Tolly Dolly Posh

Recently I’ve been getting into digital illustration through Adobe Illustrator. I’m much more of a Photoshop kind of gal at heart, but the smooth and silky fluidity of all the tools on Illustrator has partly won me over. I can create lovely effects and much lovelier strokes and lines than I was able to do before (sort of sketchy and imperfect)… I’ve only been practicing on designer imagery so far, but I definitely want to take this style into my own work and designs sometime soon. So for now, I’ll leave you with a couple of my favourite Pre-Spring Summer 2017 collections that I’ve seen so far… in illustrated form of course 😉 I’ve also posted a couple of other illustrations over on my Tumblr, so do take a peep!

~ FENDI PRE-SS17 ~

Fendi is definitely one of my favourite modern designers and the SS17 has so much to prove as to why they should be one of your favourites too! With influences from antique Japanese prints and American flag inspired motifs, it might seem like an odd combination but it blends perfectly. It almost has a fairytale, Alice In Wonderland theme to it, especially with the collection shots. The checkered skirts meet woodland creature like furs (I can’t say it’s faux) and oversized coats. It’s several different things colliding at once but it works well because it shows Fendi’s talent for merging innovation and classic techniques all into one.

~ CHANEL PRE-SS17 ~

Over the past few years I think Chanel has become a much more relatable name and power house, mainly because of what Karl Lagerfeld has started to do with the collections becoming more of a statement to do with topics of the time. This time it was all about Cuba. Not only was the setting an important one, but so was the collection itself. It’s full of texture and depth but in a simplistic way, and I think that’s what you need for a pre-collection. You can read more about it here… it’s quite an interesting one.

~ LOUIS VUITTON PRE-SS17 ~

As pre-collections usually do these days, this collection was off on a travel to Rio, in celebration of the Olympics which are right around the corner. Inspired by athleticism and sports… a display of a young woman who has an edge about her, but might also be straight from the 1980s with her neon coat and a boombox in hand (well, a bag which has bluetooth and can play music, at least).

Where most sporty collections fall short of actually being ‘fashionable’, this collection picks it back up again with ruffled leather and suede paneled shirt dresses. I’m not usually one to gravitate to Louis Vuitton, but I’m certainly intrigued for what’s to come in the main, SS17 collection.

~ BOTTEGA VENETA PRE-SS17 ~

I’m not going to deny the fact I only recently discovered Bottega Veneta through the interwebs (actually an actress from *cough* a certain TV show which we shall not mention because you’ve probably already heard enough about it from me on Twitter or Instagram), but I’m in love with their elegant minimalism.

I love seeing designers who blend modern techniques with old ones, which I suppose is one of the main reasons I’ve chosen all of the designers I have… Bottega has a great way of doing this though, because it’s all on the surface. Their are frills and exciting elements, but they’re obvious ones which make each piece bolder. All of the fabrics look almost edible, especially with the candy colours, which we saw a lot of on the AW16 runways. They’re a nice new discovery, for me, anyway.

What do you think of the Pre-Spring Summer 2017 collections coming in so far? Which are your favourites?

Hello during this random blog post, the month and day of which coincide numerically with my expulsion from a uterus… yes, it’s my birthday! I’m officially sixteen… throw streamers, shoot out the confetti, pop the champagne (wait – can I drink that yet? 🤔) and get the balloons out because yeah, it’s my “sweet sixteenth”. Crazy, huh? I wonder if any of you have been here from the beginning? Let me know in the comments how long you’ve been reading! 1⃣6⃣ Today’s post is a little update! Hold on tight…

WHAT I WORE: Floral Denim Jacket (Jumble Sale) // Good Morning Sweatshirt (Wildfox)* // Blouse (Stradivarius) // Mom Jeans (Pull & Bear) // Mono Pascal Boots (Dr Martens) // Sunglasses (SCOUT)

Recently I’ve been having a bit of self-doubt, especially when it comes to my blog, so even though I know I shouldn’t, I’m going to apologise for the lack of content coming your way. I’m the sort of person who only really likes to put their best foot forward, or in this case, their best posts forward, so when I’m not especially proud of what I’m writing, I end up not publishing anything for a while. Luckily, I’m starting to realise that, that’s okay, but I just needed you to know, in case you’re wondering where I am at.

