Reflection - Major project

[endif]--Keep researching the subject while doing the actual design is very crucial. The research work will show into your designs development directly. After I pay a visit to the best plastic surgery hospital called ZhongQingKeHua biotechnology institute in my city, I was really surprise by how advanced the technology has gone. The hospital is not only focus on surgical operation but also study and research on auto somatic cell evolution and Gene replication inheritance

Then I started to think that what If in the future people can even change their mind to idealize. That’s when I started to research on the famous movie and novel “The Stepford Wives”. Ira Levin described a scene that people can change themselves to the perfect, from heads to toes, mind to clothes, just through computer chips. Eventually all these Barbie doll wives became a robot (Oz, Kidman, Broderick, Midler, & Levin, 2013). Even in present-day society a lots of people succumb to the pressures of ideas of perfection by forcing plastic surgery on to their face. I interview lots of people about this topic and one of my interviewee gave me this point that I couldn’t agree more. He thinks that the new age of beauty is to combine prosthetic beauty and natural beauty.

2004 movie scene

houstonpress.com

The idea of “perfection family” was first brought up in 1950s. I started to look back to the clothing and the Hollywood glamour at that time. In 1947, Christian Dior launched the “new look” and gave woman the dress to dream again. It changed the fashion industry and the hourglass figure dominated the next decade (Benaïm, Müller, Musée Christian Dior, & Exhibition Dior: The New Look Revolution, 2015, p.11).

“Perfect Family” 1950s

VintageDancer.com

[endif]-- From my survey, 71% of woman’s idealized figured in present day society is still hourglass shape. Besides this, the 50s retro vibe came back and became the new trend for the next 2018 spring and summer season. Peg shape skirt was seen on the runway, new movie “Kingsman: the golden circle” depict a character that inspired by 50s fashion and even famous singer PINK! newsiest music video was inspired by the 1950s. The whole styling for my photo shoots was based on the retro Hollywood glamour and it came out really good. The interesting part is that although the styling is very retro but all the sparkle materials that I’m using makes the photo looks modern and edgy.

[endif]--For the production part, I’m very satisfied with the time planning and management for this module. Keep updating and changing the time table and plan is the main reason that I’m able to finish 7 looks at the end of November as well as the research work and the collating of the design evidence.

As for the design, I want to create the perfect illusion for my customer and I want them feel glamor when they wear my clothes. The style for my design has always been feminine and it always comes with a twist. For example, I ‘m bringing retro vibe to this season, but for my last capsule collection, I’m playing with sporty and Chinese element. I‘ve always been a ready-to-wear designer. But I’m so glad that I’m trying something new this time which is to create a more evening, more high-class collection.

The strong point of this collection is the color scheme, the fabric manipulation and materials. I think the color came out very sweet and flattering. It set the tone and style for this collection, “femininity”.

[endif]--Surprisingly, the synthetic material and natural content fabric works well together. The silk wool material is the best choice for the silhouette and structure for this cocktail collection. The shimmery has a very elegant and luxurious feeling. Although the color that I found in Hong Kong is very limited but I did not stop searching it after the fabric scouring trip. Fortunately, I found a silk wool supplier in my hometown that allows I build a stronger and refreshing color story.

The result for the fabric manipulation exceeded my expectations. The cost for my sequins material is very low compare to my other fabric. However, the fabric manipulation makes it looks high class and can be put together with my other luxurious silk content fabric. The final outcome looks very eye-catching and interesting. The texture and shining is something new and modern. The material and color is really what makes this collection stands out.

Besides this, I’m very glad that my budget allowances me to buy silk lining for finishing. The finishing really improved wearing comfort and make the garment worth for the pricing.

To the contrary, my shape and design is relatively safer and anticipated. Draping has always been my week point, although the shape looks consistent and it match with my concept, the design is not exaggerated and bold like I expected. I realized the issue after the photo shoots, so I try to fix this problem during my other looks. I spend more times on fixing toiles and construction details on collar, sleeve and so on. However, I do wish I have more time to experiment with shapes and construction.

This collection also helps me to understand fabric better, for example, the difference between silk organza and silk satin organza. My original plan is to use silk organza as a main fabric in my collection however the performance of the fabric is really different from my percept. It’s a very tricky fabric to handle and it doesn’t hold the shape that I expected. After research I finally realize the fabric that I want is called “silk satin organza”.

Moreover, I have to improve the ability of calculating fabric usage. This problem leads me to a situation that I have to reorder fabric from Hong Kong and spend time to fabric market again and again.

To conclude, I think this collection represents me as a fashion designer and it help me be more accurate about my strength, week point and ability. With no doubt that this collection will be a significant in my life. I have grown so much as an independent designer. The knowledge and experience that I learnt from my lectures through making this collection will be extremely useful for my future career.

References

Benaïm, L., Müller, F., Musée Christian Dior, & Exhibition Dior: The New Look Revolution. (2015). Dior: The new look revolution. New York: Rizzoli.Oz, F., Kidman, N., Broderick, M., Midler, B., & Levin, I. (2013). The Stepford wives. Ultimo, N.S.W.: Distributed by Payless Entretainment.

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