chop and crop

untitled

2012-02-23T21:21:00.001-08:00

fiona quinn photography

one of my hats that i made for my collection chop and crop was featured in this photo shoot by photographer fiona quinn.

you can visit her website here :)

venetian carnival 11.02.2012

2012-02-13T14:37:00.000-08:00

edited via google

forgive me for not taking my own photographs, but when my hands weren't stuffed inside the fluffy pockets of my faux fur coat they were either cradling a cup of hot wine or digging for coconut balls inside my bag of sweets. In other words, i was faar too cold to brave taking any pictures.

I do however intend to take a few of the masks i've now accumulated and the new bag i bought in venice on the day of the carnival, hurrah!

and, here are a few pre-carnival pictures of venice i have to share...

venice really is the best (and the easiest) city to get lost in! it's like a crazy real life maze with all of it's obstacles and dead ends.

wandering around, snapping away.

the (windy, windy, windy) waterfront.

san marco square

looking out between the half-shut shutters of the bedroom window

from the per rialto

now: last few days relaxing (and recovering) in london before flying out of paris, homebound!

untitled

2012-02-01T13:21:00.000-08:00

so yesterday i bought a huge cow at the brick lane markets, not kidding, biggest cowhide i've seen. it should have been a hard decision but it really wasn't... i've been looking for one for ages and even though i did take into consideration that i have no money or luggage space, it didn't matter. sometimes you have to make these kind of decisions when you find something you feel so strongly attached to. yes i am talking about a cowhide but so what, i've named him thethe and he'll be coming home to nz with me - i suppose through germany, austria, czechoslovakia, italy and france too... should be interesting as he weighs a tone. oh gosh what have i done.

I go to berlin tomorrow,
ah but i don't want to leave london...

um on another note, how awesome is hanne gaby's style? it's not often i notice an individual model's personal style. the ed's are very coooool too.

images via weheartit

thirty-seven rue de la bûcherie

2012-01-29T03:14:00.000-08:00

got familiar, and fell in love with the latin quarter the other day

i don't actually know where my coat is from, i bought it while shopping along the champs elysees - if/when i buy things i usually remove the tags, so i often don't remember where i get them from - the buttons i replaced with these gold vintage military ones i found at the portobello markets in london; i can't buy anything with out tampering with it myself, i'm looking forward to cropping the length when i return to my sewing machine.. the scarf is thrifted, pants from h&m and the bag i made.

yesterday i left belgium (with all of it's chocolate, beer and frites) after spending some memorable days in bruges, brussels and amsterdam. for now i am back in loondon, looking forward to revisiting the camden markets tomorrow!

kisssses

2012-01-26T08:37:00.000-08:00

here's to paris, i miss it already.

buuuuut

wooo

amsterdam

tomorrow
:)

raging frenchman

2012-01-23T13:54:00.000-08:00

2nd night he's woken me up at 4am. early morning reflection and inspiration time...

yesterday I popped over to italy for the day. No, really, just for the day.

I've been writing a lot, but feeling like this

I miss flowers, the snow and the cold have smothered them all.

Need to finish watching this movie tonight.

This year.

i wish my food smiled at me.

went to a french dinner party last night. i don't speak any french, yet.

i am looking forward to painting, sewing and re setting up my studio when i get home

ahhh yes, now the sun is up :)

2012-01-14T09:02:00.000-08:00

Another product of procrastination.

i love a new year

2011-12-30T16:28:00.000-08:00

via miss moss and my tumblr

1. tuesday 2. tuesday 3. tuesday 4. friday 5. beautiful, free, family, together 6. i could just stare for hours at Rei Kawakubo's work... i do stare for hours./i can't quite translate into words everything that comes to mind. 7. pass back through Paris in less than a week! 8. simplicity/fox's are beautiful, it's a shame there are so many squashed on the road here. 9. oranges: always sunny, always make me feel warm and fuzzy 10. light 11. hugs from el tigre/i've never quite had the guts to wear a crop top (was that a bad/sort of pun? oops) 12. Amen.

my new year commenced opposite big ben, watching the london fireworks in my own company. I know this might sound depressing, but it wasn't. Yay for a new year!!

conceal & reveal ss/2011

2011-12-29T16:08:00.000-08:00

My first collection and runway show.

