Collection: Phoebe.

I should probably alert you all to the reason I'm not updating my Facebook page, which is that I have given up Facebook for lent. I also gave up chocolate, but that was just proving impossible! Nevertheless, my ban from Facebook is still going strong, though that means I'm unable to update you all that way, so my apologies!

I hope I am able to make it up to you, however, by showing you the next outfit that went down the catwalk (with difficulty). This look was based around a wide black and white striped pencil skirt that I was desperate to make as soon as I knew about the project. I searched high and low for such a material, but to no avail: so I resorted to making the stripes myself. Super tight and 3/4 length made it very difficult for poor Phoebe to walk normally, let alone down a catwalk. But being the 'strutter' she is, she pulled it off and looked sexy as ever.

Next up was the top half, I knew I again wanted a restrictive garment, to contrast the freer element of the last outfit, but the colour was the issue. Then, after Orange. I knew what colour it must be and, when I found this luminescent orange in such a stiff cotton, I was delighted. This look was turning out to be a little harsher, with sharp lines and pointed shoulders, so I added a pointed collar.

I have also had word that the catwalk video has been fully edited and finished, so hopefully will be able to show that to you all soon!

Make sure you enter my

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

UO x

Collection Uncovered: Daisy.

Sorry for lapse in posting, I've been super busy with what I am about to unveil to you: the end result of Collection #1. It has taken a lot of Sundays, which should have been spent catching up on homework - or more to the point art coursework (!?) - watching Kim and Kourtney Take New York and various other E! Entertainment programmes, to finally arrive at my three finished designs. It must be taken into consideration here, that I am by no means whatsoever a seamstress but I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out... Just make sure you don't get too close!

As I was backstage, reapplying lipstick to my three beautiful models - Daisy, Phoebe and Bela - I unfortunately do not have any pictures of the catwalk but hopefully that should be rectified soon, so I shall keep you updated. Hence, for now, you lucky girls (and boys, though they appear to be few and far between) get some back stage snaps of the models: though not of hair and make up etc because I was the designer, hairdresser and make up artist in this shabbang for my girls.

First, however, let me give you a little more info on the actual event: a catwalk was being held at our school, made up of three main components, one of which was four designers from year 12 and year 10 - Becci Price,  myself, Lucy Paskell and Eve Archer - who were showcasing their designs. A perfect opportunity to get a little bit creative!

As previously stated, my collection was unwittingly inspired by the Jil Sander collection, so I'm sure you'll be able to see resemblance! The first look I put together, modeled by the crazy and oh so pretty Daisy, was based mostly around a stiff bright pink A-line skirt with a rectangular cut out (slightly unclear in these pictures). This rectangle bisected the diagonal line, which is what I wanted to continue with the top half, so I chose an over sized gingham.

Also, at the moment, I'm pretty much in love with collars, so I felt these needed to feature strongly within my collection. Here, to add a bit of softness to the outfit and match the girly colour scheme, I chose to layer a pink polka dot oversized peter pan collar, under a mint one with white flower edging. The tights, from American Apparel seemed to fit perfectly with rest of the outfit, again running with the geometric monochrome pattern.

With regards to make up and hair, I wanted it to be quite severe, to match the black and white and clean lines. It was torn between straight, middle partings or high, slick pony tails, but opted for the latter so showcase the collars more effectively. Makeup was an easy decision, right from the start: flawless skin, dark eyebrows, cheekbone bronzer and a pop of colour in assorted lipsticks.

As this seems to have developed into quite a mammoth post, I shall leave Phoebe and Bela for another time! Oooh, the anticipation!

MEANWHILE make sure you enter my 

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

UO x

GIVEAWAY!

I had been thinking of launching a giveaway for a while but was just waiting for the right milestone to mark the occasion and, for me, 150 followers (plus a few more now...) certainly is an occasion to be marked! Thank you to all my followers and to those who comment: it is so lovely to read your responses, reply and hence find out about fabulous blogs!

Anyway, about the giveaway.

 I shall be giving away one of my handmade jackets! 

There are two options, either;

the wine coloured material, which is the smaller size,

 or the white one, which is larger. 

However, both are made to hang slightly oversized so the sizes can fluctuate, depending on how you wish them to fit.

There are, of course, conditions on which you must fulfill in order to enter

1. You must be following this blog

2. Leave a comment, stating your name, email and which jacket you would like (wine/white)

For extra entries, you can

1. Like my facebook page (via the box on the right sidebar)

2. Follow on bloglovin'

Please tell me which of these you do in your comment

Giveaway closes on April 15th and announcement of winner will be made shortly afterwards.

