Friday, 9 April 2010
Curriculum Vitae
Jenelle Homer
Email: jenelle7@btinternet.com
Work Experience:
- June -Oct 2009 - LMP Models - Work placement
- June 2009 - Big Bear Events and LMP models - Bournemouth Fashion Week
- April 2009 - Beales - Working backstage at fashion gala
- Feb 2009 - The Doll On/Off Event - Working Backstage at London Fashion Week
- 2007-present - New Look - Sales Assitant, promoted to part-time supervisor 2009
- 2004-2007 - La Plaza Restaurante - Waitress
- 2004 - 2006 - Dolphin Bowls Club - Waitress
Education/Qualifications:
- Current - Foundation Degree Fashion, Taking option of topping up to BA (Hons) Fashion Degree level September 2010 - Arts University College Bournemouth
- 2007 - Foundation Diploma in Art and Design - Arts University College Bournemouth (at time of qualification called Arts Institute Bournemouth)
- 2006 - A levels in Textiles(A), Art and Design (A), Media Studies (B)
- 2004 - 12 GCSE all passed at B grade or above including Textiles(A*) Graphic Design (A*) Media Studies (A*) and English(A), Mathmatics (B)
- Clean Full driving license
Personal Qualities:
- Confident, ambitious and driven
- Well organised, punctual and reliable
- Eager to learn
- Work well under pressure
- Work well in a team environment
- Self-motivated
- Excellent communicator
- Computer literate in Adobe Software - Indesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and all Microsoft including Excel. Modaris Software - Lectra, Diamino, Kaledo
Refrence:
please contact for details
14:11
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Friday, 2 April 2010
5 Year Plan...
- Complete the FdA course and go on to do a 3rd year on either the BA 3rd yeah or the Fda top-up, focussing on Menswear design. I also hope to complete a work placement within this year.
- I will hopefully go on to work in a menswear design department within a large company in order to expand my knowledge and skills within the subject area.
- at some point i hope to work abroad , and have the opportunity to travel.
- Eventually i would like to be working for a designer whose style of design is similar to my own. my dream job would be working for someone like Alexander Wang and helping to expand his brand into menswear design.
*Jenelle*
14:10
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Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Lectra & Kaledo
im actually quite good with computers - Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Excel and all the rest im quite competent with but the modaris programmes - Lectra, Kaledo and Diamino have taken alot of getting used to!
Lectra and Diamino are fantastic programmes which make the whole pattern cutting and layup process so much easier, and im sure once fully understood - alot quicker! having used Lectra in the tshirt project last year i was quite daunted by it all but having produced a jacket pattern using the software it just proves how efficient the system is. To make facings and interfacings and the linings involves basically just copying from your original shape with the click of a button. I dont feel that i can work with the system quick enough yet to consider using the system for my collection patterns - but i hope to in future.
after finishing this course i am hoping to go on to be a menswear designer within a design company, and more often than not as a designer you need to be able to use computer programmes such as Kaledo to produce your designs on. So as much as i would just prefer to design by hand - pen and paper style! - i release that it is essential that i get to grips with learning about and using the Kaledo system. So I have started slowly - and due to the fact there was a fault with the system at the time of producing this, i decided to do my colour palette and work out what colours and fabrics i was going to use for each garment. so her is my first attempt at Kaledo:
i scanned in my hand drawn illustrations and then using the Kaledo programme created my colour palette and colour blocked my collection.
*Jenelle*
14:12
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Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Menswear magazine day!!!
Woohoo! about time! march the 10th menswear magazine release day!! do you know how much these magazines cost.....double what the bloody womenswear ones do..and....AND they are half the freaking size!!! yep so there i part with a small fortune, but hello gorgeous editorials!!
*Jenelle*
11:56
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Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Job Adverts
I have started to look at the kind of job roles available in menswear and the type of jobs currently being advertised. not surprisingly...but unfortunately most of the jobs require "at least 3 years of experience work in a similar position"!! which clearly shows that the best way into this industry is via work experience and internships. Below are some job roles which are graduate positions
all taken from drapersjobs.com
*Jenelle*
12:49
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Sunday, 21 February 2010
Essay topic
Having read this article i now know what I am going to write my essay on - "Is the Catwalk as we know it dead?" i will discuss the effect of the recession on catwalk presentations, the emergence of new technologies in exhibitions and what the future holds for the industry as far as exhibiting and presentations go.
The catwalk is dead. Long live the catwalk
Julia Robson
- Last Updated: February 20. 2010 6:23PM UAE / February 20. 2010 2:23PM GMT
Did you know that possibly the only things to not be affected by the global recession are the high-end bridal industry and – according to Julie Gilhart, the fashion director of New York’s Barneys – Azzedine Alaïa designs?