Conceal & Reveal
Spring/summer 2011
Conceal and Reveal explores fashion as a language, that we all speak in our own personal way; revealing and concealing aspects of our identities from those around us. This collection is made up of reversible garments that unbutton and come apart as separate pieces that can be pieced together in multiple ways. Materials: Leather, silk, linen, cotton, lots and lots of buttons (180 to be precise, all hidden in the gaps and under flaps).

Read on HERE for my designer statement. To understand a bit more about my collection and concept.

Photographs by me, and Olivia of Olivia's Pizzazz

from the champs elysees

2011-12-17T11:51:00.000-08:00

Photos taken by me.

SURPRISE I'm in Parie and it's très froid! I decided to act on my travel post, where I expressed my need to travel. I have just spent a week exploring Paris, which has actually exceeded my expectations. I don't even know what to say! I've been exploring by foot daily, getting lost (a lot) and not visiting nearly enough places, which means I will have come back, maybe in 2 weeks, maybe in a month. We'll see! Europe is my playground for the next 2 and a half months. In the small picture of me above I am wearing silk pants I made, thrifted burgundy scarf and belted dress worn as top, leather motorcycle jacket, Fur vest - which was a coat with a collar, but such elements I removed to use for other various things. Lots of layers... Oh, and a bag I made that you can see very little of. But will surely appear further on.

1. Napoleon's apartments at the Louvre

2. Detail of Notre Dame

3. Love locks

4. A Rembrandt at the Louvre/A door I liked

5. The Eiffel tower at night/Pretty Parisian apartments

6. Me all layered up outside golden Palace gates

7. Bastille/Stain glass windows at Notre Dame

8. View from where I ate my lunch - the bottom of the Champs Elysees

9. Madeleine Church/Ancient stone art at the Louvre

10. The Madeleine

Time for London!

seven days of summer

2011-12-04T17:12:00.001-08:00

via my tumblr, foureyes, tenundies, wo and we

A tribute to the summer I will not be having. LAST SUMMER really was the best summer of my life, so I think the fact that I'm missing this one will highlight those special memories even more. I did however just get back from a weekend away in the bay of islands, which was my little taste of the New Zealand summer I'll miss - despite all of the rain (typical!) it was still beautiful and did not take away the thrill of snorkeling or waking up on the water. It was my first time sleeping on a boat - a very different experience, that I think I could get used to :)

preview:

2011-11-30T17:56:00.001-08:00

Photos by me and olivia of olivia's pizzazz

A very little sneak peak of my collection Conceal and Reveal. I thought I'd provide a little bit of insight before I post photographs from the show.. In a nutshell my collection explores fashion as a language that we all speak in our own personal way; revealing and concealing aspects of our identities. The collection is made up of reversible garments that unbutton and come apart at the seams as separate pieces that can be pieced together in multiple ways. So yees, I crazily hand sewed on 180 little buttons which are mostly hidden under the flaps, or on the inside of the garments which piece them all together i.e. the sleeves/back/front/bottom/top etc. sdfjsdlkf
sdkfjsdkf

Here's a petit example (of some terribly, terrible quality images) to illustrate further, I took some quick snaps of one outfit that can be worn 12 different ways. This is how the reversible sides and buttons work. Giving the wearer multiple options to create a different outfit every time :)kkk
kjjkjk
This was my first collection and fashion show, so obviously I have learnt A LOT. Oh there are so so many things I would change now! Thinking next year I will not be creating something so un-evidently complicated. Haha how can people appreciate how much work you put in if they can't see it on the cat walk? Any who, more on this laterrr. Have a wooonderful weekend :)

prints

2011-11-30T13:08:00.001-08:00

A few of my screen prints.

The Chanel bottle... Overused and boring, I know. I do like the colours and the sequencing though.