It always feels as if I have a lot more going on behind the scenes of my blog, rather than actually on it. For example, I just signed off the start of a new documentary style project that I’m going to be a part of (I can’t say much more just in case 1 – I’m not allowed, and 2 – something changes) and I’m still collaborating with different brands on upcoming features… it’s just the bit in between that I get a stuck with.

I know exactly the type of posts I want to put out, but it’s coming up with the individual ideas every four, or however many days. I also have to take into account that I’ve changed a lot in the past couple of years. My likes and dislikes have changed meaning that how I want to come across has been altered. At the moment I’m big on laid-back, carefree photography (inspired by film and polaroids) so my photoshopped profile pictures and header images don’t quite showcase that, do they?

Honestly, doing a whole overhaul of my blog has been on my mind recently… there are just several things in the way of stopping me, like formatting of old posts etc. I want readers to come to my blog and see who I am now rather than who I was before. I want to get rid of wishlist style posts and solely focus on my own, unique content. That‘s the dream.

But we can’t forget our origins, can we? Having all of my old posts creates an archive of all of the adventures and stories that have turned me into who I am, so stripping them away doesn’t show all of the hard work… it’s a real dilemma. I suppose what I’m trying to say is, right now, I think I need some time to figure everything out. I absolutely, one hundred percent, no doubt about it, want to keep my blog going, but I need to figure out how to keep it going.

So in the words of Tilly from Miranda; bear with, bear with, bear with.

BIRTHDAY PLAYLIST:
Take It Or Leave It (Cage The Elephant) 🎶
Whistle For The Choir (The Fratellis) 🎶
Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare (Matt and Kim) 🎶
Everyday (The Tragic Thrills) 🎶

I didn’t mean for this post to be quite so dramatic and rather depressing, but it’s actually lifted a weight off my shoulders, writing everything out for you to know. Today I’m going to relax and enjoy the day with my family (this will be my last birthday as an aunt to one – my next niece/nephew is on the way – woo!) and celebrate the fact that I’m still happy and healthy and going strong; because that’s all that matters, right?

Thank you for sticking with me over these past four (well, five birth) years, seeing me change and grow. It’s quite an exciting prospect that one day I’ll be able to look back on it all and see how I evolved into who I’m going to become. The great thing is, that even in these moments of doubt, I know I have you guys to spur me on!

Do you remember when we all though magazines were going to die out in a purge of the digital world? Haha, yeah, well, that hasn’t quite happened yet, has it? Seeing as it hasn’t, I’m going to talk all about some of my recent favourites. I’d say these are all on the ‘luxury’ line of magazines, but I’m seriously surprised by their price – they’re all like bibles of fashion and photography for under £10. I’ve picked out some of my favourite articles and features from each so you can get a taste for them all, so… I hope you enjoy! Let’s flick through some pages…

~ THE SELECTION ~

Not all of these issues are brand spanking new, but that’s mainly because most of them are only published a specific amount of times through out the year, and that first one, The Fashionable Lampoon, is actually an Italian issue which I picked up (so good though – you’re gonna’ love it).

You may recognise the LOVE logo from social media as the issue I have is the Lily-Rose Depp issue (it’s super fun), which I should have picked up ages ago but only recently found readily available. Hunger is Rankin’s magazine and I felt pretty awesome picking that up from my local WHSmith’s. It’s huge too… such great value for such an awesome, well, book, essentially. 

I also knew of Rollacoaster from social media, so I picked it up out of curiosity. I still don’t know much about the magazine and it’s past issues, but I’m definitely interested in knowing more.

~ THE FASHIONABLE LAMPOON ~

I think my mum picked up this copy and I was pleasantly surprised when I nicked it off her. It’s honestly one of the most incredible issues and it only cost €5.00. The pages are a beautiful texture, but the amazing thing is, that there are different textures throughout… there are two editorials printed on to plastic vinyl ‘paper’ and a couple of editorials and photo shoots printed onto thinner, more newspaper like sheets.

That may sound rather dull and boring, but it really adds to the experience of the content and makes for a good argument as to why magazines should definitely stick around for a while longer. It’s like books – there’s nothing better than flicking through the pages when it’s actually in your hands, is there? If every issue is like this, I will definitely be picking up more of The Fashionable Lampoon!

~ THE LOVE CLUB ~

One thing I really like about fashion magazines which are slightly more artsy, is when they focus on brands and designers that are new and upcoming, like Richard Malone, who I mentioned in my AW16 London Fashion Week review. It’s so exciting to see designers getting the recognition they deserve, especially in such fun and alternative ways.