I styled an extravagant designer wedding catwalk in London last week where one Vivienne Westwood style, costing £18,000, had confirmed orders within seconds of the show’s finale.
As I buttoned, unlaced and plumped up the many layers of tulle petticoats on billowing bridal gowns worn by the 25 or so models, and watched them float off down the runway looking like stills from a Cecil Beaton photograph, it occurred to me that the experience was sublimely “old school”.
Show styling is something I have always enjoyed tremendously, although it is stressful because so many things can get out of control – budgets for instance.
However, writing this with my fingertips still covered in plasters from fastening tiny, raw-silk-covered buttons on 70 dresses, I am starting to feel that I’d rather be front-row than backstage.
I love watching fashion shows. I feel very privileged to have witnessed some of Alexander McQueen’s greatest spectacles, I caught a couple of YSL shows when the great man was still lucid and went to some cracking Versace catwalks throughout the 1990s.
I am not surprised to learn that the recession is being blamed for the demise of the full-on fashion show. These can cost a fortune to stage (the stylist’s fee isn’t half bad either).
But i'm not convinced it has anything to do with new technology.
During New York Fashion Week the unexpected death of McQueen and the future of the catwalk were, of course, the sole topics of conversation.
Both are inexorably linked. Last October, McQueen – ever the rule-breaker – became the first designer to stream his collection live on the internet, via the avant-garde photographer Nick Knight’s website, ShowStudio.
New technology did not exactly triumph. Lady Gaga had announced on her blog that she was going to preview her latest single during the show, which caused the website to crash.
This season, not some but most shows will be streamed live, not just to computers but to mobile phones worldwide – giving the Twitter community something to talk about no doubt.
Asked last week whether catwalk shows were still valid, the eminent American fashion writer, Cathy Horyn of The New York Times, told the fashionistas’ favourite website, Style.com: “There’s no reason to be at many. I usually go to showroom appointments anyway afterwards. I do Comme des Garçons, Balenciaga sometimes, Jil Sander sometimes, and I’m thinking to myself, this is so much more interesting, to write about clothes away from [the catwalk].”
So that’s it then. Or is it? The internet provides a cheap vehicle for showing off your brand, but can it ever prove as glamorous as the good old-fashioned fashion show?
Headline-grabbing events like Chanel’s, which pull in celebrities, also generate a fortune in terms press and media coverage.
Part of the snobbery surrounding fashion revolves around its being exclusive. Isn’t this how designers are able to charge a fortune for a frock in the first place?
As for bloggers such as the blue-rinse teenager Tavi Gevinson and the upstart Bryanboy, we used to call them “fashion victims” when I was a student, along with anyone who dared blag their way into the peculiarly elitist Planet Fashion.
It will be interesting to see how London Fashion Week’s digital schedule fares and whether the many salon presentations will have an impact on catwalk spectacles?
There is always a case for the small show, where a collection can be scrutinised up close like the sort Victoria Beckham treated 25 select editors to in New York last week.
She gave a running narration about the cut, colour and construction of each of the 26 frocks, occasionally veering off the script to chip in a comment like: “I’m wearing this one to the Oscars.”
By all accounts, the standout show of the week was, as ever, Marc Jacobs, which was old-school catwalk, albeit with a bit of new technology thrown in.
A week before the show, the president of Marc Jacobs Inc, Robert Duffy, apparently tweeted a request for set ideas.
Don’t go writing the fashion show off just yet. Isn’t it the case that the internet, rather than being responsible for its demise, is giving the catwalk its biggest break?
I have just one question as a small-time, occasional show-stylist: what about royalties and repeat fees?
*Jenelle*
13:38
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Tuesday, 16 February 2010
To be a Menswear Designer.....
A Typical Day
Any/all of these items listed may take place in a single day: Having already thoroughly researched the seasonal trends (styles, fabric, color, etc.) rough sketches of clothing are created. On average this entails upwards of 500 designs per day. This is not a one-day process, but one that can continue for 1-2 months.
After close review and consultation, specific designs are selected for the collection. Flat design sketches are created for these selected designs. Pre-costing of the selected designs takes place.
Next, flat patterns are created; then sample garments are produced. When the items are returned from the factory they are inspected and a final costing is conducted.
The Best Part of the Job
My favorite part of the job is the sketching and working with the fabrics.
The Most Difficult Part of the Job
Since I work in men's wear, the most difficult part of the job is always being creative, coming up with something truly different. Anyone can design a shirt. It has a front, a back, two sleeves and buttons down the front. The challenge is to add that creative detail that gives it a "personality".
