Up to Date: Foundation Year

Since settling into an entirely new world at uni, I've been a little AWOL on the blog lately. In September, I moved to Epsom, Surrey, where I am studying an art & design foundation diploma at UCA. Having never lived anywhere other than my tiny seaside hometime, of course it took a little getting used to. Trains run every 15 minutes! Can you believe it?!

Although the foundation year is not compulsory, a lot of fashion design degree level courses do not like to accept many applicants straight from A-level, allowing you to build your portfolio of work before interviews for BA courses. Prior to applying for the foundation course, I didn't fully understand why the extra year of further education was seen as so necessary. However, after visiting a few open days, I realised that the foundation year really builds and improves your creative skills, allowing you to really gain the confidence you need in your work.

The course begins with five rotation weeks, where you have the opportunity to experience each art and design pathway - Fashion/Textiles, Fashion Promotion, Graphics, Fine Art and 3D. Even if you know before starting the course which pathway you wish to succeed in, the rotation weeks are a fun way to explore new mediums, and the skills you learn from each of the weeks are transferable to every pathway too. Upon completing the rotation, you then begin your chosen pathway, in which you'll stay for the rest of the year.

Are you thinking of doing the art and design foundation year? Take a look at what I've been up to so far this year.

Creating fashion collages was a great way to 'loosen up after A level', generating surrealist pieces that challenged the norm.

A draping project inspired by the forms of flowers

A project using white non-dressmaking materials only, inspired by coral and shells

Print designs inspired by music

From the Fashion Promotion week, advertising Emma Watson's He for She feminist campaign

Collection: Hanae Mori SS16

Maintaining the signature theme of Hanae Mori's brand, Elegance, the butterfly fluttered its way into becoming the main source of inspiration for Yu Amatsu's SS16 collection. Traditionally, the butterfly icon represents transformation as it undergoes the process of emerging from the cocoon, its whole life changing as the former caterpillar discovers such grace in the hands of its beautiful wings. Perhaps that's the message behind Amatsu's work as his delicate, luxurious and simply glorious creations transform its wearer into feeling so stunning and spectacular.

Crisp, sheer fabrics take the form of the butterfly's wings through peplum waists, pointed shoulder and dramatic collar structures. These oversized features appear to lengthen the silhouette, emphasizing the sophisticated feminine figure by cinching the waist and protruding the shoulders and hips. Graceful movements of the butterfly in flight is emphasized through the soft movement of the delicate, sheer fabric.

Those swift fabric manipulations are then echoed through the use of heavier fabrics, enforcing more drama and further interest to them. Layered ruffles elegantly imitate the flutter of the butterfly's wings, whilst climatic dip hems add a slight theatrical tone.

Repetitive prints are formed through the motif of the butterfly, as collages of the symbol are created, depicting a chaotic scene of butterflies. Scalloped hems highlight the intricacy of the butterfly's detailed wings whilst oversized tops and long mid-calf length skirts are the key styles of the collection.

The bright, bold colours connoted with the butterfly were left to showcase until the end of the collection. Dazzling pinks harmonize with softer complexions as they portray the great beauty of a butterfly's detailed wings. Petal-like shapes also appear in the print, exhibiting the equal beauty of the butterfly's floral habitat.

McQueen: A Play Inspired by the Life of Alexander McQueen

Fashion genius, Alexander McQueen, contributed abundance to the industry's identity. Creating masterpieces, he bewildered us with his formations, stunned us with his distinctive collections, and most of all, captivated us by the sincere wonder and amazement of the mind behind these true works of art.

Image from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-reviews/11617617/McQueen-St-James-Theatre-insufferable-navel-gazing.html

If you truly believe that any fashion designer is neither worthy nor important enough for such an honour of having the basis of a show stationed on their own life, then I challenge you to watch this magnificent play. Award winning actor Stephen Wight takes you through a lone night where the designer is struggling for inspiration for his up and coming collection. After the surprise of finding girl, Dahlia - fantastically played by actress Carly Bawden - stealing a dress, ideas strike and you're taken through a whirlwind of an adventure of the mystical thoughts within Lee Alexander McQueen's mind.
As the audience, you begin to feel sympathy for Lee as he meets with ghost from the past, Isabella Blow. The pair discuss the heated topic of their common denominator (besides them both leading outstandingly predominant roles in the fashion industry) of depression, conversing from the wonder Blow felt when she found, furthermore bought, all of Alexander McQueen's MA collection, to the suicidal depression that troubled and haunted them both. As the couple are wrapped in consultation, you witness the speciality of their relationship and just how much Blow's death may have had on McQueen's own depressional state.
Dancers coated in dream-like costumes twirled around the stage, a vivid representation of McQueen's mental state, yet the clear explanation for the inspiration behind all of his designs: his own madness. Choreographed by Christopher Marney, haunting faces and eerie movements threaten to tear down the great empire that McQueen has built around him and called his own

