Manon Kündig | Bowerbird

 Hi all, this evening browsing through some design websites I came across the graduate collection of Manon Kündig. I am pretty sure I have seen the first image at least once before, but when I saw the rest on her portfolio at Not Just a Label I couldn't help but share them on my blog. 

Being a textile student, I also like to use my blog as a kind of bank to store any interesting things that I might like to use in the future. These prints are incredible, and I am sure that they will make it into one of my sketchbooks as an inspiration point at some time! 

The prints are made up of some interesting contradictory imagery and I love all the different colours and texture.

This is what Wallpaper said, "In naming her debut collection 'Bowerbird', Manon Kündig acknowledges the preliminary hunting and gathering that her designs require. Using online image resources, she created digital prints that resemble vibrant Rorschach tests. Blending seemingly random bits and pieces - a flower here, a cat there - Kundig's menswear label blurs the line between androgyny and other-worldly. Cropped tailored trousers, unstructured jackets and silk scarves adorned with faux fur, sequins, synthetics and lace create a mix of textures, colours and images that allure and intrigue."

Style | Galaxy.

 

Today my Mum & I went to the V&A to see some lectures are part of their Fashion Festival, we had an amazing time and I will cover the happenings in my next blog post!

As for todays post I am sharing the outfit I wore, I have been looking for a new winter coat for a while now. And, yesterday while me and my Mum were walking we took a look in the Joy store and found this coat! I was lucky enough to grab the last one from out back, which made me very happy indeed. 

Its almost sold out online too, but you can find it here, http://www.joythestore.com/louche-fur-collar-fit-and-flare-coat

I find the sizes in Joy are perfect, a size 8 is a size 8 not a size 12. Plus, the shape of this coat is perfect as it fits around my waist and then flares out really nicely.

I also found a really simple, black & metal belt to go around the waist, which I basically got for free using my student discount. I can't give you a link because its not up on their website? 

I have also really bought into the whole high-necked, body-con midi dress thing too. 

They are so comfy and convenient without looking under dressed and boring. 

This dress is from River Island and I *love* the galaxy print and the deep purple colours, which match fantastically with the amazing lining on the coat!

You can find it here,,,

http://www.riverisland.com/women/dresses/t-shirt-dresses/Pink-space-print-midi-tube-dress-632174

My necklace and rings are from New Look, I can't find it on the website and for some reason the small amount they do have on their is completely horrific! And my boots are from Office.

 

Clover Canyon | Spring 2013

'Clover Canyon is a celebration of beauty.

Designed and produced in Los Angeles, each Clover Canyon collection reflects the eclectic, joyful spirit of California through vivid prints and streamlined silhouettes. The Clover Canyon atelier is unique: Working collaboratively, and drawing on their shared passion for travel and art, the team design original prints, and hand-engineer them to frame and enhance the body. New technology meets old world craftsmanship as garments are designed, patterned, cut and sewn in-house.

In a word, the look of Clover Canyon is jubilant. These are clothes embarked on an endless voyage, from the tribal plains of Africa and the courts of ancient kings, through the annals of art history, and beyond. Shapes convey the modern ease. Clover Canyon invites women to join them on a journey of the imagination: Where do you want to go?

Clover Canyon is available internationally from the finest specialty stores, including  Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Lane Crawford, and online retailers such as Net-a-Porter and Shopbop. 

Clover Canyon is made in California, and always will be.'

www.clovercanyon.com

 I discovered Clover Canyon on the Oxygen Boutique website a while ago, today I was having a look through their collections and thought I liked the garments so much that deserved to be blogged about.

I am in love with the prints and the structure of the garments, and could very much imagine myself wearing pretty much anything from their Spring 2013 collection.

The shapes are relaxed and work incredibly well with the prints, which have been enginered onto the garments in a manner that makes them flattering.

OBEY | Shepard Fairey | Sound & Vision Exhibition Opening

SO! Yesterday, the girls and I went to the Shepard Fairey's Sound & Vision exhibition opening at Stolen Space. We were around Brick Lane from about four. Umbrella ready, the rain worked in our favour as we only queued for around and hour an a half!  

The exhibition was incredible. While we were outside, we spoke to the bouncers and were anxious to know if we would get a glimpse of the man of the moment. We saw him enter the gallery and were overjoyed once we got inside and saw him behind the decks! 

The music really helped bring the exhibition to life, and stuck two fingers up at the normal 'lets have an intellectual conversation vibe' that you too often find in galleries. 

And there was plenty of free drinks going round, which certainly doesn't make people complain.

The artwork wasn't in short supply either. The whole space was packed with the most textural, intricate, amazing works I have ever seen. Eerika and I discussed how amazing Shepards works look in books and on the internet but in person there was so much depth to the images and were highly more beautiful and striking than the works we had originally fallen in love with. 

Once Shepard had warmed up the crowd after standing in the cold with some awesome tracks, Z-Trip took to the Decks with a mix of music and visual projections that really blew everyone away.

 Everyone in the exhibition was having a great time and it sure did look like Shepard was too.... after an incredible exhibition opening like that he should do.

This morning I was back at the exhibition space, and waited outside for almost two hours to get my hands on a couple of the amazing prints that they had displayed in the exhibition last night.

I most certainly couldn't afford any of the original work,,, but a few of those was just about doable. And it wasn't an opertunity I wanted to miss after admiring Shepards last Stolen Space exhibition poster while I was at the Lord Clifden last week.