Work and Educational Background
I went to a private fashion design/illustration school in Paris, France, and was fortunate enough, beginning in my first year at school, to work as an assistant men's wear designer.
More Thoughts
Fashion designers that go to parties and mingle with the rich and famous are few and far between. Most people don't start at the top.You may spend 1 or 2 years working behind the scenes creating patterns where no one will care about your opinions on the designs in the collection. Always try to learn as much as you can no matter what job you are doing. Remember, fashion design is not just drawing. You need to learn all of the aspects from sketching, to flat design, to draping, textiles, sewing, and business.
Contact
Debbie-Noel Blaisdell at Molehole Designs
*Jenelle*
11:39
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Wednesday, 10 February 2010
A Dream job.....
wow, wow, WoW! menswear internship at ...VIVIENNE WESTWOOD!!! oh if only this was next year!!! position sounds exactly like what i want!!
INTERN MENSWEAR DESIGNER : VIVIENNE WESTWOOD
Salary:
Salary Negotiable
Company:
Vivienne Westwood
Location:
London
Intern Menswear Design
Vivienne Westwood Menswear Design department is seeking a highly motivated intern to work on our design team starting immediately.
Design intern will assist the design team in creating show collections and special projects.
Requirement:
- Basic skills, pattern making, draping, sketching.
- Basic knowledge of textile
- Commit to at least 2-3 days a week or full-time
- Passion for fashion
- Willing to learn
- manipulating fabric
- using computer programs including excel, photoshop, illustrator to develop various ideas
- organizing and general upkeep of studio
- identification of fabric types
- technical flats by hand
- attentiveness, reliability, attention to detail, ability to closely follow instruction and to work independently, time management, organization
Please send a short cover letter and resume Please send resume, cover letter, and images of your work to sara@viviennewestwood.co.uk and specify” Design Internship” in the subject.
*Jenelle*
13:00
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Sunday, 7 February 2010
Inspiration
When style meets sports in editorial genius!
This image perfectly sums up the style i want to recreate and capture with my collection. i love the long-johns worn under the shorts, and the way they scrunch up around the knee.
*jenelle*
12:34
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Wednesday, 3 February 2010
Collection - Toiles
the left leg is the slim fit trousers im going to make. the right leg is the cuffed eyelet pair.
shirt made in the menswear session with Claire.
Juxtaposition of opposites: when formal meets casual. Formal tailored shirt, with raglan jersey sleeves - reflecting the look of the baseball inspired tshirts.
*jenelle*
14:12
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Wednesday, 27 January 2010
How to win friends and influence people....
C - V...2 letters that strike fear and boredom into most of us. It feels like ive been asked to write numerous versions of this thing over the years - who can forget the endless lectures on it at school....well these CV's break all the rules i learnt back then...mainly because you may actually bother to read past the first line!
^ this one is quite hard to read - but its the kind of thing which would make
any employer want to meet the person - and with the competitive nature of
this industry the CV is the only tool you have to 'get your foot in the door'
^love this one its really quirky!
^the worlds most creative CV!
^and the man who made it public - heres Steve Pratt the director of CBC Radio3 - blogging about this CV which he was sent... unfortunately/typically/unbelievably he never employed her! despite stating how amazed he was at the CV and that it was the best he had ever received, he never employed her because the company was on an employment freeze!!
*Jenelle*
07:22
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Friday, 15 January 2010
The world of learning...
this is a weird one because until this post/task i actually dont think i have ever asked myself these questions - and seeing that the majority of my 22 years have been spent in education its quite bizarre!
•How is teaching different from learning?
well its the complete opposite. teaching is passing on your knowledge to someone....and receiving that knowledge is learning.
•How do they fit together – why does one rely on the other?
Going through secondary school answers this question! When a pupil doesn’t want to learn the teacher cant teacher...therefore the learner isnt learning anything. When i was in year 9 at school I had the worlds most useless French teacher...barely taught us a thing all year because the majority of the class just didnt want to know, and she never bothered to overcome that. I remember sitting there thinking 'actually id quite like to know all this stuff' i wanted to learn french and after begging/bugging the head of department for weeks i was transferred to another class.
•Why do you want to learn?
i want to learn as much as i can, ive always loved learning - loved school and unis even better! more specifically on the Fda course i really want to learn how to use Kaledo – I tried to use it in the workshops with Karen – but having found I was useless at it, I only went to one session and I haven’t been back! So I didn’t really give it a fair shot, so this term im going to make sure I give it another go and hopefully I can use it to draw my final illustrations for the PP.
