAZING to be wearing something I had made myself.  Have you made anything recently that you are proud to call your own? Let us know in the comments below!

Lots Of Love

Beth

Designer Wannabe’s Xxx

London Fashion Week: Day One – Bora Aksu Catlwalk

I had the amazing opportunity to attend  day 1 at London Fashion Week at Somerset House, and to say that it was AMAZING would be an understatement. As a Fashion Designer Wannabe, my expectations were exceeded, and I would definitely go back next year if I ever get the same opportunity!

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 BORA AKSU

AUTUMN/ WINTER 2015 

“Surely love is a wonderful thing; it’s more precious than emeralds and dearer than fine opals”

Bora Aksu is inspired by a belief in love, heroism and sacrifice. Looking at Oscar Wilde’s “The Nightingale and the Rose” Aksu explores the ultimate sacrifices that can come from the pursuit of true love.

The designer took us through his emotional journey with the colour palette. royal blues begin the love story, to then move onto optimistic golds and pinks before being punctured with jet blacks.

Leather and ripped fabrics are juxtaposed with gold thread, silk and lace giving it a delicate and romantic touch.

The catwalk ended with a great finale where all the models run down the catwalk one more time showing off the beautiful designs. Bora Aksu actually came out himself but it was very brief and I didn’t get a pic of him! 😦

P.S yes that is the beautiful Laura Whitmore  in the front!!!

Did any of you fine people get to go to London Fashion Week today? Or are you going in the next few days? Comment below! I would love to hear what you thought and what show you saw!

Lots of Love ❤

Lucrezia

Designer Wannabe’s  xxx

Pure London!

Well, I have to admit, today has been one of the most exciting days ever!! This morning we went to Pure (A London trade show) And how amazing it was. Not only did we get some Awesome freebe bags, but we got to watch the autumn trend show for 2015! Below you will find all the key trends for autumn this year.

Colours:

• Rich Browns
• Head to toe in Camel
• Red’s in Cranberry shades
• Indigo blues
• Charcoal greys – This is a more masculine shade, so is best lightened with a bright colour such a Orange.
• Orange is very big this coming autumn and is good to lift all autumn colours. It also has a very 70’s vibe about it, which carries on from this summers trends.
• Greyed pastels create a more sophisticated look.
• Teal is big this Autumn, and is great for party wear as it works well with indigo shades and pastel colours.

Patterns:

• Re-imagined skins – More abstract in colour and a new take on the traditional camel and leopard prints.
• Classic patterns (E.g. Hounds-tooth) is Classic but also contemporary.
• 50/50 – Mirror image colour statements are highly on trend this autumn and is a good way of colour blocking.
• Winter tribal – Stripes and geometric patterns in dark muted colours keep this look feeling contemporary.
• Folk floral’s –  Great for people who are not into tribal prints, and add a boho 70’s feel into your wardrobe.

Must Have Items:

• Maxi trench coat – Creates a newer feel to this classic coat, and is best worn open or belted.
• Sleeveless tailored coat.
• Winter Kimonos – Padded and comfortable Kimonos will be big this autumn, as they were very in last summer 2014.
• Tunics and Tabards along with long line blouses.
• Culottes – A very commercial look with a hint of high end chic. They are very flattering, and create a newer feel. It also gives that 70’s vibe due to the wide leg, which is also very in .
• Five pocket jeans are a must have for all you Jean wearers.

Shoes:

• Pointed Oxfords
• Monk shoes
• peep toe boots
• pointed stiletto boots
• the mid-heel Chelsea boot
• Skate boots
• Slip on runner

Bags:

• Tassel bag
• Boxy shoulder bag.

 

After the show we grabbed some lunch in Trafalgar square, and decided the day was too nice to just go home. Instead we went somewhere much more exciting. The place where McQueen started his career: Savile Row. Though we stood out a little bit; in our comfy clothes and warm coats against the bespoke tailoring of the gentlemen walking down the home of British Tailors. We each got our photo in front of McQueens store, and then I dragged the others to the shop next door. After seeing the film Last night, I had to see if the Kingsman (Huntsmen) tailors’ really looked as polished as it is in the film. I can now clarify, that the shop is even more impressive and awe-inspiring than it is in the film! I did freak out a little bit when seeing the same suits in the window, as seen on the big screen.

Please leave your views in the comments below, and looking forward to reading them!

Lots of Love

Beth

Designer Wannabe’s

Xxx

February Plans!

