Kicking it in NYC

New York Fashion Week has kicked off again for another catwalk special - Ready to Wear A/W 14 :)

And of course it's great!!! There's lots to look forward to with the law of the season set in order; one can see a clash between the warm red and oranges of autumn and the harsh greys and whites of winter. It's hard to even talk about winter with summer right around the corner ( although it REALLY doesn't feel like it :P ).
But no matter how cold it gets, there's always room for playful pastels and daring leopard prints.

 Hache (left) and Derek Lam (below).

If there was a feeling to describe the vibes being shone at us, it would definitely be: WOMEN OF POWER, BE AFRAID - yes, with the preppy business look and bold colours paired with a feminine soft touch, it's the season for survival!

Faux fur seemed to be the ultimate piece to top any outfit off with which made me SO VERY HAPPY because I LOVE faux fur. Hats, collars; you name it and it was seen :)

As always with fashion, the past gets pulled to the present for inspiration and guidance. In the Creatures of Comfort collection, I thought that there was a very Audrey Hepburn/ 50's style going on. The same could be said for the pieces of Erin Fetherston. A lot of lyrca looking materials to be found along with my long time love, velvet!

In fashion clashing and contrast help us determined the must with the must-nots. Something I've noticed with the collections I've come across so far this season is the contrast between preppy playful and sexy daring - it's all about the business for the ladies of A/W 14! There isn't a huge emphasis this time round on defining the waist or the hips. Lots of loose fitted wear hovering around the place.

Florals and relaxed statement tees took a shine on stage, with the fruit bowl prints seen at the Ostwald Helgason show. Stripes and polka dots - no show is complete without an appearance from either one. A lot of graphics being sported on the Desigual side of things :) A collection, which I must admit, is my favourite so far! This collection was all about the colour and the less depressing side of the chilly months - large floral prints with polka dots and loud opinionated clothing! Not a grey cloud in sight.

With Charlotte Ronson in a close second, it was a tough call for Freaky - Velvet, florals and lace! The collection was edgy and bold with the rich dark colours of the season. (What can I say I'm all about the frigging colours - that's what helps make it exciting!!).

Well I'm going to leave you all with this update so far but no worries, it's Fashion Week and there's plenty more where that came from. Don't forget to check out the Freaky Smudge Facebook and Pinterest page for pics!!!

Sleep tight beauts
XOXO
Freaky Smudge

THE FABULOUS NATALIE B COLEMAN!

I had the wonderful opportunity of interviewing, via email, the talented Natalie B Coleman.

11)      Where were you born and raised?

London, moved back to Ireland and was raised in the countryside in Monaghan.

22)      Did you always have an interest in fashion, or had you any dreams of pursuing a different profession?

I always loved fashion and the emotion of it but thought I might do something more academic when I was still at school. It took me a while to figure out what to do and I still change my mind a lot.

33)      Where and when did you receive your first job in fashion after completing your education?

With Three as Four in New York

44)      How to you get your inspiration? And is there anyone who has inspired you?

From everywhere, I design from my personal life so each collection is like a diary page. I read a lot and that inspires me and I get a lot of ideas from art particularly cubism and also films.

55)      What is the method of your design process?

I write a story first, I have a character or scenario in mind, then I look at fabrics, sketch and then start working on patterns, toiling, returning to patterns and then to production.

66)      What does a typical day in the life of Natalie B Coleman involve?

Every day is different, I travel a lot with work so if I am in the studio, I am up early, answer emails for a few hours,  deal with things like this which there is a lot of and I can’t reply to all but I try to help out as much as possible.  Do any press that has to be done, send out pieces for pr. Work on designs, sampling etc.

77)      Who are your designs aimed at?

Strong women who appreciate beautiful fabrics and design that isn't mass produced

88)      How do you prepare for a fashion event/show?

Send out invites,  work on accessories, model bookings, travel details, appointments with buyers. It depends on the show.

99)      Having worked with the likes of THREEASFOUR, Ragna Frodadottir, and Joanne Hynes, how has your experiences with them impacted your own knowledge and style of fashion?

I am a very different designer to all of these but I did learn from each of them.

110)  What has been the biggest achievement of your career so far, according to you?

I have had lots of good things happen and am just pleased to be still in business and growing.

