FashionNée

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Baby steps to costume design

When I realized that I wanted to become a costume designer, I had to dedicated any free time I had (basically mornings and evenings when my son is busy at school) to develop drawing skills. I gave myself a year to learn how to draw and paint the basics. I could not find illustration courses in costume design but I was fortunate to meet Irina Simeonova of New England Fashion Design who believed in my potential. I've also been taking to continued education classes in Westport Stamford, Greenwich. I enjoy it so much and it was a great place to connect and exchange with people who like me have a whole different life but cannot live without creating art.

It was great to sense my own progress from practicing on drawing circles and eggs to creating figures and landscapes. I still have a way to go but here is what I have done so far in illustration classes.

In Painting classes I focused on learning colors but I manage to produce...

.... a few things

I like to display this so I can see the progress I made but also how far I still have to go. I can't wait to work on getting better.

Saturday, January 10, 2015

All the roads lead to Rome

You probably come across many blogs all the time where the writer goes into hiatus. This has been my case. I went through a period of assessing why I created this blog. Mostly because I love clothes. That should be enough. But why do I love clothes? I understand now that I like fashion as it reflects society and history but I love clothes because they hold such meaning. It can be a state of mind. It can be a statement, an armor, a distraction, a purpose, a message...so many things. I believe I did not have enough of a passion for fashion to drive me to share it on this blog. I realized that I never really have it in me to always know what was the last trends or to keep up with award seasons and runways.

Then came the time to listen to my heart and pay attention to what drives me. What never fails to excite me and makes me want to know more or contribute in some way? I must say it is not too far from fashion because clothes are my passion but in the context of a story. It was not clear to me because I never thought of it as a career. I though it normal to always have this zooming attention whenever I see a play or watch a movie. I thought it normal to wonder what are the clothes telling us beyond the words. It is a well thought choice or an instinct, but to get it right transports the story.

Once I realized where my passion truly lies, it took me some time to make a leap of faith and start the process of learning the basics. When I started learning new skills it seemed impossible. Then after putting my foot in the door of the costume design world, I feel I have no choice. I cannot imagine doing anything else.

I strive to improve my skills and knowledge and gain as much experience as possible to some day channel my voice as a costume designer... until I become one stay tuned. I might even share some old and new drawings. I also will still share any fashion items if I come across some I really like. After all it is this blog that led to this realization. For that reason, I will still keep the name of FashionNée and will not remove my previous posts. They are a window into my past state of mind. So no regrets, always no regrets.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Festival de Cannes 2013

When I think of the Festival de Cannes I think Fashion Week because celebrities have 12 days to show off so many styles on the red carpet and satellite events it feels like an endless runway. From May 15th to May 26th, it was a fashion decadence in France! Oo la la!

Nicole Kidman stood out and was the most fashionable Jury Member at the festival.

From Armani, Chanel, Valentino to Dior (clockwise) I was delightfully dizzy. In her versatility, Nicole Kidman looked statuesque, modern and Old-Hollywood glamorous. I also fell in love with not so simple Alexander McQueen LBD despite a questionable choice of shoes.

Don't get me wrong, I still managed to be impressed by so many other gowns...

Marion Cotillard in Alexander McQueen (left) and Christian Dior (right)

Carey Mulligan was on trend in a modern black and white Vionnet gown (left). She gracefully stood out in a Dior Haute Couture gown among a crowd fretting with umbrellas as shown in this great photo by Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images.

White was dominating the Festival and I must say the French did it again! Yes, I believe Audrey Tautou had the best white gown by up-and-coming designer Yiqing Yin. Her gown named “Absinthe”, was an intricate cascade of organza and chiffon of pleated silk.

Audrey Tautou wears Yiqing Yin at Cannes Film Festival

Audrey Tautou in "Absinthe" gown by Yiqing Yin

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Pretty please Spring!

Fi-nal-ly! spring is here!... I think. It has been teasing us since the official date until I begged like my son would "Please pretty please" come out, come out Spring!

PRINTS

I love this trend which can be floral print, water color print or geometric print. It's the perfect way to wear many colors at once without the restrictions of the color blocking rules. Also animal print always gives an edge that will surely be noticed.

Floral

When I think of floral for this Spring I see flowing dresses and pants. I want to feel as light as a flower (without the 6 day/week gym regimen and low carb diet I am inflicting myself to fit in my summer clothes this year). I dream of spring collections 2013 from Ralph Lauren and Zac Posen annd Diane von Furstenberg...