Get your diaries at the ready as this weeks post slightly different to our usual tips, interviews and reviews. This week I am going to tell you all about what we have planned for the next couple of weeks, and I have to say, I’m finding it hard to control my excitement!!

As we’ve been so busy with new assignments at college, we haven’t managed to post this week(which I’m so sorry about) so here we go:

This weekend, we are lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit Pure; a London trade show with all the recent trends. We are very excited to be there on Monday and will bring you all the news on the show when we get home. The show actually starts tomorrow, (Sunday 7th February) so if you want to take a peak the tickets are free. Maybe see you there 🙂

http://www.purelondon.com/

We are also going to London Fashion Weekend on the 28th of Feb, so looking forward to being a part of the biggest Fashion Weekend in the Calender Year!! Tickets are also still available for this show as well so make sure to visit the website if you want to come along as well.

http://www.londonfashionweekend.co.uk/

As well as this, a new Alexander McQueen exhibition is soon to be released at the V&A museum. The exhibition is called Savage Beauty and opens on the 14th March till the 2nd August 2015. The show celebrates McQueen’s creative talents and will be the first and largest display of his work to be  presented in Europe. to book tickets, please find the link below:

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/exhibition-alexander-mcqueen-savage-beauty/

I Hope your all amazing, and please be sure to let us know what shows/displays you will be visiting in the comments below, so we can maybe pop along too!

Lots Of Love

Beth

Designer Wannabe’s

Xxx

Christian Dior – Spring/Summer Show:

 

Yesterday (26th January 2015), a modern couture collection was put on show by Raf Simons. The opening pieces was a transparent printed pale green plastic coat over the top of a short dress. This helped to establish the mood of the show, creating an assured and unique feel.

A wide variety of outfits reached the catwalk yesterday afternoon, including printed catsuits – paraded by Dior Ziggy Stardust to “Moorage Daydream”. Full-skirted ballerina dresses with cutaway tops, heavy sequinned sleeves and collars mixed with wool minidresses, also took centre stage. These A-line silhouettes were teamed with latex legging boots or ankle variations with perspex heels. Models’ hair was kept very simple, with neat ponytails hung with from steel ovals.

As a whole, stripes were prominent within the collection, Technicolor knits and silk ribbons on skirts falling from a tight bustier.

However, it was noticed that a few of the signature Dior pieces were left out, for example the bar jacket. It was a beautiful show held across two levels. The upper level was supported by white scaffolding. This was very clever, as it meant that the clatter of the models’s shoes added to the soundtrack, and the surroundings were lit with twitter and Instagram friendliness in mind.

Please find below the link to the Catwalk show, its really worth a watch:

http://www.dior.com/couture/en_gb/womens-fashion/haute-couture/haute-couture-spring-summer-2015-fashion-show

Leave your thoughts on the show in the comments below, looking forward to reading your opinions.

Lots Of Love

Beth

Designer Wannabes
XXX

Love At First Stitch…

“Best sewing book I’ve ever read. And I’ve read A LOT!!”-Reader

Love at first stitch – By Tilly Walnes, £13.60

Nominated for Best Sewing Book in the British Sewing Awards 2014

Love at First Stitch offers a refreshing approach to dressmaking for modern makers. With jargon-busting tutorials and a down-to-earth attitude, the book takes you from the absolute basics of threading your sewing machine through to creating a wardrobe full of gorgeous clothes that you’ll be proud to say you made yourself.

Since the best way to learn is to get stuck in, Love at First Stitch starts you sewing straight away. Each chapter focuses on a project from one of the adorable garment patterns included with the book. You don’t need to go through a complicated manual to work out how to make them – new techniques are introduced as and when you need them, so you can build your skills and confidence one project at a time.

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The book includes full-scale pattern sheets in 8 sizes ready to use or trace off. The patterns are: Margot pyjama bottoms, Delphine skirt, Megan dress, Mimi blouse, Lilou dress – plus instructions for drafting your own simple patterns for the Brigitte scarf and Clémence skirt.

Variation ideas are offered for each project so you can add your own special touch and make your clothes unique to you.

“Out of all the sewing books I have read over the year or so, this was the first that actually made me feel I could sew clothes without it being too scary!!”- Reader

So if you were thinking of making your own clothes from scratch, this is the perfect book to have in your collection. It will guide you step by step and introduce you to new techniques!

Click on the link to buy it!!!  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-First-Stitch-Demystifying-Dressmaking/dp/1849493650

Lots of Love ❤

Lucrezia

Designer Wannabe’s   xxx