•How can you make the best of your uni Learning experience?
I think I do make the best of my uni learning experience. Im in uni almost everyday, and I feel being in and around the studio you pick up on and learn so much, I always feel that the people who aren’t there are missing out.
*Jenelle*
06:21
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Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Professional Project
Initial colour palette research
this palette is more suited to an A/W collection - the browns are too heavy for spring/summer in my opinion. i love the idea of using white to offsets this - many would consider white for s/s exclusively, but as with using black in summer, to me white really pops in winter and works as a great base for an outfit.
08:55
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Sunday, 10 January 2010
The next 5 months.....
jenelle
12:11
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Monday, 4 January 2010
PPRD 5 Minute presentation
How did you get where you are today?
- My interest in fashion started in year 9 at school when i took up textiles. My projects were always more fashion based than textiles and when deciding my uni options in sixth form, my teacher suggested i consider a career in fashion - until this point i had wanted to become a police officer!
- I went on to complete a Foundation Diploma at what was then AIB. i initally choose to do fashion photography as my chosen pathway - i felt the fashion/textile pathway was to textile based and wanted to try something different. However i eventually settled on the fashion pathway.
- having had interviews at Central St Martins, Ravensbourne and Bath, i took up the offer of a place at Ravensbourne on their menswear course.
- Over the summer i had a few family issues - my dad got cancer - and i decided i wasnt ready to go away to uni just yet and so i deferred my place at ravensbourne until the following september.
- come that following summer, i recieved information from ravensbourne stating they had chnaged various aspects of their course. by this time i was having doubts about wether ravensbourne was the right uni for me - considering i had such a fantastic uni on my doorstep.
- eventually i contacted AIB and basically begged for them to allow me onto one of the fashion courses - met sarah and pat for an interview - got accepted went home and declined my ravensbourne place! best decision ive ever made!
Where are you now?
- over the summer i completed what turned into a 5 month placement with lmp models. i had a fantastic time, met loads of people, realised that as much as i loved the placement and the whole industry surrounding a model agency i really want to be a designer
- i have chosen to take the design pathway and i will be specialising in menswear design
- i have decided that i will definatly be doing the 3rd year top-up!
Where you want to go next?
- i will hopefully be doing the 3rd year top-up.
- complete some more work placements in order to expand my knowledge and skills within my chosen subject.
-really want to go travelling at some point.
Who will influence you?
-Designers, Bloggers, Tutors, fellow students, friends and family.
What might influence you?
-Work placement
- opportunities and experience
-Achievements, failures and learning from mistakes made
*Jenelle*
14:11
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Collection Project Briefing
i wasnt too happy with the chosen briefs - there was only one brief i was able to do menswear for, as most of the competition requirements included making a dress and the only other one which didn't - i was too old for!!! the brief i have chosen is as follows:
SDC INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION 2010BriefTo demonstrate the creative, imaginative and original use of colour in either fashion or textiles’
All entries should show evidence of the following:
•colour as an integral component of the design process
•development of the designs, from concept to final design product or application
•excellent presentation and clarity of ideas
•innovative or creative approach to incorporating some aspect of thinking around social responsibility within the original design and/or final design application.
The judges will assign marks for each of these four categories.
Deliverables
•Work mounted on a maximum of four boards of up to A2 size.
•Type-written statement on one A4 sheet – no more than 500 words!
Basis of submission
•The work can be based on a fashion or textile design project produced as part of the standard course curriculum or specifically for the SDC Design Competition.
•Content is at the discretion of the student, but can include finished roughs, design sheets, illustrations, working drawings, mood boards, photographs, fabric indicators, material swatches, etc. At least one board must outline the colour theme with the colour palette clearly indicated.
•Each submission must be uniquely titled to reflect its nature and theme and must be supported by a typewritten description in English (no more than one A4 page / ~500 words) explaining the background and inspiration for the work.
•Boards: these should only be A3 (297 x 420 mm) or A2 (420 x 594 mm) in size, with your artwork securely mounted on. Never submit any more than the number of boards requested.
•Only one entry may be submitted by each student.
•A maximum of three entries per college; one tutor should be identified as the contact per college and be responsible for submitting an entry form.
jenelle
09:30
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Thursday, 17 December 2009
SHOWstudio Exhibition
I thought the SHOWstudio exhibition was fantastic. it was a real case of having to just slowly walk through the whole thing in order to be able to take it in - thought it was all quite clever - loved the mirror room idea, like right from the start the objections are laid out bare - this is about vanity, fashion is vanity, the exhibition was about fashion celebrating its self and the celebrity of itself. the naomi campbell huge statue, which you were digitally able to draw on and paint, was the demonstration of models - no matter how famous, they are basically just canvases which the designers "paint" and transform.
