Donna Karan Spring 2005
Alexander McQueen Fall 2000

Donna Karan fall 2003 courtesy of Style.com

Don't get me wrong is a response to a comment made to my blogpost on the DUT Fashion show. I received a comment from one the designers involved, saying that they felt that the point of the show was to showcase their craftsmanship as fashion designers and not have people commenting on "How nice those Foschini earrings are". I totally understand this point. Only i think my point was misunderstood.

My comments where in regards to the lack of collaborations between fashion designers and jewellery designers. I didn't see much jewellery that has been specifically designed for the fashion show. Having a collaboration between disciplines would serve to enhance the fashion designer's craftsmanship. Such examples can be found in the collaborations between Alexander McQueen and Shaun Leane, Donna Karan and Robert Lee Morris. Being able to combine the characteristics of the metal with those of fabric is not any easy thing and when successful looks like the above examples.

This does not mean that one can not use jewellery in a less integrated way then the above. Donna Karan used jewellery by Robert Lee Morris in her Spring2005 fashion show that already existed Using jewellery pieces that already exist can work as well.

Jewellery and fashion are now integral parts of each other. On the street you don't see one without the other. The collaborations can be natural and wouldn't take away from the either. So to the fashion designer who commented (somehow I lost your comment), if you want the experience of working with a jewellery designer, please let me know. I would like that.

Streetsightings
When i saw the picture about on the Streetsightingsl blog I knew I had seen it before. And I was right. I had seen the cuff captured by the blogger of Streetsightings on the street, in the Chanel Fall ready to wear collection. This is a classic example of accessories from the ramp translating to street wear. Below is picture courtesy of Style.com of the Chanel fashion show. On the ramp (below) the jacket is worn with a large ring and the street wearer follows the same suite with her take on the ramp example.

Style.com

Steel used objects

Trying out punches and sanding to get some texture on these things. By the way if anyone know what these are, I would really like to find out. I found them at a scap yard and have no clue want exactly they are. I was told at the scrap yard they come from the engine of a car. I'm just woundering about the sizes and what is the function. I hope to use them in a fashion show.

I'm also trying to find a way to colour the steel. Any suggestions?

DUT fashion show

I was at the DUT fashion show on the 2nd of October. I was interested to see how the students would interpret the seasons fashion. The nipped-waist, belled-skirt silhouette with simple forms were worked into the collections.

I have been watching many of the Spring/Summer 2010 collections from the fashion shows around the world. I did notice the fashion designers used things outside of the clothing to bring across their concepts. There were layers of necklaces and earrings by Dolce and Gabbana and bags and other accessories by many fashion designers. I found there was a lack in the use of accessories in the DUT fashion show. I feel that using other things other than the clothing can introduce the audience to your concept. Accessories are a tool to be used to tell an individual story so I think fashion designers should use them.

It might be that the lack of finances could be a factor, but with some creativity, I think it can be done.

Redeye Report

I'm loving more and more, fashion shows, that don't involve me organizing in any way. I think that's the way of the future. I now know that is not what i like to do. I may have to do it again for my end of year exhibition. But I older and wiser so I'll look at getting help from others. The earrings worked well.They had everyone commenting even me. Jewellery looks different to me on the ramp. I think because I have been looking at the piece (close up) for a long time, while making it, it has an impact once I see it where it's supposed to be.

The Redeye event was what I needed on a Friday night, walking around Smith Street at night watching fashion down the runway. The museum show cased some local artists.

Red Eye : Ready...I think!!

These earrings are made for the Red Eye Fashion show that will take place on the 25th of this month. They are based on an earring I made a week ago. wanted to created something that is bold and makes a statement. I wanted to create something big, that could be seen from the ramp. I don't know how large the ramp will be. I also wanted to play with the volume that the circles create without the weight on the ear. The earrings are big without weighing big.

I used silver wire and enamelled copper to introduce colour. I used a floral pattern, I think they are more feminie that way.I will be trying them in a smaller scale though because these would head turners on the street.

maybe Red Eye!

Red eye is happening again this year. I heard so much about the RED EYE but I never made it to there. Its an event for art and design. It happens on the street at the City Hall in Durban, South Africa. I'll be making a body piece based on the drawings above for a fashion show. I'm making the piece to be able to fit onto any garment because i don't know what the garment will look like. It will be based on the found object that has bee predominant in mt designs this year. I work on a trial and error method so I will try making an element too, to see what looks good and works with the proportions. I need the body piece to be bold and that means big enough to be seen from the ramp. There will be forging and chain to get the look I want.

Jewellery and Fashion Intergrated

Chloe'

Pierced Copper and Black Stretch Tule

There are two ways of approaching designing for fashion shows, working independently of a fashion designer or designing specifically for a fashion designer. Within specific design for a fashion designer is the intergrated jewellery and fashion design. Jewellery designers such as Robert Lee Morris and Shaun Leane have creaated jewellety that is intergrated withe fashion disigners work. The result is not recognising the line between when the dress stars and the jewellery ends.

So I'm trying my hand at it. I was insipred by a dress (above) from the Chloe' Spring/Summer Collection. I like the flowing fabrics and two toned fabric. So i want to create this effect with metal. Using metal to create a colour.

Flower Layers

These earrings brought together two things that I thought I woud never use. I make elements somtimes that I don't intend using at that time. But I know that the element will have the perfect use at sometime. I pierced out the flower pattern last year and it hung on my wall untill this fashion show came up. So I used the engine plate and added the freshly enamelled, long forgotten pierced flower pattern.

the earring compliments the clothing because of the layers on it and on the clothing on the model. The layer clours on the clothing match that of the earrings.

Engine Earrings

This is also part of the recession chic collection. I cut the engine part into two and added plastic beads for the colour. Not that they needed colour to make them stand out on the ramp. The size would work for the fashion show because the audience can see them from afar. Steel metal piece was symmetrical so it worked well as earrings because when cut, they could look the same. They are big and loud and avant gaude. They complimented the outfit or the outfit compliments the earrings. What do you think?

Fashion show part 6

This is on the earrings for the fashion show. The design began a few months ago with a picture from the Elle magazine. The dress had circle print on it and i wanted a piece of jewellery that would work for the outfit in the picture. Since I began focusing on design jewellery for a fashion show, the clothing became important. The colour and where on the body it could fit. I had old buttons hung up on the board in front of me that echoed the circle print on the dress. I had cut out discs out of copper for enameling. I pierced out a floral motif from the discs and enameled with black. I noticed that when put against the yellow button it made a good contrast for the earring and worked for the colour in the fashion show( yellow, purple, brown, blues,white).

This seems to fall into a ready to wear jewellery category of fashion jewellery. In that it will work for the ramp and for everyday wear. As apposed the theatrical jewellery seen at fashion shows.

Fashion Show part 5

The show is on. And there is so much to fashion shows then meets the eye. Firstly the SHOW part of it! Phew I anxious about the actual show not working and then theres the clothing, the jewellery, the make up, the hair, the bossy models(Kristy this is you) and more. I know i would rather let someone else worry about everything else and let me make jewellery.

So see you there. On the 5th May 2009, UKZN Square Space Theater(drama dept.), 12pm and 7pm.