TAKING MEASUREMENTS FROM A MODEL

For our project we have to create a corset and a bustle for a model which we have chosen someone from our course. I chose lovely Anna and I leave here blog linked here so you can check it and get her point of view.

Naturally, as the corset is made to measure and body shape are all different, we had to learn how to take measurements from a model professionally. The first thing, that shocked me the most, was the fact that you mustn't measure yourself in costume as all the measurements could go wrong because of the limited vision. Then our tutor gave us some useful tips to make the practice less awkward, like always inform the client what you are going to do before hand as they could feel uncomfortable and sometimes attacked as taking measurements could be quite intimate for some people. For the same reason you mustn't comment on them as it is not appropriate, you have to remember you are a professional. Another tip that our teacher gave us was that when approaching we shall turn our heads slightly to reach the back of the tape measure and make sure it is straight as it could vary the measurements and get them completely wrong and last but not least you mustn't touch the client. It could be quite hard so you can ask the client if they could hold the tape measure when it comes to awkward places like the bust height or the inner leg measurement. This makes the measuring quite fun and less uncomfortable, and as well as giving a conversation, it helps the client feeling more relaxed and hopefully enjoy the experience. 

Here I leave a guide with some of the measurements that could be necessary. Depending what garment or piece of clothing you are going to make, the amount of measurements that you will have to use will vary.

Link photo here

I leave some links bellow on how to measure. Please subscribe :)

The Costumer guide

You tube Video

TECHNICAL ILLUSTRATION

This week we have done a new workshop about technical drawing :) I was so excited as I LOVE drawing but this was quite different on what I did before. Technical drawing is used a lot in the costume industry and gives the exact idea of the design. It has to be symmetrical, or as much as possible, and communicate very clear what the designer wants for the costume. This drawings are normally given to other departments.  

Our teacher gave us some photos where we had to try and make a technical illustration out of them by interpreting them. There is a few techniques on how to do Fashion technical drawing but I sort of made my own. I started by doing a rough drawing on what the garment was just under the photo so I had an idea on what I was doing. Then divided the paper in half by drawing a very faint pencil line. I then divided them again in half and created a chart. I drew some dots following the outline and I tried to make them symmetrical. After that I connected the dots making lines on pencil. Then I fine lined the final outcome. This is how it turned and I think I looks surprisingly neat and professional and I definitely enjoyed this technique.

If you are interested on more information on this topic, I leave some links below and feel free to ask any questions. 

Lynda.com

Youtube Tutorial (This is one example but there is a huge variety of YouTube tutorials)

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COSTUME DESIGN AND ILLUSTRATION (FABRIC RENDERING AND CHARACTER DESIGN)

For one of our modules of the course, we are doing Costume Design and Illustration. We started by looking at body templates to have a base for drawing our outfits. The first template is a fashion design one and it can be used in costume but you have always need to think that fashion deigns for an average, quite slim size. In the contrary, costume has no limits and it is design for different characters with different body shapes.

The first illustration it is meant to be a tight fitting, sequinned tube dress and I played along with different marks and media (based on a tutorial). For the second one I wanted to make a leather tube dress with quite sharp angles on the bust and hips. I quite like how the whole outcome turned out but I think I could have improved the contrast of the light.

Then I decided to develop a bit more the sequin fabric rendering by changing the design and the colour. I drew my own body template and I putted it on a pose to practice on the fabric movement and the light changes. I decided to keep it as a fit young female as it is what I feel most comfortable drawing as well as I wanted to concentrate on the outfit, not the figure.

I started with a pencil drawing and I added colour, I used Polychromos Colour Pencils by Faber Castle .

FINAL OUTCOME

Then I decided to play with an other texture and created an oversized fur coat. I really like how this one turned out and I feel it looks as I wanted.

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VISITING THE BOWES MUSEUM II (YVES SAINT LAURENT: STYLE IS ETERNAL EXHIBITION)

The same day that we visited the Bowes Museum, we visited the first exhibition in England of the well-known fashion designer, Yves Saint Laurent. The exhibition was fantastic and it was a great opportunity to see the artists view and style in real live as well as a source for lot of inspiration. I loved the amount of decoration the gowns have and how elegant are. The exhibition has been extended until the 8th of October!! I truly recommend it so if you are interested click here.

I loved this gown (top) and the contrast that is made with the very ornamented jacket and the simpler dress.

 These photograph's outfits were exposed in the exposition.

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VISITING THE BOWES MUSEUM

On Wednesday, 30th of September, we went to The Bowes Museum in County Durham to visit the first YSL exhibiton in England.
I will be separating the day in two posts, as there was lots to see and I have LOTS of photos (sorry abou the quality of some it was dark). 
All the photos have been done by me during the day.

The Bowes Museum was an incredible building that transported me into another place. The building was an enourmous castle called 'barnard castle and was surrounded by an amazing garden with fountains.
On the inside, there was three floors with lots of objects and garments. There was also lots of portraits with amazing vibrant colours and intricate details.

I loved how the fabrics were represented making them that realistic that you can tell the difference between a velvet gown and a lace collar.

There was also some amazing historical costumes that made me think how much fashion has changed over the centuries, from very intricate gowns to barely barely any skin covered. I also loved some of the detail of the dresses and it gave me some ideas for future projects.

 The Bowes Museum is opened from 10.00 AM until 17.00 PM seven days a week

 For more information click on here to visit their website