Collection: Givenchy SS16 (womanswear)

A fully monochromatic runway show with complete refusal of even a pigment of colour can easily look underdone or a little plain or just simply too monotonous. It can feel boring and dull with not even an ounce of colour to brighten the collection. But not Givenchy's SS16 runway show. If anyone could pull it off, it would be Givenchy. And creative director Riccardo Tisci definitely made sure of that one.

Whilst prints took the form of beautiful lace and stunning embellishments, and white, silver, grey and black appeared to be the continuing favoured tones, it became apparent that a bride and groom were the sole inspiration for Tisci's work this season.

Straight through the seventies timehop, Gucci ensures us that the bardot top is securely here to stay as models strutted the run way in bandeau styles finished with gathering, enhancing the hourglass feminine silhouette from the shoulders.

Thick, cross over straps make the crop top all the more interesting, whilst the silky satin sash which appears to shape the garment emphasizes the femininity of a bride on her wedding day. Doubled with a knee length tube skirt, again the feminine figure is punctuated, although this time by the cinched in waist which is created.

Effortlessly chic and sophisticated, black and white garments were often paired together, the divergent tones creating drama due to their strong contrast. Trims of lace create delicate hems and edges, stealing the attention from otherwise plain attires, preventing the looks from appearing too monotonous.

The most glamorous of the collection appeared in beautifully embellished gowns. From ombre 20s' style feathers and fringing to classy dramatic and oversized fur, the models appeared to have stepped right out of Holywood and onto the runway. Sophisticated, slender shapes allow the flamboyant enhancements to take centre stage, dramatising the embellishments.

AW15 Trend: Red

Wine, traffic light, scarlet, blush, merlot, ruby, mahogany. Welcome the colour of the season into your wardrobe and make a style statement for AW15. From delicate prints at Dolce & Gabbana to colour block at Balmain, designers were using the varied complexions to enhance their collections for this Autumn, adding strong bursts of colour to their work. Dare to clash textures like Christopher Kane or strengthen the boldness with a jet of black like Balmain. Alternatively, soften the audacious shade with white in the style of Antonio Berardi, or follow the ways of Dolce & Gabbana by using the complexion to highlight intricate details of a print.

L-R:  Christopher Kane, Erdem, Dolce & Gabbana, Balmain, Antonio Berardi

Shop the Trend

Culotte Jumpsuit - Boohoo

Burgundy Long Sleeve Top - New Look

Berry Spacedye Batwing Jumper - Boohoo

Laser Cut Out Top - Topshop

Bag - Topshop

Burgundy Midi Skirt - Missguided

Off the Shoulder Peplum Dress - Boohoo

Oasis Ankle Boots - ASOS

As echoed from the catwalk, the colour red has hit this Autumn Winters' shop shelves hard, exploding into an array of different shades and complexions. Opt for a brighter crimson for a louder affair, choose a burgundy or berry for a sophisticated style, or why not clash the two together for a confident chic aura? Although, yes, the option with the highstreet trend is there to dress the colour up in a peplum dress or midi skirt or to dress it down in a casual tee or jumper, but where are all the great red floral prints and the blooming geometrical sixties shapes which are also set to hit this seasons shelves? They just aren't there. Maybe more will appear as the season progresses, but this top colour trend could be all the more a little exciting on the highstreet if it were mixed and matched with other AW15 trends as it has all the potential to do so.

What do you think about the red trend?

Making Choices: What I learnt from A-Levels

On Thursday morning I was amongst the thousands of people up and down the country opening my envelope containing those few letters which could change your life. Thankfully I got the results I need to go to UCA Epsom to do an Art and Design Foundation degree before hopefully progressing to a degree in Fashion Design. However, there were some tough decisions which I made on the way, and if I had chosen differently, I might have been able to achieve even better grades.