P.S. Pictures from the show will be coming! :)

some pick me ups

2011-11-11T01:08:00.001-08:00

images via we heart it, my tumblr, google images and ...etc

I REALLY NEEDED some bright uplifting inspiration today, as I spent all of yesterday and the entire night working on my collection at uni, only to arrive home this morning at 8am to work on another assignment I had due this afternoon. Now it's 10 30pm and I still haven't slept hah. It's really amazing/confusing how slowly and quickly hours pass when you're working through the night at a work bench. Seriously messes with your head (along with caffeine and sugar) But these images make me :) Yellow and red have been inspiring me so much, I want to incorporate more of both in my wardrobe, they just make me feel happy. I'm also fascinated with Van Gogh at the moment, his paintings have an absorbing effect on me and the colours and textures are so beautiful. Anyway, I would like to write more but I'm at the point where I'm struggling to type and string sentences together -time for a much deserved sleep I think! Hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I do... The 2nd to last picture is where i'd like to be right NOW.

bag lady from way back

2011-11-09T11:55:00.000-08:00

So unfortunately I really wanted this next post to be an outfit post - well I suppose in some way it kind of is haha... Yes, I am wearing a flapper dress over a fur coat, topped off with a leopard print hat. Luckily I've learnt how to layer since then. So anyway, no proper outfit post because I've been working all day and night on my collection (show's on the 26th of November) so I really haven't had time for much else! Ahh got to love this busy time of year - I have a presentation in an hour!

constantly on my mind

2011-10-27T21:50:00.000-07:00

So they say “Fashion is what you adopt when you don’t knowwho you are” (Quentin Crisp) and they say "style is knowing who you are, what you want to say and not giving a damn." And I agree with both statements, which is why I find myself hating and loving "fashion" at the same time. I find it annoying because style and clothing - two things I am fascinated with - both fall under the category of fashion. Which if I go by the general connotations and views of, I quite frankly think is silly and pointless. Their are far more important things to life than fashion rules, trends, judging what people wear and basing your life around clothes and image etc. Which is why I think I find myself a little hesitant telling people what I study... But oh well, I'm doing what I love, and that's important.

AND on a completely different note: Here are just a few images that have inspired me this week...

images from my tumblr. None of these images belong to me. You can find their proper sources on my tumblr.

I hope EVERYBODY has had a wonderful week!

moss

2011-10-25T12:10:00.000-07:00

A4 painting

ONE of my many, many procrastination pieces - as I like to call them. I.e. Speed paintings or drawings that I do when I am meant to be doing some kind of assignment, that then end up as things like title pages or folder covers. This one is a distorted Kate Moss. I pretty much decided to carry on from my concept of my alien model drawing (here).

It's rushed, messy, distorted, and looks like a child could've done it, which is why I like it.

just peachy

2011-10-21T15:44:00.000-07:00

via my tumblr, ten undies, weheartit

LONG weekend yay ay yay! I've been up since 5am sewing gah, but luckily I have an extra day for work, friends and recovery from lack of sleep :) Last night I went out for Thai food, and watched Vicky Christina Barcelona; which got me increasingly excited about the prospect of working in Spain this summer... which I researched til 2am. So yeah, my eyes aren't so bright this morning.

1) VPL insertion bra

2) Margaret Howell tie back top

3) Margaret Howell cashmere sweater

4) Asos clutch

5) Margaret Howell welted loafers

manipulation

2011-10-12T00:21:00.000-07:00

I PRODUCED this the day before it was due oops, for a fabric manipulation assignment... The 3 manipulations are:
• Stuffing/quilting - topstitched around the neck line, shoulders and racer back.
• Knife Pleating - sewn at both edges around the waist
• Gathering - kind of self explanatory
I literally frantically made it up as I went, which is why there are three different fabrics in the mix haha because I kept running out of fabric... note to self: be more organized.

she didn't say no

2011-10-09T01:28:00.000-07:00

via weheartit, girl in london, my tumblr

FEELING very inspired by travel-related images recently - well always, but especially lately - as I consider whether to move far away from home next year. Need to explore, get out of my comfort zone, experience and learn new things; such as another language, english is not enough, I know a lot of Spanish but I'm not fluent yet. Ahh decisions, decisions, must try not to get too distracted YET.
If I go, I have already planned to make a whole new wardrobe of reversible pieces, it's genius as it doubles the amount of clothes i'll have. I've already started planning fabrics and designing jackets, dresses, pants, tops etc etc. Reversible clothes are oh so practical; an exciting colourful pattern on one side and a simple block colour on the other, and there you have it! 2 garments in one. I even have them as one of the main features in my Summer collection - I'm all for it!

beautified alien

2011-10-06T20:54:00.000-07:00

(2010) Pencil on paper

This is a rather large drawing I did (94cm x 66cm) about the fake perception of beauty that the media and the fashion industry portray (through photoshopping etc.)Which I highlighted through the heavily exaggerated face of a photoshopped model.

