Days of Heaven

Last Tuesday we had our second class critique for our Designing Collections I class. The assignment was to take our 2 designs from the week before and elaborate on one of them with ten more similar designs. So I figured I'd share a couple of my designs here. I won't picspam all ten, just my favorite four.

I apologize for my super rough figures. I'm still getting used to drawing regularly again and they were very hastily inked to post here.
The first week's assignment was to do an inspiration board based on another designer's collection and then 2 of our own designs based on that inspiration. I won't show you my original two because they were hideous to say the least. But the inspiration was from Anna Sui's Spring/Summer 2011 collection. She took inspiration from the Terrence Malick 1978 film Days of Heaven starring Richard Gere.

It actually wasn't a bad movie. I won't spoil it or go on a full movie review but I will say it was a very cute love story and I can definitely see how miss Sui found it inspirational. If you love drama films watch Days of Heaven.

I tried to tap into the whole "country farm girl" and "cowboys and Indians" feel the movie portrayed but that isn't exactly my strongest source of inspiration.
Sadly my class "critique" wasn't so much a critique as it was my instructor calling everything "cute" and everyone else standing around like they had something to say but wouldn't. However, I'm just as guilty of it. I think everyone has opinions on everyone else's work but is scared of demonizing themselves or stepping on toes. I know that's why I keep quiet at least. I'm hoping this coming week everyone will feel a little more confident and maybe be able to offer helpful criticism. But for now what do my followers think? Anything you like, dislike or feel I can improve on? :)
Also, please don't steal these.

Right now I'm finishing up 3 more designs based off of a contemporary art gallery show we went to see called "I can see your underwear" Once the class critique for those is done I will post them along with some photos from the show.

-BAMF-

Comics and Fashion?

We talk a lot about "inspiration" during my schooling. It seems like every time I turn around it's all about who or what inspires us. We even discuss what inspires other designers, a nod to my last project; creating an inspiration board for a pre-fall collection based on the designer's quoted inspiration. Creating inspiration boards is definitely a key aspect to the beginning of any collection. 
Well lately I've been feeling rather, uninspired. It doesn't help with the pressure of starting our own collections in a couple weeks looming over me.


So in an attempt to remedy myself I made a list of things that have inspired me in the past and discovered the list was a lot of things that I don't have time or have chosen not to par-take in for a long, long time. Things like comic books, videogames, japanese culture, history and sci-fi just to name a few. Yeah, I'm a total closet geek. So yesterday, rather than a starbucks, I picked up issue one of Widow Maker published by Marvel. It features my favorite Russian spy Blackwidow, Scarlett Johansson please marry me her former love interest Hawkseye and his former love interest Mockingbird. When I got home I even played some of my roommates PS3 games!

I seriously have never felt better and am starting to feel more and more inspired as I re-read old issues already in my collection and continue indulging myself in my nerdy pastimes. Although, it kind of stumped me how I could incorporate my comic book love into fashion, the two really couldn't be any less related. Or so I thought?

Truth is, they're no strangers to each other...

 Spiderman

 The Hulk & The Thing

 Catwoman

Iron Man

 Wonder Woman

Hello inspiration, it's good to see you again.

More frequent updates to come :)
-BAMF-

Jeffrey Campbell S/S 2011

It's no secret that I came from a small town, to say the least. Even though my hometown stakes a claim as British Columbia's "Northern Captial" it's seriously lacking in a few key departments. The first and foremost is fashion. Now I could write an entire entry, maybe two, on how much my town suffers from this and what I would change. But my point being, despite my town's obvious handicap I always considered myself to be on top of fashion trends and such with the help of the world wide web.

It wasn't until I moved to the big city that I realized how horrifically wrong I was. It wasn't until my first midterm exam that I even heard of Jeffrey Campbell via fellow classmate and fashion blogger Erin - La Fille Mystere. Shocking I know


But now I can say I'm in love! Although I could never afford a pair of the oh-so-popular "Litas" and standing at already 5'7"-8" doubt I could pull them off without looking like an amazon in the worst possible way


But one day I WILL own a pair of his fabulous shoes. And the spring 2011 video lookbook is my favorite I've seen in a while. The shoes are incredible, I love how this brand is paving a new way for shoes, creating silhouettes and heights I've never even dreamed of seeing. My top pick would be the ones being worn by the model standing on the tail gate with the dog or the floral litas. Definitely an inspiration to save my dollars this spring!

Small Town Hero Jeffrey Campbell S/S 2011 from andrea cruz on Vimeo.

My favorite part of this video has to be when the girls "rock the boat" it's an old inside joke from my lovely little hometown <3 won 

The Millinery Post

Well the semester has finally come to a close. Sorry for my inherent absence, it's been... crazy, to say the least. I have two more projects due, some catch up work and one last final.
Last Tuesday was my last Fashion Elements class. Although the course was ridiculously easy I'm going to miss it. I look forward to hopefully having the same instructor in the future.


What I would give to rummage through that woman's wardrobe! In our last class we went over millinery and she brought in an original Philip Tracey hat :D
For those of you ashamed to not know who he is, myself included, he's responsible for most of Lady Gaga's head wear.
Although her hat was much more "ready-to-wear" than Lady Gaga's it was really inspirational to see and a great way to finish the semester.


I thought I might share with you guys my favorite milliner, Piers Atkinson. I first found him through this recent editorial paying hommage to the works of Tim Burton.

After doing a little more research I completely fell in love with his work. Warning, the following is picture heavy. It was so difficult to pick favorites!

From the completely outlandish to the very appropriate for an evening out I definitely admire his creativity. It's crossed my mind a few times to try and create some unique head wear for my final collection. Something I've never tried before that's for sure.

Anyways if you'd like to see more of Piers Atkinson's work you can find it at his website here http://www.piersatkinson.com/
Over the Christmas holidays I will try and update with something more substantial

Inspiration ~ Winter Sonata

Title: Winter Sonata
Magazine: New York Times T Style Winter 2010
Model: Amanda Nørgaard
Photographers: Sofia Sanchez & Mauro Mongiello
Stylist: Anne Christensen

One day I'll be famous

This is how I would like to wake up every morning

Followed by a trip to Tiffany's ♥ 
But for now, an all-nighter with Starbucks Tazo Tea and a trip to the library tomorrow will do.