It’s also nice to see more independent brands getting exposure too. Itchy Scratchy Patchy look amazing in this tiny little editorial… I’m pretty tempted by this pole dancing badge (never thought I’d say that). Definitely look out for what I suppose you could call a ’embroidered patch’ haul on my blog some time soon!

~ HUNGER ~

When I found this at the back of a shelf in WHSmith’s, I may have squealed a tiny bit. It was only £6.95 (yup and it’s genuinely huge) and is full of such interesting articles and interviews. There’s one with Kristen Wiig which is all about how she got into the film industry as a woman; there’s one with Alyssa Carson who is an aspiring astronaut, and there are so many beautiful photographs by Rankin himself and other incredible artists.

One of the most interesting interviews, for me personally, is with Sophia Webster as I’ve been pretty much following her since her first big LFW break. Her success continues to wow me, so I love the fact I got to learn a little bit more. If you’re into photography and want to know of some more talented youngsters, then definitely try and look for one of the five different covers of Hunger – Issue 10.

ICYMI: Pen to Paper Interview with… Rankin

~ ROLLACOASTER ~

As I said, I’ve heard of Rollacoaster on social media but had never picked up a copy until now. It’s a really quirky little magazine but has equally as awesome interviews as all of the others, with people such as Lucia Ribsi (who worked with Saint Laurent on the SS16 Menswear collection) and Elisa Lasowski who featured in David Bowie’s ‘Blackstar’ music video.

In terms of editorials, my favourite one has to be the cover shoot with Clementine Creevy. I love shoots which are candid yet put together with youthful vibes throughout, and this is a great example of that. It’s definitely got that grungey princess feel to it, and is full of summer outfit ideas. For only £4.50, I’m definitely interested in buying another copy. Also yeah, that’s totally another feature for Richard Malone above!

What magazines have you been loving recently? Do I dare cut these up for #ScrapSocial? Let me know in the comments!

Long time no blog, huh? I’ve been trying to stop myself from apologising when there’s a bit of a gap in my blog posts, but I’m just gonna’ have to say it: I’m sorry! These past two (three?) weeks have been crazy as my sister just got married (eep! I’m sure I’ll post a couple of pics at some point) and, well, I’ve been ill with a cold… I think I’m coming out of it now but I have had literally no motivation whatsoever. So to ease us back into things, I thought I’d look back over the awesome week of Fashion Revolution. Here was my post from before the week began!

~ LOVE STORY ~

The wonderful team at Fashion Revolution asked if I’d like to be part of their YouTube channel ‘relaunch’ by doing a little ‘Love Story‘ about some of my favourite second-hand and ethical purchases. I had fun making it, so I hope you enjoy watching! There’s also a playlist that you can check out which includes everyone’s #Haulternatives from YouTubers like CutiePieMarzia and grav3yardgirl. Definitely check all the videos out for inspiration!

~ BRAND RESPONSE ~

One of my favourite things about Fashion Revolution is when brands actually respond to the #whomademyclothes tweets, especially when their responses are actually thorough and honest. One of the brands that Fashion Revolution have highlighted for a great response is Massimo Dutti. Massimo Dutti are a Spanish brand, and they responded with a perfect answer about where their clothes are made, how many people made them (per department) as well as a small bit of information about their recent audits. Bravo to Massimo Dutti, for sure!

~ SLAVE TO FASHION BY SAFIA MINNEY ~

On the same sort of vein as the goings on of Fashion Revolution week, Safia Minney, the wonderful founder of People Tree has just opened up a Kickstarter for a new her “Slave to Fashion” project. The campaign aims to raise awareness of modern slavery in the fashion industry (yes, it’s a thing). The Kickstarter aims to fund the team to produce a mini documentary series about about real men, women and children caught up in the world of slavery. Safia and her team hope to spread the awareness through schools and events to get this important matter in front of people.

And you can help! The Kickstarter is open for all and there are several different perks depending on how much you donate. The goal is £35,000 and every penny counts! Let’s stop this happening, together. 

🎩👕 Picked up a utility dress from a charity shop yesterday – #obsessed 👕🎩 Shopping secondhand is all part of @fash_rev so take a look at your local shop! 🎩👕 #secondhand #charityshop #fashrev

A photo posted by Tolly Dolly Posh – 15 🇬🇧🇮🇹 (@tdposh) on Apr 22, 2016 at 2:18am PDT

~ SECOND-HAND SHOPPING ~

During the week of Fashion Revolution, I picked up two new items from a charity shop! An awesome, fitted and belted, zip up utility dress which has a really nice sporty shape to it. I’m absolutely obsessed. It’s definitely one of the first uniform pieces I’ve ever bought, but I think that makes it even better – trying something new is always fun. I also picked up a new blouse (I’m basically a blouseaholic) which has embroidered details and a really pointy collar to it.

