Raf Simons - Dress of the Year 2012

Hi all,

So, a little while back I posted the dress of the year 2011, which is displayed at the Bath Costume Museum. It took me so long to get around to seeing it, I didn't want that to happen with this years dress. So here it is. The dress of the year 2012 is by Raf Simons, for Dior. I am a very bug fan of Dior, and I love the original design aesthetic the house had, but I also really loved what Galliano was doing for the house. It was dramatic, theatrical and ever so decadent. I was doubting the choice of Raf Simons for Dior, when he was chosen as Galliano's replacement, as his very minimalist approach to design was such a huge contrast from Galliano's. But I think that he has managed well, and given the house a very new fresh look, much more wearable than before.

This dress Colourful embroidered and appliqued silk cut-off ballgown worn with black slim trousers.
Its covered with a layer of fine tulle, with pale blue and pink flowers embroidered, highlighting Christian Dior's own obsession with flowers. The dress has an integral corset and bustier along with a silk-tulle mini petticoat, which can be seen through the split at the front.

xox Niamh xox

Victoriana Project

Hi all,

My Art foundation is nearing its end very very quickly! It has just flown by and I have just two weeks left on my final project. I though I would share a sneak peak at what I am making. Here is a fashion illustration that I made to communicate my final design. It to be made of antique gold plastic, with a sepia feel, representing cage crinolines and corsetry seen in the Victorian era, but with a modern approach. The structure I am making is like a cage, and my intention is that a variety of garments could be worn underneath.

More coming soon :)

xox Niamh xox

Melon Ice Cream

Hi all,

So, as it is now May, the sun is shining and the temperature is finally picking up (although we still have our heating on) I decided that it would be time to make some ice cream!

I am trying out a new flavour today... Melon. I have been making ice cream for a few years now, and the book I use for most of my recipes is the Ben and Jerry ice cream book. I initially got it as my friend who is allergic to nuts couldn't have most of the Ben and Jerry flavours, so I made them nut free. It is a great book as it has lots of their much loved recipes, but it also gives you bases for creating your own flavours (I am planning on making lots this summer)

Hope you give this a try. It tastes really nice, very refreshing. Like a ice cream sorbet

xox Niamh xox

D.I.Y Tie - Dye Scarf

Hi all,

I have a fairly good selection of scarves that I have collected over a while, but one thing that bothers me is that I have three pashminas in exactly the same colour. When you have the same colour three times it is likely that you only wear one of them... well in my case it is.
So I thought to change up the colour I would try bleaching and dyeing it using dip dyeing and tie dying.... lets see how this goes..

I am really happy with the result. It has given my scarf a whole new life!

xox Niamh xox

Weekend Waffles

Hi all,

I thought today I would share with you our weekend breakfast that we have on Sundays. We make homemade waffles at home using our waffle maker, and a really straight forward recipe. If you want to give them a go here is how...

What you need (this makes about 7 full waffles) :

- A waffle maker (we go ours from John Lewis)

- 200g Plain flour

- 1 tsp baking powder

- 50g caster sugar

- 2 eggs

- 100g butter (or marg.) melted

- 300 ml milk

(1-2 tsp vanilla optional)

Our method to make the batter is simple. Put everything into a liquidiser (or mix by hand) If you are using a liquidiser then put the liquids in first, then the dry ingredients, otherwise they are likely to get stuck at the bottom under the liquids.

Let your waffle maker heat up, then pour in the batter and allow it to cook to the waffle makers instructions. Ours goes beep when its done.

Now the waffles are ready you can finish them with maple syrup, or whatever you fancy.

We have ours with a side of bacon, fruit salad and yogurt.

Hope your having a great weekend!

xox Niamh xox

Michael Bush on Michael Jackson

Hi all,

Another post from Bath in Fashion. Michael Bush is the genius behind the amazing costumes that Michael Jackson wore when on stage. He gave a talk at the guildhall which was very intersting. He told us what it was like to work with Jackson, and the lengths that he would go to in order to make the best possible costumes for him. 

He has a book out which has lots of amazing photographs of the costumes, spanning many years. Michael Jackson had the tendency to give away his outfits after concerts, so Bush began photographing them before they were worn to capture them. 

The jacket he was wearing was jaw dropping. It was covered in rhinestones forming multiple Jackson faces. He said it was his form of tatoo. I also believe that he said it was being auctioned off, and the proceeds would be going to a children's charity.

There was a little set up on the stage with some of the costume pieces. Michael Jackson was a big fan of the military look!

That concludes the Bath in Fashion for 2013.

Looking forward to next years!

xox Niamh xox

David Downton Master Class

Hi all,

Bath in Fashion has become a highlight of my year! There are so many great events that they put on, and this year was no different. I attended two events on saturday with my good friend Sophie from Imitation is the greatest form of flattery: Check her blog here...

Original illustration by David Downton of Linda Evangelista wearing Christian Lacroix
for V Magazine USA, July 2004. Gouache and ink on paper. 

The first one is the David Downton Master Class. David Downton is a well known, and amazing fashion illustrator/artist (he is currently artist in residence at Claridges in London), so to be able to do this master class was so exciting. It was held at the Bath Spa Hotel, in the Grange Suite, which was a really beautiful room with amazing wall and ceiling details. Anyways, room aside. The group doing the session was about 30ish people. One of which was Milly Mackintosh from made in Chelsea.
The atmosphere was great, the model, Jade Parfitt asked David questions, whilst we drew her. Throughout the session I gained an insight into how he works, and I feel I learnt lots of great tips. The drawings that I made in the session were not amazing, but the experience and what I have taken away from it really made it worth it.

These are some drawings I did at home, using what I had learnt in the session:

So I shall share some of his tips:

1. He makes an initial drawing, where the aim is to get as much information as needed down, and to get the most accurate drawing possible. Then he takes that drawing, a new piece of paper and a light box, and he EDITS. This means that he pulls out certain lines to create the drawing style he is known for.

2. Tip: If you are drawing and you are getting stuck, change material. If you are working in pencil, try using fine liner, sharpie, colour.... (he quite likes working with a brush pen as it gives a nice fluid line)

3. Where it goes wrong, don't be afraid to use tip-ex!! He doesn't work on the computer much, so his way of making corrections is to use the dreaded white liquid. If you need to, go for it.

4. When making a fashion drawing he starts with the head. As you work towards the bottom of the page (remember to fill the page) and you are still drawing legs, don't force yourself to draw in feet. If they don't fit onto the page, then they don't fit. Nothing looks odder than feet where the calves should be.

5. He tends to emphasise one eye more than the other. He explained that this stops the eyes from becoming too overpowering. If you draw two eyes with dramatic makeup the model can look like they have panda eyes. Not a good look (....except on a panda)

And finally my tip:

When starting out attempting his minimalist approach to fashion illustration grab a fashion magazine and some tracing paper. Use an image of a model and try pulling out lines from it. You will see how little you need to draw in order to capture the figure.

xox Niamh xox