Final Piece: Chair Construction

This was the first stage of constructing my final piece. I used five pairs of nude tights on one chair. When I was placing the tights on the chair i tried to keep an equal balance of large panel areas and thin stretched parts because I wanted my piece to have both so that it would cover the body but also have long strands like the jellyfish I researched.

Paper Folding and Pleating Research: Zoe Bradley

I really love Zoe Bradley's work because of the dramatic, sharp shapes that the paper gives. I also like how the paper is pleated and how it resembles stiff fabric. Now that I've seen her work I'm going to experiment with some more paper folding and incorporate pleating into it to see the effect of the two combined.

Pleating: Experimentation

I really like how pleating fabric gives it depth and structure. I found pleating this satin a little hard because the slipperiness of the fabric made it hard to control, however, I'm pleased with the outcome.

Here I tried to do a zig-zag pleat but it didn't turn out that well, probably due to the slipperiness of the organza. However I am still pleased with the appearance because of how the colours change throughout the pleats.

Army Jacket: Experimentation with Chair and Mannequin

When we were placing the jacket on the chair we tried to keep the fit loose so that it would fit onto a mannequin properly and we used buttons and button holes as well as pins to join the two jackets together.

I think the back looks really effective because of the jacket's panels, pockets and buttons and how it's gone from a jacket to a back panel for a new garment.

I like how the jackets appear to wrap around the mannequin because of how we assembled it on the chair.

I think that the contrast on the back between the outside and inside of the jacket makes a more interesting look than if it was just the outside of the jacket that was visible.

Army Jacket: Fashion Research

After being given our military jackets to start experimenting with, I decided to research how the military jacket has been used in fashion.

I really love Balmain's embellished take on the military jacket because of how it has been changed from something that is seen as a practical utility garment into a luxury evening-wear jacket.

Above four images: Balmain S/S 2010

Ralph Lauren S/S 2010

Louise Goldin A/W 2010

I find Louise Goldin's military themed knitted jackets really intriguing because of the way that the sport-like pockets and zips contrast with the sharp structured look.

Army Jacket: Original

This was an army jacket we were given to unpick and then make back up on a chair so that we would end up with a completely new shape and garment.

I really like the thick heaviness of the fabric in contrast to the flimsy delicacy of the tights we've been experimenting with so far.

I find the interior of the coat interesting because of the grey panels which almost look like a high-fashion interpretation of a military jacket

The zigzag stitching on the jacket collar above is a practical feature used to give the collar more strength when turned up but could be interpreted into an embroidery pattern

Glue and Cloth: Fashion Research

I decided to do some fashion research on the Glue and Cloth: Mannequin Experiments we did to see how the process could be taken further in fashion

This image below by Nick Knight really reminds me of the Lions Mane Jellyfish I looked at because of the way the fabric shrouds and wraps around the model in various layers that have been gathered, pleated and scrunched up

Lily Donaldson, British Vogue, Nick Knight 2008

This hat almost completely resembles what we have been doing with the tights in the way that the structure seems to hold itself up without any visible help; the same as how the glue keeps the tights structure without being immediately visible

Basso & Brooke A/W 2007

Dior RTW S/S 2010

The garment below by Alexander McQueen really resembles how the tights looked when stretched over the chair and I really like how the models figure has been exaggerated and distorted by the rigid structure of the garments

Alexander McQueen S/S 2007

Alexander McQueen S/S 2008