I picked up these two pieces from a Longfield charity shop in the Cotswolds. They have quite a few shops dotted around and it all goes to a great cause for the area, and the prices seem to be pretty decent too. For the dress (which was basically brand new) and the blouse, I only spent £12! Bargain, in my mind 🙂

What did you do to support Fashion Revolution this year? Let me know in the comments!

So as you will know from the past couple of years, I’m a big supporter of Fashion Revolution, so this is just a quick reminder for those of you who are new around here (or just new to Fashion Revolution Day in general)… it’s also a great way to refresh your mind on how to support the campaign even if you’ve joined in before…

On the 24th April 2013, 1,134 people were killed and over 2,500 were injured when the Rana Plaza complex collapsed in Dhaka, Bangladesh. That’s when Fashion Revolution was born. The campaign and it’s supporters believe that 1,134 is too many people to lose from the planet in one factory on one terrible day to not stand up and demand change.

On 24 April every year, Fashion Revolution Day brings people from all over the world together to use the power of fashion to change the story for the people who make the world’s clothes. Fashion needs to become a force for good. The aim is to transform the fashion industry into a transparent one and that all starts with the question… who made my clothes?

One of the main ways to get involved is through social media, asking the all important #whomademyclothes hashtag. Send a picture or selfie of your clothes, inside out, with the label showing and tweet the brand, to ask who made it. Keep trying if you don’t receive an answer – it should be an easy question to answer for all brands, no matter how big or small. Here’s an example tweet (click to use it!)…

I’m [name] and I want to thank the people who made my [clothes] Hi @ [brand] #whomademyclothes? @Fash_Rev

If you’re a blogger, then make use of the resources on the Fashion Revolution site to make up your own images for your blog and social media. Spread the word to as many of your followers as possible!

If you’re out and about shopping over the next week (and well… anytime), make sure to hit up your local charity, vintage and second hand shops! Don’t be scared… just go in, take a look and save some money! Change your mindset… think about where your clothes are coming from and how they effect the world we’re living in, and the people in it. Don’t buy something just because it’s cheap – think about the alternatives. DIY and revamping is also included! It all counts.

TDP Archive: The Importance of Second Hand Shopping // Starting An Ethical Wardrobe // Ethical Directory

One of the biggest and most important things to do is… educate yourself! Learn more about why these sorts of issues are effecting the fashion industry. If you wear clothes, then you should know about wear they come from and what happens after we let them go, right? Right. One of the best documentaries that I can personally recommend, is The True Cost. I’ve written about it before, but I don’t mind bringing it up again. Please watch it and let me know what you learnt!

Reading Material: The Label Doesn’t Tell The Whole Story // Rana Plaza // The Plastic Age

Let me know if you get any responses from your favourite brands in the comments! Let’s do this together!

Today’s “My Style“ post is slightly more editorial hence the slightly wider post and the ‘read more’ button for those of you on my homepage. I’m super happy with these photos, so here’s a big shout out to Papa Posh and all his hard work. He’s been my photographer since the beginning and he’s come such a long way. I won’t be talking too much in this post, so just appreciate the mini shoot… and also a little give-away at the end!

Accessories: Scotch R’Belle* ~ Dress: Spiritual Hippie ~ Trainers: Nike Leopard TR Fit 5.0 (JD Sports)*

DESERT REBELLE SOUNDTRACK:
Come (Jain) 🎶
Makeba (Jain) 🎶
Flashbulb Eyes – Dennis Bovell Remix (Arcade Fire) 🎶
Late Night in Kauai (Childish Gambino) 🎶

Not only is this actual shoot rather editorial, but the outfit itself is kinda’ high-fashion inspired in my opinion. It’s mainly inspired by the desert with my gorgeous new Scotch R’Belle cap which itself has a desert inspired print with camels and pyramids making an appearance. It’s also got those floaty, wind catching vibes with the dress (which is one of my favourite recent purchases).

