No Sugar In My Coffee Makes Me Mean

Well my dearies how has your weekends been???
Well on Friday night I went for a girly night with my two friends - down to Kelly's for a few cocktails :) Try the Pink Lady if you like something sweet! Or my friend got a Strawberry Daquiri and my Oh My that's good :) Here's a pic of it with my Mojito. Along with the live bands playing I gotta say it was a great night!!!

Last night I went to my friends 18th party and I'm a little rough around the edges today.... It's like someone got pliers on my temples :( But what a great night! I much prefer house parties with friends than going out because it's so much more relaxed with the people you know, you can dance like an eejit and instead of randomers in a club giving you dirty looks, your friends can take videos and put them online :)

So hope you all liked my interview with Natalie Coleman :) I was able to use it for my Irish Designer Assignment in college! But now that that's done a new project has been shoved my way - my Historical Designer Assignment (the work load never ends!). This is all part of the Art Appreciation Module of the FETAC level 5 Fashion Design course. I have to say that I actually feel more prepared for this one because I already know who I'm doing and have loads of info on them :)
Charles James - America's first Courtier - if you don't know him, look him up! And if you love evening wear, like me, look him up now!

Cristobal Balenciaga - “the world’s best and only dressmaker.”

 1954 Swan Gown by Charles James 

Charles James born 18 July 1906 in England. In 1924,  his parents pack him off to Chicago, his mother’s hometown, where he began to pursue a career in fashion. At the age of nineteen in 1926, he opened his first hat shop with the support of his mother’s friends, using the name of a school friend, 'Charles Boucheron'. 

In 1928 he left Chicago for Long Island and set up a studio in Southampton. He later transferred his workshop to the Murray Hill area of Queens, New York.

James divided his time between the U.S., England, and France, creating both models for reproduction and custom pieces for high-society clients. In 1937 he made his formal Paris haute couture debut with a collection that included pieces crafted from vintage silk grosgrain millinery ribbon. In 1953, he received the Neiman Marcus Fashion Award for his Empire of fashion couture. 

On the 23rd of September, 1978, Charles James died alone and penniless in the Chelsea Hotel, NYC. 

A little history lesson from Freaky! :)

XOXO

Freaky Smudge 

'Fashion Week' Take:2 Scene:London

See what I did there??

So yes London Fashion Week has kicked off! I think this might be more easily for me to follow because it's the weekend now, London is closer to home, and the whole time difference thing it taken care of. :) But I prefer the NY Fashion week.... Maybe because I love New York <3 Like London is great but I just find it to be a more squashed together version of New York. Hopefully, with the aid of the J1, I will spending summer 2014 interning in New York with some buddies :) That's the dream.

I learned a lot in college today - that I've 10 days of work experience to complete, I've to gain ideas for my report on an Irish (living) fashion designer, and I learnt the role of a Fashion Designer. I honestly didn't know half of the stuff a fashion designer must do, and I don't like admitting I don't know stuff (especially when it comes to fashion!).

Role of a Designer: 
1. They research.
2. Find inspirations.
3. Create theme.
4. Get samples, decide on fabrics.
5. Create colour palette.
6. Sketch and draw ideas.
7. Create a flat drawing with measurements.
8. Create TWOL (I think that's how you spell it).
9. Pre-collection.
10. Production.
11. Liaise with stylist, manufacturer, and buyer.

Course that's not the whole thing, and I'm not gonna go into detail because I've only been at this course a week! If anyone is thinking of going to GTI, so far I recommend it :) .

From NYC Fashion Week: My favourite collections were from Prabal Gurung, Pamela Gonzales, Oscar de la Renta, Betsy Johnson, Thom Browne, ThreeAsFour, Kate Spade, Jeremy Scott, Zac Posen,and Delpozo.
Velvet is coming back big and thank God because I love it :) Pastel and bold colours mixed with darker, autumn and classic colours. In my opinion there's a great emphasis on legs and skirts and pants (call it like I see it). Eccentric patterns are clearly seen, and it feels like Tim Burton had something to do with these designers, it's like something out of one of his movies and I love it :) ..... I think I love too much in general ...

Well my honey bees, this is good night.
XOXO
Freaky Smudge

Don't Laugh at my Jelly!

