can anybody help with a fashion collection.. i have the idea, just no theme!!!xx

[loukr]

Okay, I posted a question similar to this a while ago about a collection I have to design and make at college, as my final major project.
I now know what I want to make, or have a slight idea, but I have to fill up an A2 sketchbook with research etc on my chosen theme, however... as of yet, I don't actually have a theme..!
My ideas so far are, loosely fitting dresses with different length skirts, made out of chiffon or a similar sheer fabric, in bright colours (similar to those found on tropical fish/flowers etc, the colour blends too), the dresses will be shaped using ribbon or ropey stuff to hold them up, and it's the actual ribbon that structures the dress.. if that makes sense??! if you want to see a picture to see what I mean, please ask :D

The dresses will be worn with black or coloured cut-off tights and lots of dangly jewellry that I might make myself.

any help would be SO much appreciated as I really am stuck with this one and the assignment predicts my grade at the end of my course :S...

Lou xx

[beryllium]

Hi hun,
You say you've based the colours on brightly coloured tropical fish? so why can't your theme be based on underwater tropical reefs? and tropical gardens....
flowing? life swimming along? ribbons of flowing seaplants waving with the current of the water?.....
lol.... probably talking rubbich..... :-)

[dantheman123]

I would look at the top commercial desighners and basically copy them. I know its not a very creative process but it could work. You could learn from copying the best.
Many of the top bands are influenced by other bands.

[loukr]

beryllium, those ideas are exactly what I'm looking thanks a million, you're frame of mind is just what I need.. sadly mine doesn't work in that way though :( lol

dantheman, as easy as it would be to just copy a top designer, I'd probably fail the course because they wouldn't be my designs!! good idea though!

Keep them coming.. I could do with all the help I can get at the moment xx

[JK2]

All designers work from storyboards made up of pictures cut from magazines, bits of ribbon, lace, buttons & other trimmings, different pieces of fabric, blocks of colour like you get on the dulux paint cards, and, in the case of your underwater tropical theme, pictures of coral reefs, brightly coloured tropical fish, brilliant sunrises or sunsets etc etc.
You could soon fill up a few pages this way - together with some sketches scattered about throughout the pages.

[beryllium]

bless ya :-)
a mermaid sitting on a rock enticing her sailor to his....... dream........
wearing, of course, one of your beautiful dresses ;-).....

[beryllium]

http://www.weymouth.gov.uk/Visitors/Mystery/Im ages/DD-mermaid02.jpg

mystery?....

[loukr]

aww wow thank you so much :D your replies are really inspiring me!! JK2, the story/mood boards have given me great ideas, like when I get round to designing the dresses, have a colour scheme for each page with fabric swatches, colour charts and sketches, and then my designs along side them... brilliant! also, berryllium, again, brilliant :D you must have some very vivid dreams :D xx

[JK2]

The mood/story boards usually come before the designing stage. They are usually to show the theme, the ideas, the concept, the type of trims, fabrics, colours etc etc that you build up initially to create design ideas and to be able to show to anyone what your inspiration is.

As a designer - before I retired - we always created storyboards for the first appointment with the buyer. The actual garments came later.

They are the easiest way of talking to, and showing, anyone about what your collection will be like in advance and also help to keep you focused.

[loukr]

wow JK2 I didn't know you were a designer! May I ask what kind of clothing you designed??

[JK2]

Dresses & separates for high street shops & mail order catalogues.