It’s still not perfectly warm and sunny at the moment, so I have a pair of leggings underneath, topped off with my trusty Nike trainers to tie in all of the colours. It’s sporty, it’s simple, but it still has a lot of depth and texture going on throughout. My new favourite combination, I think!

Scotch R’Belle is actually the teen range of Scotch & Soda who also have Maison Scotch under their name; I’ve owned one of their blouses for a while now so to have some more specifically teen focused items in my wardrobe from them, makes me particularly happy. Everything’s such lovely quality too, and because of that, I’m going to give away a little something for you! Scroll on down for more details…

~ GIVE-AWAY ~
To win this leather iPhone 6 case, use the Rafflecopter below to enter! European only… all T&Cs below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & Conditions: European only. The prize will be sent out by Tolly Dolly Posh but was gifted by Scotch R’Belle. The give-away ends on April 17th. Mandatory Rafflecopter entries must be completed for a chance of winning. If you are 13 years old or under, please make sure you have your parent/guardian’s permission as Tolly Dolly Posh will need your postal address. 

Good Luck! Let me know what you thought of this shoot in the comments and how you’d style up the cap and scarf yourself (that’s a give-away entry already!) I hope you liked this post as much as I did…

(This is not a sponsored post, although I was gifted a few samples from Scotch R’Belle. You can read my full disclaimer here.)

I thought it would be nice to do a little round-up of brands that I’ve discovered whilst travelling around Italy. Not only can you take note for your next holiday, but you can get a taste of the sorts of things I’ve been loving recently. The price ranges vary and I’ve included a brand that you may have heard of already, so hopefully all of you can discover something new that suits you!

~ STRADIVARIUS ~
Low-end, high street bugdet 💰🇮🇹

If you read my post on combating feeling judged and self-conscious, then you would have seen me wearing a Stradivarius piece already. Mama Posh kindly bought me a little number from them and I soon fell in love. Although I’m trying to shop more ethically, I absolutely love their aesthetic and the prices are pretty damn good for what you get. It’s nice finding a brand that is fresh and sticks to a clean theme, especially when it’s on the lower end of the price range, so I’m in awe of everything really.

My two favourite pieces currently are this satin rucksack and this ruffled blouse. I’m huge on blouses so any chance I can get at adding another to my collection, I’ll take!

~ GILMAR LAB* ~
High-end, designer labels 💰💰🇮🇹

On the higher end of the scale, I was recently introduced to Gilmar Lab which has a collection of lovely Italian designers, including ICEBERG who’s pieces I have featured above. Another brand which is simple and sleek, with a clear vision and aesthetic.

I’ve chosen yet another blouse because I adore the embellished panel detailing… the colours are really satisfying together. On top of blouses, I’m also loving sweatshirts (usually with slogans), and this embroidered one is such a stunning piece.

~ PULL AND BEAR ~
European, high street budget 💰🌍

Lastly, but not least, is a brand which we have back in the UK too – Pull and Bear. It’s actually a Spanish brand but seeing as I only started browsing their shops in Italy, I thought they were worthy of a mention.

I’ve already picked up a sweater from here which is a mustard yellow 70s style piece, and it was Made in Portugal which made me extra happy. Not all of their pieces are made in Europe, but going in store to look at the labels is definitely something I’d recommend. I’m very tempted by that Forget The Rules top because it is totally me. One for the birthday wishlist, perhaps?

What brands have you recently discovered? Do you know of any other Italian fashion brands? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to discover more 🙂

(This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Gilmar Lab. All opinions are 100% honest. You can read my full disclaimer here.)

I only just remembered late last night that today marked my 4th blogging year. How crazy is that? In celebration, I thought I’d keep up the tradition of these what, when, how and why questions that I’ve been doing every year to mark the occasion. Last year it was how, with the year before that being why. So for the 4th year, in celebration of my of my 694th blog post (yikes!), I’m talking about when…

~ #1: WHEN I FEEL LIKE IT ~

The most important time to blog is when I feel like it. Honestly, there are so many times when you’ll find yourself thinking “I should probably put up a post today” but not actually feel like doing it. Blogging takes a lot of effort, especially when you’ve set your own personal standards and goals, so it’s important not to forget to just enjoy the process.

It’s easier to forget this when you’re working with brands in my opinion because you have this added pressure to get out a post for their sample or sponsored campaign as soon as possible. Try to work with brands that value your time and acknowledge the fact that you can’t always get a blog post up within 10 days of receiving an item.