So Shepard please don't leave it five years again,,,,, 

because I think this superb event has left us well and truly wanting more!

POMPOM.

I bought two dresses from this super lady, it was super to see her wearing clothes from her stall,

the fabric details shown in the picture above are from skirts from her stall.

I will be sharing a post of the dresses I bought soon! 

There was also a few stalls I saw held by 'We Make London', who provide 'a platform to promote, support & showcase exceptional designer makers in the UK.'

You can visit there website here!

The lady above was one of those exceptional designer makers! Her name is Charlotte Kessler and she was showing her fabulous prints, we had a little chat and she was so fabulous and happy! 

You can find here website here at, www.lemonstoneart.co.uk 

and you can find loads more in interesting work! 

Dandelion.

Back from Spain!

London and its rain really doesn't appeal after so much sunshine,,, 

I had some posts lined up for publishing while I was there, 

but I then decided that as much as I love blogging I would keep Spain a blog free zone, 

and truely make the most of having * nothing * to do or think about!

As I am pretty certain that over the next few weeks or months even, there won't be very much time for me to waste. Back to uni, and to be honest I am pretty excited to get back to work.

This post is about the totes that I have mentioned earlier that Kate and I were creating, or have now created to be sold by Hobbs in aid of the Fashion & Textile Children's Trust.

The Fashion & Textile Children's Trust is a fantastic charity, here is a little bit about them;

'The Fashion and Textile Children’s Trust is a small charity with a long history of providing education and welfare grants to families in need of a helping hand.

The charity exists to help the children of people who work in the UK fashion and textile industry.

Since 1853, the charity has supported thousands of families across the UK with grants for the little things that really can make a big difference.

We’ve supported a young mum after the death of her husband by helping out with essential expenses. We’ve supported children with special needs with the cost of specialist tutors. We recently helped a teenager kick-start a career in catering by covering the cost of his basic kitchen equipment.

Sometimes, it’s just to help someone lead a more comfortable life – such as covering the cost of a replacement bed for a disabled child.

We are the UK fashion and textile industry’s charity – backed by the industry, supporting the children of people working in the industry.'

Here is the image that I chose to use on my tote, this is a picture taken of my niece Leilah, whom as you are probably aware as been the model for many of my prints!

The stencils I used for the totes, 

Kate and I bought the plain totes from a website called The Clever Baggers. 

 I hand stencilled the totes using this fabric paint that was around £5 from Cass Art 

This is the paint that I previously used so I was confident that the quality was good, I printed an image of Leilah onto a t-shirt which has been washed several times and is still looking pretty good, as the ink hasn't faded. And to print all the totes I probably used around half the pot, which is pretty good.

I printed 10 totes in total, I kept one for myself and one I gave to Leilahs Mum, and the other 8 will be available for Sale in Brent Cross Hobbs, I will update you on when they go on sale! : - )

I enjoy sponging on the ink to the tote as it allows the print to become more textural as you get a variation in shades. This means that each tote looks different and you get something special and unique, I also added some detail to the dandelion, which is detailed in the pictures below.

New York Fashion Week S/S 13: Ostwald Helgason

Day 5 of New York Fashion Week saw the collection of London based designer Ostwald Helgason grace the catwalk, this collection caught my eye firstly because of the great prints and the shapes & textures you can see. 

The outfit below has to be my favourite!

 I love the little jacket, especially the length which is perfect with a high waited short or to show off the top you have underneath. Plus, if your not very 'leggy' it will work wonders!  

I love the shapes of the garments especially the sleeves and the preppy collars, as the garments look really interesting yet easy to wear,,, 

the pictures have been taken from the Vogue website. X

Mr. Brainwash: Life is Beautiful.

Today Kate and I made a visit to the Mr. Brainwash exhibition in the Old Sorting Office at 21 New Oxford Street.

 Kate isn't the biggest fan of Thierry Guetta, I think his exit through the Gift Shop antics didn't work wonders. But on the other hand I rather enjoyed the exhibition, loved the work, had a great time having a look around, especially at the selection of framed prints scattered around the walls just around the corner from the entrance and would completely recommend a trip!

You also get a free print and post card when your leaving, which is a lovely touch! Kate and I also though that a canvas tote or something would have been a good alternative, and a good form of cheap advertising while hanging on the shoulders of many Hipsters. ; - )

But, while we explored me and Kate also discussed the sense of or indeed at some points the somewhat lack of creativity and individuality? Which is a factor that I have heard mentioned a lot in relation to MBW...

But to be frank, put me in a room full of bright colours, interesting textures, pop art and Andy Warhol references.... I'm happy 

whereas Kate I think is more of a fan of the more 'intellectual' art form.....

located in a nice urine scented doorway just outside the exhibition........... : - )

and then after all that,,,,

a much needed Costa! 

Kate gloriously rolling her print!

Kate's outfit,,,

Jacket & Skirt: Vintage

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

Bag: Warehouse

Necklace: Versace for H&M

Lace Body: Suite Blanco

My outfit,,,,,,

Blazer: Next Runway Collection

Necklace: Forever 21

T-shirt: New Look

Vest: Gap

Belt: Vintage

Skirt: Primark

Creepers: Undergound

Bag: M&S

(Just at the back of the UCH hospital... )