The Week in Pictures

1. Floral satin for Spring/Summer collection dresses & fresh flowers in the shop

2. Model fittings for this weeks fashion show

3. Filing all my vintage patterns

4. Modelling for my friends latest design

5. Antique beaded purse gifted to me by a friend

6. Fabric swatches for Septembers show

Replikating

I'm so sorry everyone about the lack of posts recently! With two fashion shows coming up and keeping up with Etsy orders, I haven't had much energy for anything else.

Today I thought I would share with you part of what I create! I have my main fashion label under my own name and on the side I like to recreate replicas of dresses worn by the Duchess of Cambridge.

 Random, I know!

I've always been fascinated by the relationship between royalty and fashion, it started with The Queen, Princess Diana & Grace Kelly, and this also led into an interest in Kate Middleton's style.

I focus on bespoke pieces that she has worn, these are custom garments that were made for her. This means that I can make something very similar available to the general public at a lower price.

When the Duchess presented baby George to the world, women everywhere flocked to the internet to try and find a similar look, and amazingly enough I already had fabric close to the original so I thought I would give it a go!

The original fabric was a silk, but I went for a lovely Japanese cotton that had a lovely sheen to it, and a beautiful drape.

I already had a similar pattern, this had a fitted bodice and full skirt, all I had to do was add the waist belt, which is fastened by belt loops on each side.

So here is the final product, modeled by the lovely Charlotte.

You can purchase the dress on Etsy here.

Dior Haute Couture Spring 2007

Dior will always be one of my favorites. It's what got me interested in fashion all those years ago, so I thought I would post some images of one of the collections I love most.

Enjoy xx

"What psychological process did it take to lift John Galliano to the extraordinary place of brilliance he reached—or rather, rediscovered—in his Spring couture? Everything about the Dior collection—inspired, he said, "by Pinkerton's affair with Cio-Cio San, Madame Butterfly"—reconfirmed his unique talent to evoke beauty, sensitivity, narrative, and emotion in a fashion show. "

"Kimonos, obis, and geisha makeup were Dior-ified, transformed into delicate translations of New Look peplum suits and full-skirted dance dresses. Each look sprouted yet more miraculous planes of origami folding, their stiff geometries creating necklines like flowers or hovering birds. "

Incorporating vintage into everyday life

Because of what I do as a vintage-inspired fashion designer, I come across many women who want to be styled in a 1940s/1950s manner but are too scared of standing out or not being able to pull it off.

Any women can wear vintage! So I thought I would put together a few little styles for those women who want to add just a touch of vintage to their everyday look-you don't need to look like you walked off during a photo shoot.

Hair can make such a difference to someones overall look. 

Victory rolls are still very popular with those wanting a 1940's style, but as these photos show even having a wave/curl to your hair can make a huge difference.

The photo of me on the right was my first attempt at pin curls following a wonderful tutorial over at Vixen Vintage which you can find here. 

I simply took the bobby pins out after my hair had set, and then took one part of my hair on each side and pinned it back with a single bobby pin.

On other days where I'm in a hurry, I place my hair in heated rollers and save time by doing my makeup while they set.

There are many easy vintage makeup tips out there! These two aren't groundbreaking but I always go with them when I'm having a retro day.

Cat eyeliner is an easy one, you may or may not team this with false eyelashes, and the style you may draw them in can depend on your overall eye shape.

Red lipstick is also very popular, there's a shade to suit everyone but I also find that if I'm wearing a shade of red that I have to make sure that any spots I have are well concealed as the hue of the lipstick can sometimes draw attention to similar colors elsewhere on my face!

I could go on and on about different garments that have a vintage look, but skirts are a fantastic staple with a variety to choose from depending on what you feel most comfortable with.

Pencil skirts are great if you want a more 1940's feel with an hourglass silhouette and are wonderful teamed with a beautiful blouse or fitted jacket.

Box pleated skirts are beautifully feminine and have the fullness of a circle skirt without the need for a petticoat, creating a silhouette all on their own.

Circle skirts are easy to create and find, for a more dramatic look they can be worn with a petticoat underneath to give them more shape.

These are just a few tiny tips! It's all about being comfortable and confident in your look-the more satisfied you are with your outfit, the more your confidence will radiate.

There are many different options for shoes and bags, I personally prefer kitten heels as I find them easier to walk in yet I still get the height I want for my outfit.

Hope you've had a great weekend! xx 

What I'm loving

1. Doris Mayday, I've become obsessed with her look recently!

2. My latest dress design now available at By Design

3. The world is not enough-I actually thoroughly enjoyed the film and Pierce Brosnan's portrayal of Bond.

4. Collecting fashion magazines, I sometimes wonder how I'm going to transport these if I ever move!

5. My wishlist of Modcloth bags has reached unhealthy levels.

6. I've started thinking recently of going into vintage inspired bridal-think more minimalist pieces but still heavy on romantacism.

Baubles

We've had some amazing jewelry come into By Design lately. There are times where I'm still amazed at the difference jewelry can make to an outfit, not to mention someones overall appearance.

I'm personally not a big jewelry wearer and when I do, I prefer to wear only one piece at a time.

Here are some of the pieces that have arrived recently, and can be found at our website By Design

Pearl and wire earrings by Amanda Keir 

 Glass earrings by Amanda Keir

 Vintage style cross necklaces by Julz

 Pearl necklace by Amanda Keir

Peacock brooch by Samantha Wakelin

Chanel Pre-fall 2012

I have a love/hate relationship with Chanel at times. Like many other fashion houses they can be a bit hit and miss, I've always been more of a Dior girl myself! But when I came across a video of their 2012 pre-fall collection I was in love.
My love and fascination with India was passed down from my dads interest in the country and its wildlife, so this collection struck a chord in me.

From Fashionologie;

"Chanel's Pre-Fall 2012 Metiers d'Art runway show guests were seated at an elaborate banquet set up in the Grand Palais in Paris, where they were served champagne, guava juice, tea, and miniature cakes and sandwiches. An antique silver train with the double-C Chanel logo ran around the central banquet table."

Chanel's shows can be quite minimalist and clean cut, but this one was the height of opulence, yet didn't distract from the garments themselves.


The collection was inspired by India's colors, fabrics and jewels-and the music was perfect.

                                      

The Sartorialist

One of my favourite bloggers/photographers is Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist- a wonderful photographer who frequents locations such as Milan, Paris and New York to document the fashion of those on the streets.

Before coming across his work, I had never seen anyone naturally document fashion before.

It's so refreshing to see garments captured in the raw without outfits being orchestrated by a team of stylists.

 His blog is a perfect website to visit when you're in need of some inspiration.

Scott photographs both men and women, celebrities and everyday people-as long as they catch his eye in some way.

And the man himself...not bad eh?

 All photos courtesy of The Sartorialist

Turn of the century

I've been watching too much Downton Abbey lately, and can't get enough of the costumes.

Enjoy!