To be honest with you, my favourite blog posts are ones that come from the heart and are spontaneous. They may be written at eleven o’clock at night and be filled with random words that make no sense within the context but they usually read a lot more naturally; just like you’re talking to a friend.

TOP TIP: Write when you can but if inspiration hits, write as soon as possible, because your words will flow write (I honestly accidentally wrote this, but it turns out it fits as a nice pun) from the source – your mind and your fingertips. If you feel pressured, press down on the breaks and ask yourself “Who’s keeping track of when my last post was?” because most people are just here to read, not to keep track of the date on each post heading.

~ #2: WHEN I NEED TO ~

Dioon (Vagabond)* // Wanderlust 1460 (Dr Martens)* // Violet Holographic Pascal & Virginia Leather 1B99 (Dr Martens @ Mastershoe-MyShu)*

Although I said that it’s best to work with brands who acknowledge your time, sometimes you actually have to work to a deadline due to certain terms in the campaign. As a fashion blogger, I mainly get asked if I can post a sample feature within a certain amount of weeks, but sometimes it’s a little tighter than that, so blog posts need to go up at certain times.

Technically, it’s all part of the business side of blogging. When you feature an item or site on your blog, you’re becoming a virtual billboard for brands and companies, big and small. Some brands will need features to go up within a certain month due to seasons and trends changing, or due to the fact that their product has limited stock. They are all big factors to take in to consideration, so if they haven’t given you a time to get things published by, make sure to ask!

TOP TIP: Even if you don’t think there would be a deadline, ask just in case. The worst thing is being chased up by a brand multiple times a week (or even day!) asking for the link to the post they’ve been waiting for. Get things written up, send them drafts and keep them up to date with frequent, friendly emails.

~ #3: WHEN I CAN ~

Now, now, now… there’s a big difference between when you feel like it and when you can, because unfortunately, not all of us can be working on our blogs 24/7 (unless you’re actually a full-time blogger… in which case, good on you!) and not all of us can keep our blogs as our main priority.

If you feel pressure to post when you just physically can’t, then take a break and refresh yourself. When blogging becomes a chore when you simply want it to be just a hobby, it takes all the fun out of it and you start to forget why you blog. Hit the refresh button and reevaluate. Nobody’s going to point out the fact you haven’t blogged in a while, so take a breather. If you can’t, you can’t.

TOP TIP: When blogging becomes a task, switch off for a while and think about why you’re really doing it. If it turns out that you’re forcing it and you’d rather stop for now… then that’s okay! If you realise that you’re just in an inspirational rut, that’s also okay. Relax, people!

~ #4: IN THE MORNING ~

I actually tend to write most of my blog posts at night time (just due to the fact that I do other things in the day so I don’t have time) but I actually really recommend writing blog posts earlier on in the day before you start getting influenced by new ideas. It’s especially great if you think of something to write about the day before but can’t get to your laptop straight away… you can just crack on when you’ve finished checking your emails etc.

It also leaves your evenings for just relaxing and doing whatever you want (which can of course include blogging). Also, for photography reasons, lighting is always better in the mornings throughout every season, so the earlier you get up, the more time you have to snap away! That’s if you don’t have soft-boxes of course… they are life savers in the winter!

TOP TIP: To maintain your focus, install a browser extension like Timewarp that keeps timers on tabs and certain websites to stop you from getting distracted for too long. This is great for any form of computer work really… so is f.lux, which is a piece of software that adjusts your laptop screen to the light outside. My eyes have never felt so good sitting at my computer for extended amounts of time!

Thank you so much for all the support these past four years! It’s been a load of fun and I’ve gained so many opportunities all thanks to you guys! *group hug*

For today’s Scrap Social, I wanted to do something a little different… if you are into fashion design, or you are interested in starting on that path, one of the important stages in bringing a collection together is research. I researched a whole heck of a lot for my sock collection and I’m researching a whole heck of a lot for my current ART & Design project which is a collection based around the great Italian renaissance painters, Giotto and Pietro Lorenzetti, and more specifically, their work in the Basilica S. Francesco in Assisi. But what is fashion design research all about? Well, let’s dive in…

If you don’t know much about Assisi then this might not be of much interest, but the Basilica of San Francesco is one of the main places to go for renaissance art. It’s split into two sections; the Upper Church and the Lower Church. The Upper Church is home to some of Giotto di Bondone’s most well known works, as well as some of his earliest, with the Lower Church being home to some of Pietro Lorenzetti’s greatest pieces.