Good luck everyone!

UO x

Collection #1.

I would like to take this opportunity to tell you all about an exciting new project I'm involved in at school. Eve Archer approached me, along with a few others, to design three or so looks which will be showcased in a PSA fashion show. Now, I know a PSA event may not sound like the most vogue place to present one's first, shall we say, mini collection, but I'm just so delighted to have somewhere which for I must make clothes, as I am usually rather slovenly when it comes to it! Although, after the initial elation, the panic began to set in: having a structured task means deadlines, which means a little bit of stress, sadly. However, I mustered up the motivation and got cracking and here is what I have to show for it so far...

Despite the fact this may just seem like a pile of material, underneath it all is so much more... But I'm not going to give it all away just yet mostly because it is all half done and wouldn't look like much anyway! I had no problem finding inspiration for my first two outfits, but I seemed to develop designers block when it came to, what I hoped would be my grande finale, third look. It took a while, but I finally I managed to come up with, what I hope will be, a fabulous final look. After showing my mother my first two pieces, she noted the semblance to the Jil Sander S/S11 collection and I realised that, especially with my third look, I must have been subconsciously influenced! 

vogue.co.uk

UO x

X Factor Tour.

Last night my friends and I made the massively long walk (twenty minutes...) - in heels - from Wembley Central tube station to the Arena for the X Factor Tour. But eventually made our way inside and to our seats... which we were thrilled with as they were only a couple of blocks back from the front and especially because we are always used to being miles away in the 02 hence making the closer proximity of the more intimate arena seemed magnified!

What I wore

Pink and Cream Pearl Earrings - Topshop

Dusty Pink Backless Dress - ASOS

Cream Bag - Vintage

Cream Tights

Leopard Print Sandals - River Island

And... I did have on a...

Leopard Print Cardigan - H&M

and a

Leopard Print Fur Jacket - Zara

It was a great night, with my favs of course being CHER and the beautiful Rebecca, plus Matt and the gorgeous One Direction of course. However, I was disappointed with Rebecca's, usually fabulous, dresses! Two were simply black, one with a sequin wing and the other with a train but nothing compared to her choices on the actual show. Yet, she did have her saving grace with a cream structured dress with a cut out on the finale of Heros. A lovely end to a lovely evening. All that was left was the walk and journey home...

Also, I am delighted to see I've reach 150 followers! Thank you so much gals and boys! Give away to come so stay tuned... 

UO x

Facebook and Bloglovin

Orange.

all pictures from zara.com

With the sun streaming in my classroom windows and the days becoming longer, it feels like the moment I step outside I should be tearing off my cardigan and taking out my sunglasses. However, sadly, the reality is far from that; more like wrapping up in scarves and freezing my face off! So, I thought I'd match my wish list to what I feel the weather should really be like - bright, warm and fun - with these Zara beauties. 

UO x

LFWeekend.

After jealously lusting after other bloggers who told of their time at London Fashion Week, it was finally time for the likes of myself to take a sneak peek into the fashion industry: thank goodness it's Friday, London Fashion Weekend commences. Having never been before - to either Somerset House or London Fashion Weekend - I was first thoroughly impressed by the beautiful venue and secondly by the fashion on offer and the glamorous gals: you could certainly tell you were at a fashion event as everyone was just far more groomed and made a little bit more of an effort, much to my preference, I must admit! So, how was I to keep up to these on-trend, stylish and fabulous street-style photos I have seen all over the blogs this week? I had been planning on wearing my new block colour dress from H&M... But what with? I always find this sort of mid-season slightly difficult to dress/buy for and felt I needed to mix it with some more A/W pieces: my mother's Fenn Wright Manson black duck feather jacket would do the trick perfectly, along with some pale pink tights, black platforms, black eyeliner and a beehive as big as it would go. Yes, I may have missed the decade of the moment by a good ten years, but 60s is timeless..

Then we bumped into girls who had to leave before their 2pm catwalk, so we kindly took those tickets of their hands for them and saw Bora Aksu and Mark Fast's S/S11 collections. Along with two trend compilations, namely Swan Vesta and Lady Brights. I was slightly more struck by Mark Fast's collection, especially the final fringed dress - and also the shorter, swing version - displayed by the astonishingly tall and slender model. I won't really say any more, just urge you to read this article, because it does actually bring to life some very real truths, I feel, perhaps. Nevertheless, the collection was quite insane with such heavy, fine fringing and massive platforms.

And finally, I purchased a clutch. £45 to £5. Absolute bargin babaaay, with perfect colours for Spring.

UO x