In order to kinda get into blogging tonight I've this song drumming in my ears - Blue by Eiffel 65 (Classic!)
They don't make songs like this anymore :(

So really getting stuck into the whole college thing now, though I know I'll be so tired for the next week or two! This was the outfit I wore today, along with that 'Screw You' necklace from JUNK Jewellery that I put up last week in my "Best Buys #1" post. The teal top is from a charity shop though I'm pretty sure the origin was H&M, as was the skirt (bought in London). I got the white 'Whatever' top from Jennyfer (bought in Rome). I have to say that whenever I am abroad I always get cool stuff in Jennyfer and Berschka! :) The black tights are Penneys finest, and the pink neon beanie from Cotton Face Vintage :)

So two hours of Commercial Fashion Design this morning though we really just went around the classroom, getting a feel of everyone's background and what they want to do after the course. Some people have done the most interesting things - It's so cool!! I guess that's one thing about meeting new people; everyone comes from a different walk of life and has different experiences.

During our hour break I ran to Penneys to buy this adorable pale blue dress with little flamingos on it :) I know that sounds weird but my mum bought this dress yesterday and I saw it this morning and was like "This shall be mine!!". Sure it was €15, and so cute! Had to get a 12 because all that was left was size 16/18/20, but I think a red chunky belt would look nice with it... If I can find one. After this we had Problem Solving which is basically going over all the problems we're having with assignments and projects, etc. I was expecting like an AA meeting or something :P But no we went over the steps on how to make our pin cushions and got some materials which was great fun!

Then we had 4 drawing classes- this was... well I found it difficult because I did Art in Leaving Cert. and when  we sat into the class today the teacher told us to look at the arrangement in front of us (bananas, apples, kiwis, an orange, and leaves) and just draw the lines. No shading or perspective, so it was definitely a change. Practice makes perfect... damn! :) I'm sure I'll get the hang of this eventually!

Anyways, after I had a lovely chicken stir-fry for dinner (yummy!) I went to get up to date with the latest on the Fashion Week - which has ended today- and I gotta say that I would love to be a model for Betsy Johnson! I think anyone would, all those models looked like they were having a blast and the clothes were so fun :) leopard prints and sparkles and candyfloss colours (what more could a girl ask for).  Loved this collection, and Oscar de la Renta. Oscar never fails! I didn't get a chance tonight to check out the Marchesa stuff, but I'll always remember the dress that Olivia Wilde wore to the 2011 Golden Globes. Look it up if you have a chance, was beautiful!!!!!

Oh before I forget, can you guys please follow me on this, and Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Bloglovin! I would really appreciate it. You're all probably really sick of me asking that but ya know - gotta get the message out there.

Sorry if this was kinda a crap post but I'll make up for it or something :) Maybe a give-away on Facebook.... Got your attention yet???
Later kids.... Oh and the jelly thing was that I bought some for lunch but forgot to get a spoon :'( apparently funny stuff... :(
XOXO
Freaky Smudge

Fashion Week from my couch!

Heya!

So I wasn't No.1 on the NYC'S Fashion Week guestlist but no worries! Live (I think) coverage coming to me from Fashion TV - the soul purpose of TV!! :)

Some great stuff coming our way it seems - patterns of a ... tribal sort if I may call them that. They kinda look like the Lily of France design ??! Floral making a lovely appearance on the whole. We can also see pastels mixed with darker colours (a new autumn look). Animal prints and fringes - where would we be without them? :P  Fall 2013 has a certain.. I don't know I guess boldness about it! Something striking... Violent is not the word but there's a real feminist power like mixed with fire, if ya get me! Not the best with conveying this, sorry!

Hopefully someday you'll be seeing my designs on these runways, coming to life! That's my dream (apart from the whole regular family, house, kids, etc.) but that's what I want. I want a line that says "Alexander McQueen meets Vivienne Westwood, and did a swingers thing with Balmain and Meadham Kirchoff" - strange I know but if you keep reading my blog you'll get to know I'm a little... weird and corny!

LANVIN - wow that jewellery is bright! Loving the velvet! And the "you" heart necklace :) Actually I'm really just looking out for the necklaces here, they are pretty cool!

I'm going to do more from my end here and report back!

Oh and I successfully set up a Twitter and Facebook page, also an Instagram and Pinterest so please check it out guys, give it a like so I know you're out there :)

http://www.bloglovin.com/freakysmudge
https://twitter.com/FreakySmudge
https://www.facebook.com/freakysmudgeishere

Later
xoxo
Freaky Smug