Before I visited, I did a little bit of research, mainly using one of the most detailed books I own (A New History of Italian Renaissance Art) to gain some knowledge. It really is quite incredible when you look at pictures in a book and then go and see the real thing, especially when it’s something so vast. An important thing to take note with research is that it doesn’t need to be perfect… it’s basically just a more specific, in depth version of a scrapbook, so having rough notes and scribbles actually adds to the whole effect.

Another important note about research is that people love to see your own pictures and art work. It’s fine to use pictures that you’ve found online, but honestly, your work will improve one hundred times over if you start to use your own work. Go out and experience what you’re learning about. I know not everyone can travel to Italy, but if you live near museums and galleries; go to them and use your own mind. This is your research after all.

On the flip side of that, you can totally use postcards and photographs from a gift shop… because that’s still something you went out and personally purchased. As you can (hopefully) see above (and in the next few images), I collected a few postcards and prints to bulk up my scrapbook… adding notes and captions when necessary.

For both the Upper and Lower church, I decided I wanted to focus on shape and colour because they both have beautiful examples of this. Giotto’s colour palette is one of my favourite things about the whole church – it’s a fairly simple collection of colours in rather pastel shades, but they bring just the right amount of depth and can still work in the darker scenes.

Lorenzetti is a better example of shape, especially when it comes to how he used the actual architecture of the Lower church. Every surface and curve is covered with the most beautiful, intricate shapes and patterns, which I was in awe of. Taking elements from both and thinking up how I could incorporate them into designs is always quite fun.

WHAT I USED:
White POSCA PC-1MR Pen ✏
Pilot Super Color Extra Fine Gold Pen ✏
Winsor & Newtown Watercolour Paints 🎨

I thought I’d give you a quick glimpse to some patterns from a quick rough idea to a final piece. I’m still learning on making my repeat patterns perfect (digitally that is), but I’m pretty happy with the ones I did come up with. The pink horse is inspired by a piece by Giotto which involves a fire cart. I loved how it looked and how striking it could be, even in a pastel, “typically girly” shade.

I also added a quick list there for you, so you can see what pens and paints I used through out the whole book. I’m honestly obsessed with outlining things in white, and I love a bit of gold.

I hope you liked this little insight to my research! Let me know what you thought…

‘Pen to Paper’ is a new feature on TDP, which involves an informal handwritten form of interview between myself and creatives –  from fashion designers, photographers, journalists, artists and musicians, to people who generally inspire me from day-to-day. 

~ READ THE FULL TRANSCRIPT ~
Handwritten on behalf of Rankin by Nick Forbes Watson (Assistant Producer)

Ever since I discovered fashion, I’ve always been interested in the photography side of things, and I’ve always been a fan of Rankin’s work, so to be able to have some inside knowledge from the man himself is quite an exciting thought. I’ve actually been working on this piece for a while now so I hope that the few questions that I do have answered, are ones that you can all take from.

In this day and age where photography is such a broad term, I thought it would be really interesting to find out what Rankin’s ideas are on social media and how it works within the industry, as well as his thoughts on very important topics and debates as someone who sees them from both sides. If you want to see all of his answers fully transcribed then click here or on the link above.

Alexander McQueen ~ Matthew Beard ~ Bjork

What I find interesting about Rankin’s work is how honest it is. Often his work is there to make a statement but the way he encapsulates it is always in such a strong and empowering way. His photographs draw you in, in a way that I haven’t really ever seen before. It sounds rather over dramatic but really, if you compare his work to other fellow photographers, you’ll see what I mean.

I also love what he’s said about diversity. It really is true that it’s more of a fight about the whole spectrum of acceptance whether that’s racially or to do with size and shape and I’m interested to see where he’ll go in the future when it comes to making it better. It’s also interesting what he says about fashion selling you a dream. Although having campaigns about airbrushing is all well and good, maybe we really should step out and dream a little? We all have fantasies and ideas of perfection… perhaps it’s more about defining a new kind of fantasy as the new generations catch up with what’s up.

As somebody who has started to appreciate photography more as a whole, it’s been a big honour to put this piece together, especially as it’s somebody who I’ve always admired. I’ve actually been given the opportunity to meet Rankin twice before but both times I’ve had to turn it down, so perhaps after this, it will be third time lucky! Big thanks to the Rankin team for all the support too. I know all of you (my readers) will appreciate it.

(ALL IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT OF © RANKIN)