So whether you're starting A-levels in September, progressing from AS to A2, or even perhaps reading this in a few years time, here are some tips I learnt for choosing the right options for you.

Research
I cannot stress the need and importance of researching ALL of your areas of interest before applying for sixth form/college. Search course guides, make lists, go to open days. There are so many resources out there explaining the content and structure of courses as well people and teachers who are available to answer all of your questions. Don't be too narrow minded. I made the mistake of only researching the four courses that I thought I was certain I wanted to study, resulting in me choosing three out of four subjects which were very similar content to each other (English Language, Literature and Journalism) which was frankly just too much English.

Fast tracking
After a year of textiles being my only break from too much English, I decided I'd rather pick up another art and design subject as this is where my interest lies, helping me to build my portfolio further. We came to the option of dropping Literature and Journalism for fast tracking Photography. Not many people are actually aware that you can fast track subjects, but it's where you sit both AS and A2 in the same year. It means twice the amount of work, meaning that you must ensure you're willing to put 110% effort into the course. It also means that in your early A2 sessions, you'll feel behind as the only student who has not yet learnt the AS syllabus. But as long as you use your lecturer and their knowledge as much as possible you'll catch up in no time.

Travel
If you live a journey away from your preferred college/sixth form, ensure that you are going to strive to attend every lesson. Living in a small seaside town, it took an hour and a half bus journey to get to college every day - and that's not including the hour and a half home! I have to admit, the dark winter mornings are a struggle, especially when it's dark when you leave in the morning and dark when you return at night. A levels are so fast moving, it's important you have to be sure you can commit to your lessons.

BTECs are as good as A levels
Day-in day-out I see tweets and memes and overhear comments about BTECs not meaning as much as A levels. This is totally wrong. If you're more suited to coursework or practical work in comparison to exams, you'll probably be more suited to a BTEC course. There's not much point doing exam based subjects if you panic in exams or find more "academic" subjects more challenging, resulting in you succeeding so much more if you choose the course that's suitable for you. If you'd rather a mixture of the two, some BTECs can be sat alongside A level options. They can also provide you with enough UCAS points to get into university too.

Enjoy
The most important thing is that you enjoy your time studying at college/sixth form. The only way you can be certain to enjoy those couple of years is by doing what YOU want to do. No one else. Teachers, friends and parents can all be pushy, attempting to persuade you into choosing their subjects or what they want you to do. DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN! The only way you can enjoy your subjects and succeed in them is if they're solely what you want to learn about.

I hope that everyone who received results this week is happy and good luck to anyone taking A-levels soon. I'll be happy if this post helps even just one of you!

Gift Ideas from Not On The Highstreet .com

Birthday gifts for the friend/mum/daughter/sister who already have everything under the sun can seem completely and utterly impossible. You may feel that sending a different necklace every year can become boring, perhaps worrying over the implication that you no longer put much thought into the present, when in fact you did, but just couldn't spark up something that they didn't already have. Notonthehighstreet.com hand pick individual creative businesses, ensuring to give you a huge variety of unique things, giving you the best gift ideas for she whom has everything.

1) Personalised Wine Glass

I actually gave one of these to my mum for her birthday last month, and she loved it! Fun and cheeky, its bound to gain a smile from your birthday recipient. Etched into the glass is three lines, with the words "small glass" at the bottom, "large glass" in the middle, and "[name's] glass" at the top.

2) Marshmallow Toasting Kit

Want the camping vibes without actually sitting in a cold, wet field? Choose any two packets of marshmallows along side a burner and bamboo skewers in order to bring the fun camping atmosphere into the home.

3) Concrete Heart Pot

Made of concrete and available in two different sizes - small and large - these cute heart shaped flower pots will enhance any plant display.

4) Pick and Mix Edible Sweet Tree

Do people even grow out of pick and mix? It's a no from me! These personalised tree forms make for a much more exciting pick and mix version, almost looking too good to eat. Almost.

5) Personalised Fresh Water Peal Bracelet

Adding a thoughtful touch to this bracelet, the personalised heart makes it a perfect not-too-over-the-top gift. As you chose the personalisation, it would also be great for a special birthday, such as 18 or 21.

6) Grow Your Own Cocktail Kit

With such a huge selection of seeds, why not give your gift receiver the fun of growing her own cocktails? The bonus for you? You'll probably be included in the creating and tasting of the cocktails too!