My New Year's look

It's chocolate brown up the top and blond down the bottom! (I'm talking about my hair)

First term review

1st term is over, it's time for a nice rest and refreshment for a new term now.

For the past few months I have learnt a lot. I've done 2 designing projects, have learnt how to do pattern cutting and to sew, have learnt to use photoshop and illustrator as well. It was a lot of experience. It was my first time of everything so everything was quite exciting.

I quite like designing and styling, like, working directly on clothes. I like playing around with fabric, colours and details. I think I've done quite well in FDP. However, I'm not really used to working on a sketchbook and making an effective designing process. I'm sure on the next project I am going to do a lot better.

Illustration didn't really attract me at first but now as I get a bit used to it I feel it's a really cool drawing and designing tool to play around with. Just need a little more practice and I will be doing it ok.

Term ends - Xmas is coming soon

White, red and green; they're all over the street. They are in the shops, on the decorations, on the Xmas tree, and of course on clothes! I like the way people dress up with those 3 colours every Xmas season. They give us a Xmas atmosphere that is really cool.

Shirt done!

Now I'm like "WoW I really have done this!"

It was pretty straight forward actually. It wasn't difficult. Now I'm so energetic - I can't wait to turn my own designs into reality!

Aquafina designing contest final

It's a fashion design competition in Vietnam. Aquafina is a big water company, so obviously the topic is Water and Purity. It's an interesting topic I think. When they were announcing the competition, I didn't really pay attention as I didn't really feel comfortable with the poster of it

Ok it looks nice. But it reminded me of something else, like....

I hate copying. Gosh, it's just too obvious and stupid. I'm not being harsh or anything, but I think copying like this is really cheap, and whoever have made the poster should be ashamed of themselves. Anyway, it has been a while since the contest started. A few days ago was the final. Here are the best collections.

"Water's Transformation" by Hoa Le Thanh - 1st prize

I like this collection. I think it deserves 1st place. Personally I like soft, light fabric. These designs are very feminine as well. I think the designer has made the most out of the materials and colour in order to bring out the topic: Purity.

"Tradition" by Linh Vu Tanh - 2nd place

As the name of the collection, this one looks traditional. I like the way the designer re-invented Vietnamese traditional clothes to create new fresh, nice outfits. Me personally wouldn't wear it to be honest :"), but I like the way the designer put little details together.

"Happiness" by An Le Nguyen - 3rd place

This one looks more modern. I think it's really different. This one and the first collection have something in common in terms of style and materials. But the first collection is a little more wearable I think. This one is more different. To be honest, if I was the judge I would put this one first prize.

Cutting out shirt

Today I cut out my shirt patterns. It's going ok so far. Making a basic shirt is not that difficult to be honest, but it's an important 'foundation' to 'build up' other beautiful designs later on in terms of sewing techniques. I expect to finish the shirt in just a couple of days, shouldn't be so long.

Leggings + Boots

It is getting colder and colder. Walking on the street, I can see most of the girls are wearing leggings, or skinny jeans and a pair of boots. It happens every winter everywhere. I think because this combination is convenient, sexy and warm. So it is actually something that is not going to be old - fashioned so soon.

There's a simple rule I keep about wearing tights and boots. If I want to create contrast in order to emphasise my beautiful sexy boots, I'm going to wear a pair of tights that has complete different colours with my boots. And if I want to do a little trick to make my legs look longer - tights and boots same colours.

"The Cage" on Kera

I like Japanese fashion and I often find different sources to update the news on the internet. It's a pain as I don't speak Japanese so basically I don't understand anything but I enjoy looking at the photos. One of the most popular Japanese fashion magazines is Kera. This month, they have a photo seri named The Cage. I like it. First when I read the title, I thought about something like some girls sitting in a dark cage wearing nice clothes looking sad and stuff like that. However, the photos after all have really bright background, and there's no cage. "The Cage" is actually bonings that they put outside the skirt. I think it's really different and creative. However, the background is a bit too bright in my opinion. It blurs the models and makes the clothes less effective. Same background, but for example, if it was in the evening, I think it would look much better.

Shorts done!

Not bad at all! I enjoyed doing it. I like the way some little messy fabric pieces after a while turn to a nice piece of garment. We didn't have to make the patterns for this one. The main thing was to learn how to put a zip on a trouser. It was not easy - I have to say, there were many small steps to remember, but overall I did it ok!

New bag collection from Jimmy Choo

Absolutely love these! As can be seen, this season's bags are medium sized. They have bright, strong colours. The designs are a bit rocky. And yes, LITTLE DOTS! I am obsessed with metal or diamond dots. I use them on all my designs. I think they're sexy, graceful, strong and impressive.

Melting Pot presentation day

Deadline!!

I really need to improve my presenting skills. I felt "Empty head" when I was presenting and I even couldn't find the words to say. But anyway, overall I think it was alright. It was hard work to be honest. I did a lot of drawings, a lot of developing in order to come up with the final design. However, I think there's a problem with my research. I just have kind of a few pictures for references and inspiration next to my designing pages - while other people have done A LOT of researching. Man! They really did a lot of researching. The tutors said my work is a little random as well as my research is not even close to enough. Ahh.....I don't know how to tell them that my ideas are random themselves, I got them just like BAM! in my head...

Bella in New Moon

So it seems like everyone is crazy about the movie. I haven't seen the new one yet, but I've watched Twilight. It was good. And there's one thing to be noticed, many many girls are starting to dress like Bella. I have noticed this for a long time, that when a movie become really popular, people start to dress like one or a few characters in the movie!

(Gosh, look at her legs! How skinny a model can be??)

Bella's clothes are sort of sporty and simple, though, her long wavy hair still makes she looks feminine. Besides, skinny jeans look girly as well. It's a cool look I think. Me personally don't often dress up that way. Sometimes I feel that I need something quick and convenient, especially on those days when I don't think wearing a skirt in this windy England is a good idea, then I put on my jeans and a few layers of simple shirts. Then just a pair of Converse, maybe a warm hat or a scarf, and I'm good to go.

I remember the time when I was 14 15 something, Mean Girls was out to the cinemas. It was a bomb. Everybody talked about it. Girls started to dress like Katy (or Lindsay Lohan), I was one of them as well. It was huge. At that point I was thinking to myself: If you want to promote a style, make a movie that is going to be #1 on charts, dress up the main character the style you want, and BAM, it's everywhere.

Korean Vogue - November issue

If I had money to order 1 I would. I love these pictures. They are a little freaky, but that's why they are so impressive. I often look at fashion photos in order to inspire myself and also to learn from talented stylists. I think styling is an amazing job. They create the soul of photos and clothes. They are style - makers. I think this job is very interesting and challenging. I have read a little bit about styling. There are many kinds of stylists as well, as nowadays everything needs style, from a person to a magazine, a music video, a movie, a photo, everything.

I like the idea of a personal stylist. They are sort of a style coach. They consult people how to dress up, how to look and how to build up a particular image in public in terms of their lifestyle, personality, interests and career goals. They do clothes shopping for their clients as well, as many people really cannot go shopping at all (!). There is a funny quote saying that stylists get paid for spending clients' money. Sounds good to me! Well just kidding. It is hard work. I like the job but I am still not sure I am going on that path in fashion industry, though, it is an option.

Melting Pot's deadline is coming! Better finish the work quickly.