Tailoring Project - Refined Freedom.

Hi everyone!
I really need to apologize cause I haven't been updating my blog in a very long time :(
Let's just say that my life got really busy all of a sudden and I wasn't expecting it! Second year of uni turned out to be more challenging than I thought: I've had two main project, Made to Measure and Thinking it Cutting it, and a minor two days 'challenge' Ready Steady Cut; in the meantime I've had a part-time internship with the japanese designer Satoshi Date (you can check his website here) from early October to the end of November, and I just finished my full-time internship with the British fashion designer Ada Zanditon (check her out here).
Finally I'm having some spare time to pay my full attention to this blog, and I wanted to show you guys some of the things I've done/made in uni during the past months :)

In this post I'm gonna show you guys the coat I've made for my tailoring project, Made to Measure. We had to start during the summer with a very detailed research of tailoring (if interested in knowing more check out my post about a tailored jacket autopsy). We then continued the research after being properly briefed and had to design a full 16 outfit collection for both Menswear and Womenswear. The project lasted 9 weeks and the main goal was to create contemporary tailoring designs, while learning and perfecting the techniques related to the craft of tailoring, creating a jacket/coat from scratch.

So after this looooooong introduction, here is the result!

 Image by Paul Astley published on http://fashiondesignrochester.com/made-to-measure/

 Image by Paul Astley published on http://fashiondesignrochester.com/made-to-measure/

So my collection - and final coat - were based on Scandinavian Design and the idea of the link between men and nature - key element of the scandinavian minimalist design. Apart from using some traditional tailoring techniques, I've used the felting technique - which you can notice on the shoulder area, front and back, using some white wool fivers to represent the snow.

So, what do you guys think of my final coat?? 

Let me know with a comment in the section below! :)

x, Val.

Hottest trends for this A/W 2013-2014

Being a fashion design student, it is my duty (and pleasure) to keep up to date with the latest fashion shows around the world. Right now New York Fashion Week is happening in the Big Apple, with amazing collections being presented to the press and public (my favourites for now are Alexander Wang, of course, Jonathan Simkhai, Yigal Azrouël, Delpozo, Threeasfour, Jill Stuart, Lyn Devon, L.A.M.B. and Robert Rodriguez), but the major concern right now is not the next Spring/Summer wardrobe, am I right?

The autumn is approaching way too fast, and I found myself wandering around my room looking for cardigans and jackets. 
Therefore I thought about writing a post to present the trends you're gonna be loving and wearing this autumn/winter: you might have already spotted them in the stores around your city, but what I wanted to do was handing out a "guide" on what's necessary for your 2013-2014 winter wardrobe.

From London, Paris, New York and Milan, here are the hottest trends for the seasons ahead.

Black is the new black.The timeless colour, the colour of mourning and elegance (little black dress, little black jacket), is officially "back". I personally love the colour because it always makes your outfit look very sharp and polished; as a consequence I literally adored Sportmax's collection, Erdem's collection, Viktor & Rolf detailing, Céline, Valentino, Givenchy, Balmain, the tailored suits of Dior's and classic polo necks at Ralph Lauren.
It feels like a breath of fresh air after the summer's neon trend (which I really liked at first and ended up hating in the end).

 

 CÉLINE A/W 2013

  

 SPORTMAX A/W 2013