Wednesday, 30 March 2011

Oh So Seventies

Such a stunning shoot and set design. I love the crazy big hair and slinky sumptuous mood.

Tokien Magazine
Styling by Phillip Boon
Photographer She Is Frank





Images from www.tokion.com

Inspiring headpieces

Beautiful Feather Millinery
Very inspiring!!

Arturo Rios
I love his placement, wing forms and understated colour pallettes.




Another Milliner, Reny Kestel. Fashion designer who lives in Perth.
She also works beautifully with wings and feathers for headpieces.
The bottom image is my favourite (pheasant)





Images from www.renykestel.com and www.millinerium.wordpress.com

Thursday, 24 March 2011

More of the blossoming collection!

Further development in my mixed media textile samples during the past couple of weeks.

Themes of flight, wing movement in birds and aircrafts, feathers, wind and air.

Bit of an african / native / 70s vibe going on too in there somewhere too!
Here's a little taster.....






 Kingfisher colour palette inspiration

 Coming soon.... woking with metal rods...



All images and design ideas belong to Claire Fitzjohn. Please contact me for more information.

Friday, 11 March 2011

Project development

Design project has been developing nicely over the past few weeks.
A bit of a taster of my final major collection ideas.....

All images owned by Claire Fitzjohn

Wednesday, 2 March 2011

Retail therapy bag detail

I have had my eye on this beaut of a bag for a fair few weeks now, treated myself with a little purchase today! I love the fabric manipulation techniques, especially the thick spine-like braided/plaited strap

I've added a silk vintage necker-cheif from Leicester vintage shop GOLDRUSH




(bag £19.99 H&M, also available in Black)

Selected to exhibit for Vice Chancellor's lunch

About a month ago, a headpiece from my previous collection "Dreamlike Distortion" was selected from the Trinity House judging panel at my university (De Montfort University, Leicester). 

This piece was exhibited last Wednesday, the Vice Chancellor's lunch for senior university staff and industry visitors. The headpiece was used as a visually interesting and conversation provoking table centrepiece for the luncheon, amongst other selected student and alumni work on stands/busts.  

The headpiece is made up of handcrafted fabric manipulation techniques including: ruffling, machine and hand stitch, wrapping and binding, weaving, knotting, gathering and smocking.
Materials consist of a combination of stretch jersey, chiffon, cottons, tights, sprung steel hair grips, slub silk, Bondaweb and leather-effect vinyl.
Inspiration for this piece came from themes of: distortion through water and glass, twisted Victorian fairytales, and sculptural florals.