FabSugar UK

Fab Flash: BFC Announce Scholarship Winner

FabSugarUK — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:00:43 +0100

Graduate Fashion Week may feel like a lifetime ago but this summer's show of graduates is still having a big impact on the fashion industry. Today it was announced that Manchester School of Art graduate Nabil El-Nayal is the lucky winner of the British Fashion Council's scholarship.

The young designer will take up his place at the Royal College of Art to study an MA in Fashion Womenswear. A panel, which included Burberry creative director Christopher Bailey chose Nabil for the scholarship which is part funded by the London Development Agency.

Nabil presented a line of Victorian-nightwear inspired dresses back in June. His pieces closed the Manchester graduate show.

Trend Report: Navy Blue

FabSugarUK — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:00:10 +0100

Another trend to emerge at this years Graduate Fashion Week was the penchant for navy blue. The shade started to emerge last season in time for the party season but it seems we will be awash with the shade by next Spring. I for one am pleased by the trend. It's a great shade on almost anybody and is as flattering as black without being quite so dramatic. Wear it with a bright shade such as yellow or orange to make it more interesting.

Photos by Kirsten Borst

Fashion Graduate Speaks Out: Karlie Symone Whitehead

FabSugarUK — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:00:10 +0100

Karlie Symone Whitehead has just completed a Fashion BA at the University of Central Lancashire. She showed her feminine collection of pastel knitted dresses last week as part of Graduate Fashion Week and we caught up with her to find out about her inspiration and future plans.

What was the inspiration behind your collection? My inspiration was looking at body contour and silhouettes of the female form; I took the shapes and created them with the corsetry wire for a unique and new concept.
I also looked at ballerina costumes to see how the tulle layers are created to give a feminine full look.
I named my collection "Captured Contour" as I felt it captured the mood of my collection perfectly.

To see the rest of her answers read more

Which is your favourite piece? The ballerina-esque tutu corset dress as I love the soft grey alpaco yarn knitted for the corset next to the layers and layers of tulle. Its so girly & feminine, with a hint of sexiness as the back is low and revealing, I feel not only does it sum up my collection but me as a designer also.
Did you encounter any problems with creating your line and how did you overcome them? As I'm a perfectionist I encountered a few minor problems that I wasn’t happy with but if I was unsure about anything I would work on it until it was perfect. It did get a little stressful at times but I loved every second of producing my collection from design to pattern cutting, knitting my fabric and actually making it. The whole process gave me a sense of achievement each time I completed a piece, it has definitely been the most exciting part of my life so far. Seeing my collection for the first time on the catwalk in the gala show made me feel like the last four years of late nights, lack of sleep & sheer hard work has definitely paid of & was worth every second.
Which designers do you admire? I admire many different designers for various reasons, one of my favourites is John Galliano as I love his concepts and how his shows are brought to life in a very theatrical way, I love the impact he makes & his collections every season. A few other of my favourites include Mathew Williamson as he is a very successful businessman, Chloe for the feminine, soft, luxurious look & Zac Posen for his couture stunning dresses.
Which person would you like to see wearing your clothes? Anybody who shows my clothes off to their best potential & anyone that feels comfortable, feminine, sexy and stunning wearing my creations. I've no particular person in mind just anyone that likes my ideas.
What are your plans post-graduation? I'm definitely considering starting my own business as I feel I would love nothing more than to create my designs and see them worn on females who appreciate gorgeous clothes.
I do want to get some more experience behind me first as I feel there is always more to learn in the fashion industry.
If you could work for any designer/design house which would it be? Christian Dior without a doubt, I’ve always loved Dior, looking back at the new look and the collections today, its truly feminine and always makes an impact, I would love to meet John Galliano & see how he creates his lines.
Any predictions for Autumn/Winter 2008-9? I feel anything individual will work, I think design is about creating something new, fresh and unique. I would love a soft, feminine silhouette to be a huge trend and girly fun layers as this would definitely mean I’ve done something right.

Photos by Kirsten Borst

On Our Radar: Graduate Pieces at ASOS

FabSugarUK — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:00:17 +0100

Last week we announced that ASOS would be selling a few select graduate pieces from today, and here they are! The limited edition pieces were made by students from the London College of Fashion. Only one of each piece was made so they're sure to sell out pretty fast.

I've fallen for these floral trousers by Sandra Rojo (£90). They're so cute! I love the red sprayed detail at the top and fell for them when I saw them on the catwalk. Sadly the green silk dress isn't on offer. What do you think of the pieces?

Trend Report: Sheer

FabSugarUK — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:00:19 +0100

If you're not interested in the "latest upcoming designer" element of Graduate Fashion Week then it's a great way to get a sneak preview of the trends for Autumn/Winter. Although the established designers presented their Autumn/Winter collections in February at various fashion capitals around the globe, its easy to forget what was actually on show. So this week provided a quick reminder of the things that are sure to be rocking our wardrobes in just a few months.

One trend which appeared in every single show was sheer. Sheer chiffon was used in a variety of ways from revealing blouses (seen in the middle here) to layering it over bright colours for a slightly muted approach to the bright palette. It was both formal and playful often being oversized for a more flattering look. Obviously, the revealing way in which it appeared on the catwalk is not appropriate for everyday look but it's a great stomach cover up if you are uncomfortable with your shape there. It was mainly styled in a high neck way meaning it might not be appropriate for larger chested women. Try it out this summer with a sheer blouse over a bikini.
Photos by Kirsten Borst

Royal College of Art MA Graduate Show

FabSugarUK — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:00:14 +0100

The Royal College of Art is celebrating it's 60th anniversary this year and yesterday they treated a packed gallery to their fashion graduates MA collections. The show opened with a few pieces from the first year projects in both mens and womenswear. For the menswear students were required to create a tuxedo and the womenswear presented a capsule collection for Oasis.