111)  Is there anyone from the past or present whose style or choice of clothing/colour has impressed or outraged you?

I like Iris Palmer’s style, Dolly Parton, characters from Prisoner Cell Block H, Edith Beauvoir Beale and her daughter from the documentary ‘Grey Gardens’, and Francoise Hardy, plus many more.

112)   What has been the funniest or most embarrassing moment in fashion you've witnessed yet?

I have not really come across any that have not had an edge of painfulness to them as it is normally something of a disaster to a designer so kinder not to say.

113)  Being a womans-wear designer, which male celebrity heart throb would you like to design an outfit for, and what you they wear?

I am not interested in doing men’s clothes, I like men in a classic suit.

114)  Which fashion week do you prefer and why? London, NYC, Paris, or Milan?

Paris, it is the centre of fashion and you still feel the history.

115)  Do you have any predictions for what’s to come in A/W 14?

I don’t follow trends but I am working on lace with latex, leather, and natural wools.

 It really is amazing to get an insight into the mind of a fashion designer; someone who inspires others, keeps ahead of the times, creates such magnificent pieces. Designers really put all their emotion and drive into their collections- that's what makes them so great :) Praise fashion, praise designers! 

This has been your Thursday night from me!

XOXO

Freaky Smudge

Life can be short, like me :)

Well the past few days have been a roller-coaster, and I really do feel bad but now I'm back on the bloggers wagon and ready for this!

Oh yes the celebrity I was partying with last Saturday night was none other than the beautiful and talented Miss Derry 2013 - Ashleigh Coyle! <3 Here's a pic with me (cropped out), it's hilarious that I'm actually up to her hip!! 5 months older than me yet a foot taller - love ya Ash x Stunner! https://www.facebook.com/MissDerry2013?fref=ts
For anyone looking to get away for a weekend, or you're visiting Ireland for the giggles, visit Letterkenny, I beg you. It's funny how it's so far away from everything, yet it has everything so you don't have to go anywhere else! Handy enough!

I'm going to do a short little review here now for PhotoBox.ie. I remember a few years ago, chilling with Miss Derry over there, and watching her put together those online photo album things! I always wanted to get one done so last week (or the week) before I was searching online for a good site and I found http://www.photobox.ie, so I went in and clicked on 'Books' and got the 30 pages for 14.95 (euro), did my theme (I would have like to be able to stick my own pictures or own patterns as the theme, but they have a wide selection in their range), then I added in my pics, and TA DAH! Said it would be here on the 10th and it was :) happy outwith my lovely photobook; I was able to put in captions, expand or decrease the size of pics, added in about 55 pictures in total - looks great! The only thing I would say to anyone, and I'm sure this applies to every site - make sure that the pic is in good resolution, few of mine don't look too good (or maybe that's just my face... :/ ).

Fashion, fashion, fashion  - live, sleep, and breathe (cuz no one eats!) fashion <3 This week at GTI has been fun yet busy! I really can't complain; not only am I in a course with a lovely bunch, I'm doing something that I love! Not everyone can say "I've to go design an 8 piece collection tonight and look at magazines" :) I'm lucky and I know it. What's even more great is that I enjoy the work and I can say for sure that this is what I want to do with my life  - THANK YOU GTI!!
This week we had to create a mood board, or inspiration board, for the trends and designers of S/S14! Paris, New York, Milan and London - so many paper-cuts :) Will have to put a pic up for ye all but unfortunately my board is in school for the weekend. We also had to get a skirt type we like, e.g. pencil, flare, etc., and create 8 flat drawings of the skirt and edit them in different ways - now we are going to make one of the eight :P Sounds fun, and it is, but I had to make the most complicated thing I could think of - because I'm just awkward and difficult like that.... My skirt is a pencil that then flares out at the knee (1950's Inspired). My pattern looks like the blueprints of a maze but hopefully, granted I don't make a ruin of it, I'll get high marks for my troubles :)
It's crazy to think that I've only one more week at college, and then I'm on my mid-term break. 6 weeks have gone by since I started this course which is mind-blowing. Like they warned us it would go fast but you really never feel it!

