I did this sketch a while ago and forgot to post it. I love the combination of red and white, so clean and vibrant, but difficult to wash without colour-run in real life! Both of these dresses are sixties-inspired and I’d love to be able to make them myself, but sadly I don’t really have(…)
I’ve been messing around with some painting recently especially while I was away on holiday, and this is one of my fashion design experiments. A 1930s day dress (although realistically it’s probably a bit short for that) and a 1950s fit and flare outfit with a fitted leopard print jacket. I’m not overly delighted with either(…)
This sketch started out being a 1950s evening dress, but (being a bit of a Star Wars geek) the folds and draping just really shouted ‘Princess Leia’ to me so I couldn’t resist adding bagel-bun hair and a cape just to make it a little more sci-fi. What do you think? Would Leia wear this(…)
I absolutely adore this dress, sadly it’s not real Mary Quant, but it is a very cute vintage 1960s shift dress. Oh come ON summer, hurry up and arrive so I can start wearing sixties style dresses without getting goosebumps! A real Mary Quant vintage dress would be my all time vintage ideal. What vintage(…)
I bought this outfit a couple of weeks ago and this was the first chance I’d really had to wear it. I love the spring colours in it, and I also love the fact that it’s a handmade dress from the 1960s which has now been passed down to another generation. I have no idea(…)
I love it when the cherry blossom is out, it seems to be really late this year but it always marks the time when spring has truly arrived! Isn’t it glorious? I’ve also been waiting for some warmer weather to get some of my new vintage shift dresses out. I love the white collar and(…)
Oh, I can’t tell you how delighted I am that we’ve finally had some proper sunshine! We made the most of it and had a gorgeous day out in the sunshine, but we didn’t get around to taking photos until late afternoon, by which time my experimental side-plait hairstyle was looking a bit disheveled and(…)
It’s been a strange day today in the UK, with all the pomp and ceremony of the funeral of Margaret Thatcher going on. The last time we saw a funeral on this scale it was for the Queen Mother (and before that of course Diana), but this seems very different. There are no public outpourings of(…)
I’ve been so excited about showing you one of my latest vintage purchases, it’s a gorgeous red party dress, and isn’t it lovely? It’s the best feeling when you buy something online and it fits perfectly! Plus it was only £10 and it’s in perfect condition, which means I can justify buying it even though(…)
I thought with all the monochrome sixties shift dresses around at the moment, I’d have a go at designing my own. What do you think..? Here are my other sketches, if you want to take a look 🙂
Now that it’s the Easter holidays and my little boy’s off school I’m getting the time to stop for a while and do fun things – more sketching, more exploring and hopefully some time to relax too! This is the first sketch I’ve done with some fabulous new watercolours I had for my birthday, what(…)
Every year it snows on the week of my birthday, and every year it takes us by surprise and we’re amazed that spring hasn’t sprung yet! Having said that, most of the time the snow doesn’t settle, but we’ve got a steady covering now so I’m getting out there and enjoying it! I’m perhaps not(…)
Oh man, it’s still so cold out there! Yesterday was supposed to be the first day of spring and I had secret hopes of sunshine and daffodils bursting from the ground, but no luck yet. We had torrential rain and I’ve just heard that we’re forecast more snow tomorrow – help! I desperately need some(…)
I’ve just heard on the radio that there’s a Siberian wind blowing today, and jeez I can believe it! For a few heady days last week I thought spring had arrived, but it’s back to minus temperatures and snow flurres today. Brrrr! I’m woefully underdressed for snow I know, but I’ve phtoographed all my winter(…)
Another 1930s-inspired design, this time a pale blue satin evening gown with a beaded silver and gold deep V neckline. I’ll move onto another decade soon – any suggestions or requests? You can see the other designs from my fashion design sketchbook here. You’ll note the one shoe – sorry! I still haven’t got any(…)
I’m still going through a bit of a 1930s craze at the moment (I blame it on Dancing on the Edge) but for a change I thought I’d have a go at designing a day outfit instead of a glamorous evening outfit. I love the mix of muted colours and smart tailoring to make something(…)
I’ve been getting lots of sketching done over the past few days, and I’m really enjoying it. Sitting there sketching and painting is also encouraging my 6-year-old to step away from the 3DS and get creative too. He’s not drawing clothes, he’s concentrating on dinosaurs, but it’s very satisfying!
How exciting, I finally own a Lulu Guinness bag! It’s not one of her really expensive high-fashion bags, it’s the £5 tote bag she has designed for Red Nose Day – and isn’t it amazing?! There are three gorgeous retro designs, doll face (which I have), black cat and spotty red noses (see photos below).(…)