Much like the rest of Graduate Fashion Week, there was a lot of high quality menswear on show. I particularly liked Siri Johansen's '80s inspired collection which included plenty of stonewash denim and a funky cardigan-jeans jumpsuit.

Abbie Shaw's womenswear line had a Richard Nicoll feel with a sleek silhouette and floral panels. She added a funky edge with oversized zips and exaggerated hips.

To see further images read more

I couldn't help but think of Lord of the Flies with Gudrun Klopsch's line of womenswear. Maybe it was the round spectacles but there was definitely an insect theme highlighted with metallic detailing.

The item du jour, the tuxedo blazer, was reworked by David Hopwood who lengthened it for a chic androgynous look. His collection also included plenty of sheer fabric and I can never resist a dropped waist.

Other highlights (of which there are too many to mention) included very practical accessories, and items which combined clothing and jewellery using applique perspex.

View 15 Photos ›

Photos by Kirsten Borst

And the Winner of the Graduate Fashion Week 2008 Gold Prize is...

FabSugarUK — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:00:49 +0100

There was some fierce competition this year for the 17th annual Graduate Fashion week. 29 hopeful graduates were shortlisted but sadly only one could take home the gold prize.

And this year that winner was menswear designer Jessica Au from Ravensbourne college. Congratulations Jessica! Her brightly coloured psychadelic suits brought a breath of fresh air to menswear. The collection developed this seasons' penchant for florals.

To see Jessica's collection and a full list of winners read more

Pringle of Scotland Visionary Knitwear Award: Ria Thomas (Nottingham Trent University)
Zandra Rhodes Catwalk Textiles Award: Jessica Au (Ravensbourne)
British Fashion Council Creative Cutting Award: Tim Rhys Evans (Manchester School of Art)
Menswear Award: Domingo Rodriguez (Liverpool John Moores)
Womenswear Award: Nabil al Nayal (Manchester School of Art)

View 7 Photos ›

Photos by Kirsten Borst/ Source

Love it or Hate it: Pixie Geldof at Graduate Fashion Week

FabSugarUK — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 09:00:41 +0100

Pixie Geldof was the face of this year's Graduate Fashion Week so it's no surprise that she attended last night's gala awarding the best graduates at this years show. She wore a strapless lace prom dress with a pair of shoots (shoe-boots) and her classic short peroxide hair (it seems to be freshly dyed!) What do you think of her style?

BigPictures.co.uk

Graduate Fashion Week 2008: Gala Show

FabSugarUK — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:00:18 +0100

And so Graduate Fashion Week is over for another year as the graduates go off in to the fashion design world and attempt to make their mark. There has been some exceptional talent on show this year so even being shortlisted is a tremendous honour. Caryn Franklin hosted the awards with three main prizes up for grabs, the River Island Gold Award, Zandra Rhodes Catwalk Textiles Award and the Pringle of Scotland Visionary Knitwear Award.

To see the entire short list and images read more

View 28 Photos ›

Angela Gbemisola: University of Salford
Zoe White: Somerset College of Arts and Technology
Cheng Yiu Hung: Thames Valley University
Britt Beale: Winchester School of Art
Caroline Roughley: University of Westminster
Kanako Aino: Nottingham Trent University
Chloe Belle Rees: UCCA Epsom
Katy Holmes: Northumbria University
Priya Patel: Birmingham City
Maria Louise Manfredi: UCLAN
Elaine Kinney: Salisbury College of Art Technology
Amy Pan: Arts Institute Bournemouth
Sophi Small: Northbrook
Jessica Au: Ravensbourne
Sarah Kennedy: Northumbria University
Craig Fellows: University of Northampton
Karly Simone Whitehead: UCLAN
Jennifer Jarvis: De Montford University
Ria Thomas: Nottingham Trent University
Edward Yip: Manchester School of Art
Kathy Craig: UWE Bristol
Amy Sidgewick: De Montford University
Dominigo Rodriguez: Liverpool John Moores University
Ayumi Hirakida: Ravensbourne
Abyssinia Sollit Davies: Edinburgh College of Art
Rebecca Barden: Rochester
Siobhan Ramswell: University of Northampton
Nabil El Nayal: Mancester School of Art
Simon Waller: University of East London

Photos by Kirsten Borst

Graduate Fashion Week 2008: Manchester School of Art

FabSugarUK — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:00:36 +0100

The last (but by no mean least) show of Graduate Fashion Week was Manchester School of Art as twenty graduates took to the catwalk with their final collections. The fashion spot of the North created feminine designs, funky sportswear and plenty of knitwear.

Chloe-esque feminine designs by Leanne Hughes stood out first for their delicate style and pretty detailing. Sheer dresses produced from a pale palette were accessorised with pearl buttons. Vintage lace gave the pieces a Victorian feel.

The colour blocking trend has developed for autumn/winter and Siobhan Clarke adapted it well for her final pieces. She layered white sheer chiffon over bright canary yellow for a muted yet effective use of colour. She also used dip dye effects.

Lucy Howarth showed her versatility as a designer by introducing the theme of texture to her collection. Combining knitwear, silk and the occasional pom-pom she produced a fun line of womenswear. My favourite piece was a '70s style yellow maxi dress which was accessorised with a simple cape.

The show came to a close with Nabil El Nayal line of dress channeling pre 20th century night gowns. The oversized floor length dresses were elegant yet archaic with plenty of ruffles and paper bag sleeves. There was a slightly eerie feel to the collection proving the power of the designs.

To see the rest of the images, read more

View 14 Photos ›

Photos by Kirsten Borst