Couture Update

Okay, just because I am DYING to show you guys our progress with the couture competition, I'm giving you guys a sneak peak into the design process. The images I'm sharing with you are from charrettes (brainstorming sessions) and are not where we landed, but the process has been pretty cool.

Through this process I have learned that creativity really happens when you are limited with your resources. I would rather be limited with construction materials than have the whole world at my finger tips because the latter isn't reality and innovation happens best with limitation. Do you agree?

We are limited to only items sold by Sherwin Williams - canvas, cheese cloth, paint samples, paint, masks, brushes, etc. Not to mention, a specific color scheme. The sketches that follow are initial thoughts from different individuals on the team. A couple of them are mine so you can get an idea of my style. We had to decide on whether we were designing for a man or woman, a dress/skirt/pants/jacket, avant garde or practical, etc.

The Shirt Dress

I have always loved shirt dresses. They can be feminine with a circle skirt, masculine with a sheath silhouette, dressed up or down because of the casual nature of cotton, preppy with a cardigan, belt and pumps or relaxed with flat sandals long jewelry and bare legs.

I expect shirt dresses to be very popular this spring and summer with the plaid trend continuing in 2010.

Session Nine Photo Shoot

I've been eagerly awaiting this day because I got to see photos from my photo shoot with Session Nine Photography. Ryan, my husband, and I wanted to get some new photos of us because almost every picture in our house is of our wedding. It's not bad to have wedding pics up, but since we've been married for a couple of years we need something new goin' on. Anyone else feel me? We decided to have our shoot at the Burton Barr Library because we are both pretty nerdy and this library was designed by award winning, Phoenix architect, Will Bruder, AIA. I currently work within the field of architecture and Ryan is very fascinated by the art form. We also decided to dress preppy and classic because those styles suit our personalities. I wore a Marc Jacobs dress, a cardigan from Forever 21, a black skinny belt and tights from Urban Outfitters and Taryn Rose shoes. SO me! haha. Check out some photos...Let me know what you think!

2010 Fashion Trends

Themes of black lace, accentuated shoulders, continued use of belts, embellished t-shirts, bows, strapped shoes with chunky heals, big satchels, light and metallic colored finger nails, bright lipstick and shorts with tights.

Looking Forward - 2010

Looking back on 2009, disappointment and frustration mostly consumes me even though there were many accomplishments and good memories made. I started the year off with this blog mainly to chronicle my journey of pursuing fashion design/marketing. Today is the anniversary of this blog, and I'm sitting in the exact same spot when I embarked on my journey - under the covers in my bed in Sedona, Arizona.

Though I was accepted to FIDM, a definite accomplishment, I haven't moved an inch forward. The economy was the biggest factor being that jobs were pretty much non existent in California. So, I'm still here in Arizona, and I don't know if FIDM will even be possible 2010. The unemployment rate is slowly diminishing, but we won't see a correction for awhile. So, feeling stuck and trapped, I feel this desire to just stop trying, but after reading my first blog post and going back to the purpose of why I'm pursuing this dream - God - I am pressing forward with a different strategy.

I'm considering Parson's online fashion marketing program. It just depends on whether we can afford tuition. It would be a great solution to furthering my education, but being able to continue gaining experience in the communications and public relations realm. Of course, I'll be keeping my eyes open for other opportunities where I can head straight into the industry and bypass school, which would save us a ton of money.

Meanwhile, in 2010, I'm going to continue to sew, although I need to work more with my sewing machine, sketch, blog and try my very best to win the IIDA Couture Competition this February! Until God takes this passion and conviction away from my heart I will continue pursue this industry. God's timing is confusing in the midst of all of this, but He knows what is best. So, I'll cling tightly to Him, as He does to me, and serve Him the best that I can.