I think it's one of the great things about the blogging world; It's far more real. Instead of looking at airbrushed, idealized images in a magazine, you look at genuine people like yourself. Don't get me wrong, I love magazines, they're irreplaceable in many ways - I mean, I can't tear my laptop screen to shreds, like I can a magazine, or hold it in my hands and turn the pages, or touch the glossy, shiny images... But yeah, you get what I mean.

print mix

2011-10-03T21:03:00.000-07:00

TODAY I am wearing a Country Road knit, underneath this little dress I made. It's nothing special, just one of those dresses you throw on when you're having one of those days when you'd rather not get changed, but have to... I like the subtle mix of prints in it, and the fact that it was actually two separate dresses that I made, then got tired of, so combined! Haha I do this quite frequently.

I have started off this week literally in dreamland, I really just want to travel travel travel. So naturally, my head is kind of in another continent - actually that's not really natural. BUT you can expect a travel inspiration post in the not so distant future... For now I am going to go read in the park, because I can't seem to focus on work.

Hope everyone has had a great start to their week :)

those sunday mornings

2011-10-01T20:34:00.000-07:00

via my tumblr, ten undies, wo and we and our youth

lying happily in bed with no pressing reason to get up,
having coffee and breakfast brought to you,
a walk through the park,
sitting, thinking, reading.

I love sundays and the connotations that go with sunday clothing; comfortable, slouchy, effortlessly stylish, or just not stylish at all. Sunday's a free pass :) I am very fond of these above options for Sunday daywear:

1) tsumori chisato button down blouse
2) a.p.c. sailor tshirt
3) margaret howell wide roll neck cashmere sweater
4) thakoon belted mini skirt
5) topshop kiera bow leather loafers
6) asos leather panelled bucket bag

My sunday outfit consisted of: silk trousers I made last week, thrifted Veronica Maine top, blue ethnic velvet scarf, and grey woolen motorcycle jacket.

Hope you've had a happy sunday!

from this to this to this

2011-09-29T00:44:00.000-07:00

TWO winters ago I bought a big woolen double breasted jacket from a thrift store for $30. Initially the only thing I changed were the big plastic beige buttons.

LAST winter: reshaped, cropped sleeves and length, with the addition of some hand sewen-on brown leather trimming (taken from the jacket carcass that produced these sleeves)

worn with: thrifted dress, vintage bag, and velvet scarf bought from markets

THIS winter: addition of the brown faux fur collar

I love giving old garments new life.
Especially when using scraps from other old garments.

oh its saturday again

2011-09-23T22:24:00.000-07:00

Here are some images that have inspired, and coincided with my mood today

My title of this post actually does express some surprise, I had to think quite hard about what day it was today. It's the last weekend of my mid semester break, which incidentally I have spent at home, in my pajamas, sick. Well, on a positive note at least I've been sick in my holidays instead of the busy term, and on another positive note, I am all better, yay!

Although, I am quite away with the fairies today. But its a happy, peaceful kind of delusionment (I know thats not a word but it's how I would describe my state of mind right now). Day dreaming, listening to music, and a little bit of pinning and sewing here and there. I should be more efficient today... oh well, life is good.

Hope you are having a lovely saturday :)

inspired by

2011-09-18T15:19:00.000-07:00

So that Burberry trench coat costs, well, more than I could ever imagine paying for a coat... But when they came out in the Spring 2011 ready-to-wear collection I was a little bit obsessed, so yes, I decided to make my own. A thrifted trench coat + an old leather jacket = my leather sleeved trench :) Easy peasy, a few alterations, but I didn't have to start from scratch.
I've had it for about 4 months now and have been attacked by people in the street asking where it's from, It's quite nice knowing people can't just go and buy everything you wear!

incongruent behavior

2011-09-16T18:16:00.000-07:00

via fashion gone rogue, and my tumblr

I don't suffer from insanity but enjoy every minute of it!

-Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)

It's a beautiful Spring Saturday and I am going a little bit insane spending my 3rd day in bed sick, It's not an ideal way to spend the holidays. I want to sew and work on my collection! I did however muster a trip to the hair dressers yesterday, It's a rare occasion and I was once again reminded why, when I left wishing I had the skills to do my hair myself! I know it's only hair, but how many people actually leave the hair dressers happily thinking "I love my hair!"? Haha I'm still waiting for that day...

straight into darkness

2011-09-13T16:16:00.000-07:00

Images via my tumblr

I couldn't help but put these dark, brooding images together in a post, along with this Leo Tolstoy quote that I love. They just seemed to go so well together, It almost, almost makes that dark/sinister-look, look appealing to me... almost haha.

But unfortunately (or fortunately? hmm) this is as dark as I go.

I wore this outfit and got told I looked as if I was going to a funeral! I suppose my friends just aren't used to seeing me in more than one black piece at a time. Fair enough, I mean it did feel rather strange with black on bottom and black on top, but I felt like it, therefore it had to be tried!

You really can't see the details of this outfit because of this silly camera! BUT I'm sure they'll pop up in another post sometime in the future.

I am wearing:
black cropped jacket with trimming (non existent to the eye in this photograph)
brown and white polka dot top
uneven hemmed lace black skirt, about 50% see through, with a high slit up one side
aand vintage necklace & bracelets

All made by me, minus the jewelry... Obviously I didn't make that.

catch up

2011-09-12T16:51:00.000-07:00

via FACEHUNTER, FOUREYES and Vogue.com.au

A few snaps from NZFW that my eye was draaawn to for various reasons. I love the first picture, he has SUCH amazing style. Aaanyway... Here is an interview I did during fashion week for Women's Weekly Magazine, It is picture-less, which is not really an issue as the outfit I was wearing is a couple of posts below, SO here we go...

Occupation: Fashion Design Student

What are you wearing in your photo: Vintage coat I altered, Mexican shorts made by me, Vintage necklace, top from Sydney, Orange fabric (worn as bow) from the Vintage textiles market

Who is your favorite NZ designer, and why?: I'm still getting to know them, so don't think I could pin point one yet! But so far my favourite shows have been; Lonely Hearts; I loved the jackets and the orangey colour tones, and MisteR; It was quirky, unique and very memorable.

How would you describe your style?: Personal and very diverse. I find clothing very artistic and expressive, I prefer to make my own clothes, or pull apart and adapt things that I buy. I like to dress coinciding with how I feel - which usually involves a lot of colour!

Do you have any trouble area's? if so, can you give our readers a tip on how you work around it: I love heels over flats any day, they are so much more fun and exciting buuut also highly impractical and somewhat inappropriate in most day time situations, so a lot of the time I tend to opt for a low comfortable wedge, that adds some interest but that I can still run around in!

What fashion advice can you give our reader, or a fashion tip that you live by: Dress for yourself and not for anybody else; you'll find it a lot harder to feel happy, comfortable and confident if you're constantly conscious of what other people are thinking about you, so just be yourself!

you've got something, more than something

2011-09-11T22:17:00.000-07:00

"Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."

Hans Christian Anderson

nz fashion week

2011-09-10T22:13:00.000-07:00

DAY TWO of NZFW

IT'S ALL over now, but such a fun week! I was so lucky to attend everyday, it was so exciting going to the shows. I was meant to be working as the assistant for the buyers of Showroom Seven from New York, but flights from NY were cancelled due to the weather, so they couldn't make it. Which was disappointing BUT it meant that I got a week off uni to attend fashion shows... ummm could it get any better? I'm wearing a vintage cape-like coat that I altered: removed 30cm of so from the hemline and the humongous shoulder pads. The big orange bow is a piece of fabric I purchased at a recent Vintage textiles market, I love this bright colour so much, and it is now currently half way to being a dress. The necklace is also from the same vintage market, and the shorts I made myself from some mexican fabric I was gifted as a hand-me-down. The top is Miss Brown and lastly my Topshop shoes.

That was a lot of description for one outfit! It's probably evident that I like to make my own clothes.

Photo credit goes to FACEHUNTER and Xiaohan Shen for Vogue Australia.

opening

2011-09-10T21:05:00.000-07:00

via weheartit

SO I promised myself that I would start my blog this mid-semester break - and I finally am! HI I'm Cj :) I'm from New Zealand, I'm currently a second year fashion student. Fashion to me is an art, a language, and a way each individual person personally expresses and reveals parts of themselves - whether they mean to or not. I love art, photography, music and finding inspiration and beauty in anything. I also like to think, a lot.