Oh great news! One of my darling friends and I have gotten ourselves (actually our super sound teacher did) work experience in BROWN THOMAS GALWAY, helping at the window display! For all of you not from Galway, this window display is THE window :) Everyone knows that once the BT's Christmas window display comes up, Christmas is here! I'm actually so chuffed to be apart of the experience, it's a huge deal and massive honor!
Galway at Christmas time is my favourite place to be! The lights go on all around the city, window displays go up, everyone is happy, the Christmas Market comes to town and all the stalls smell like Christmas! The Christmas Market is great; people from all over the world pay a butt load to have a stall at the Market, and then all these tourists come and there's loads going on all the time.
I think I'm very fortunate to live in Galway, and be from Galway; the City of Tribes, the City of Festivals - you'll hardly ever get bored here because there's always something: the Arts Festival, the Film Feadh, the Oyster Festival, Christmas Market, the Comedy Festival, the Galway Races, and sooooooo much more!

Anyways I think that's all I have for ye! Please please PLEASE  give the page a like guys, would really be nice :) https://www.facebook.com/freakysmudgeishere AND AND AND I'm on Twitter https://twitter.com/FreakySmudge :) Bad news, Instagram is off my to-do list because I can;t get it on my new phone... Did anyone even know there was an Instagram???
Laters,
XOXO
Freaky Smudge

Did someone die in this???

How's everyone doing this week?
Well in Galway; 18-22 degrees, they said.... Be grand, they said..
They were wrong! Instead it rained but then again it's Ireland..

So at college we're still brain storming for our recycled garment project, and this morning we went on a little class trip to the wonderful charity shops. I have to say that although I didn't buy anything I wish I had, especially when I went to Candy on Sea Road (Hairdresser/Vintage shop). Very nice things! We also went to the Simon Community shop, the Good as New shop, and the Saint Vincent de Paul shop, which is a favourite of mine. Here's pics of some stuff I saw and will hopefully inspire me for this project :)  Here's two pics of some things I saw which will hopefully inspire me for this project!  
 We also spent the remainder of the day making our bags which will be able to fit all our stuff in it (tote bags made from calco). It would have been fine but I think everyone was in a weird mood today, and the iron was on for pressing the fabric and it was hot.. damn! I was one of the people that didn't have their calco in today (on the to-do list for tomorrow), but thankfully there are three massive bins of fabrics and materials so no worries there. The pocket of my tote is now Winnie the Pooh's face :) Not ideal but still good.... Tigger was always my favourite....

So Milan Fashion Week has ended with Paris Fashion Week beginning!! Some great stuff from the last week though, without a doubt. Loved the Just Cavalli collection- loads of energy in the clothing. I thought that the majority of the collections were darker than expected for me. So may Paris bring colour! So far so good!

Well my darling buds,
G'night
XOXO
Freaky Smudge

The Week of "Designers I Love Displaying the Clothes I can Never Have!"

Also known as Fashion Week!

Yes I have been glued to my computer screen and TV for the majority of the day (Praise FashionTV!) because of all the lovely clothes :) I have to say I really do hate it when models have, as Elvis Duran called it, BRF or Bitchy Resting Face. I want to see a model who's happy to be there! I think the models and the clothes stand out more, and it's just nice to see a smile! I'm going to stick up this pic from the Opening Ceremony's line.

Look at her (above right)! She's happy :) and that's why I love this pic, and also this outfit. Lovely stuff from the Opening Ceremony; Reds, blues and blacks at this show, escorted by eye catching patterns! It's like when you catch that spirally metal in the sunlight, or some freaky 70's thing!


(Left) Milan based, Delpozo, is definitely turning my head :) The collection reminded me of an "Alice in Wonderland" sort of theme. Some outfits, in my opinion, icing-like. Other pieces were more bold, playful colours. Floral patterns spotted. Would keep an eye out for this one!






I was loving the collection from Prabal Gurung. (Right) Loads of colours and all up for the bright lipstick, always a big fan! Patterns are really something else, and I would love to know where they purchased the class sunglasses :) Make sure to check out the collection - so far my favourite stuff!


Trying to keep this short and sweet like me (corny strike#1). Other brands which I adored were ThreeAsFour (left), and Pamela Gonzales

Hey, please wish me well on my first official day at college tomorrow :) will report back with all the dets! Make sure to like Freaky Smudge on Facebook and Twitter!
Later!
xoxo
Freaky Smudge!