Arts Thread

For my final project of second year, I was tasked with constructing a historical corset and completing a full outfit to go with for a ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This was a very fun creative challenge to be able bring my entire design to fruition and helped to develop my creative problem solving and sewing technical ability and accuracy. I was inspired by the fruitful description of the play, creating garments symbolic of a flower. I wanted to evoke a clear difference between the oppressive, misogynstic Athenian world compared to the forest, which allowed the lovers to be authentically themselves. I have ensured a vibrant colour palette, drawing inspiration from fruitful nature descriptions in the play, dressing the lovers in complimentary colors.

For my first project of second year, I had the opportunity to design and construct an authentic 17th century robe à la française otherwise known as a sack back dress, for the Marie Antoinette film. This was a very fun challenge, allowing me to practice draping. It also helped developed my hand sewing skills, as this project was constructed and completed almost solely by hand. I experimented with a bold colour pallette, taking inspiration from Rococo architecture and paintings when creating designs for my robe à la française.

For my second project of second year, I was tasked with creating a men’s waistcoat, based on ‘An Inspector Calls’. This was my first venture into the world of tailoring, it was a fun challenge learning all of the associated techniques and seeing how this impacted the finished garment. I combined 1910s and 1940s palette, patterns and silhouette. Initially, at the start of the play beginning with the bright 1940s palette, fading to dark when their involvement in Eva’s death is revealed, leaving only the red garment - blood on their hands. This contrasts to the Inspector in black, mourning clothes throughout

Within this project, I designed for 'Ammonite' based on the life of working class palaeontologist, Mary Anning who discovered hundreds of scientifically important fossils. I took inspiration from the fashion of the period (1840s) as well the natural environment due to Anning fascination with and created four garments: two period hats, an embellished collar, and an apron created from cartridge pleats. To create my textiles, I used a change of techniques such as screen printing, dying and embroidery.

Within this project, I took inspiration from 'The Night Circus' a novel by Erin Morgenstern, following the fierce rivalry and romance between Celia and Marco. Upon entering the circus, everything turns to black and white which I have incorporated into my designs. For this project, I also created a blouse, taking inspiration from the circus in its appliques and sleeve design, replicating the classic exterior of the circus on the sleeve.

Within this project, I have explored the classic story of Pinocchio, taking inspiration from Guillermo del Toro 2022 interpretation. I took inspiration from classic Victorian silhouette's and experimenting with using a varied and bold colour palette. Alongside creating designs, I also created a pair of Victorian men's trousers which I appliquéd with patchwork in classic Pinocchio colour to emulate repairs, conveying him as poor, hardworking man.

Within this project, I have created designs inspired by the Barbie movie.ovie I have explored 1950s womenswear with a focus on femininity, including classic feminine palettes and motifs. I created this dress from an authentic 1950s pattern, using a mixture of hand and machine sewing, hand embroidering along the edge of the dress.