All the videos were fantastic and as with the ALexander McQueen one below they gave you aninsight into the designer - the parts you dont normally see with how there works materialise.
the best part of the exhibition was watching the Nick Knight photo-shoots. it was amazing to just watch him work and the position of the viewing window allowed you to see the images he was taking come up on the computer screens which were then being edited and retouched.
*Jenelle*
14:10
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Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Team Crit
We had our project assessment/presentation today and we were really pleased, it went as smooth as it could have.
Over the last couple of weeks our group have started to work together alot better - we had our issues at the beginning of the project, mainly due to the different approach the designers (me and johanna) had to the project compared to that of the promoters - Steph, Kat, Charlotte.
From mine and johannas point of view, the first half of the project we felt like we were doing all the work - we waited an absolute age for things to be done - like the colour and style boards - which prevented us from moving forward with our designs. The meeting we had with pat and sarah a couple of weeks in really sorted it all out. Myself and Johanna hadn't been vocal enough (a once in a lifetime event!) in expressing our concerns to the rest of the group - mainly, i would say because they're our friends. And that was what made this whole group project thing such a challenge! its hard telling people you like, that their works not good enough or having a go at them for not doing it - the meeting with Pat and Sarah allowed us to lay all the cards on the table and sort it out.
As a result our presentation was fab! the promoters did a fantastic job in explaining our concept and idea development and explaining how all 3 of their trend books fitted with mine and Johannas final pieces. And then me and Johanna explained how our group concept fitted with each of our jackets, explaining why we chose certain aspects - like the laser cutting for example.
the tutors seemed really impressed so fingers crossed we all get a good grade......to be continued......
EDIT:
I got 69...bumped to a 70! woohoo!
and.......we got the best group mark of 75! well done ladies!
jenelle
09:15
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Monday, 14 December 2009
Finished!
9.30pm ish monday 14th december .....12 hours before deadline jacket is finished!
conculsion...i still HATE the colour and i really dont like the buttons they look like lego buttons. love the knit collar, and the fit is really nice. and im really pleased with the effect of the laser cutting - even though its not crisp and clean lines like i wanted - because of the problems with having to hand cut it all out! i would have loved to make this in my own chosen fabric! i may well use this jacket pattern for a piece in my collection.
jenelle
13:05
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Thursday, 10 December 2009
Laser Cutting
laser cutting....well i certainly have a love hate relationship with laser cutting! the biggest problems was the booking of the machine - because the equipment is used by a number of courses its always busy, and so sometimes times get chopped and changed around - and we miss the sessions. so we didn't have long to complete our pieces. the section i wanted to laser cut was quite large and the laser cutter took about 1hour 20mins to do it once over! because of the type of fabric i was using i needed to run the laser cutter twice...but because it took so long, and our time run out i couldn't compplete it. which meant i had to cut out the letters individually by hand! took about 10 hours!!! .....johannas went perfect!
jenelle
12:56
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Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Alexander Wang - Menswear S/S
Alexander Wang ...is one of my favourite designers, and i feel that my style of menswear design reflects his womenswear look. so i was really excited to learn he was branching out into menswear. But...this is a real disappointment! It is only a menswear basic line but theres basic and then theres...BASIC!
12:04
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Thursday, 26 November 2009
Competition
when we started this project i wasn't even thinking about the competition, and after the first couple of weeks when we had all the group issues we figured the competition was way out of reach but i was pleasantly surprised to have been chosen to enter the competition!
jenelle
13:15
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Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Toile Review
I was quite pleased with the toile review. my jacket looked great on Ashley, it fit him really well - his measurements are spot on to the mannequin so thats quite handy!
I need to add a couple of cm into the back as the jacket pulls at the vent opening. I am going to add pockets into the side seams - boys like pockets apparently!lol! the straps on the cuff need to be higher and the collar shape will change slightly as the piece will be hand knitted....hopefully!
jenelle
10:28
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Monday, 16 November 2009
Inspiration
Skeleton t-shirts?
12:46
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Saturday, 14 November 2009
Inspiration
Burberry
Jenelle
14:06
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Thursday, 12 November 2009
Inspiration
Lost communication......interpreted
jenelle
13:31
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Monday, 9 November 2009
Inspiration
the skeleton of a tree - in the summer a trees leaves proved shelter and cover, in the winter the elements strip away the leaves to reveal an exposed skeleton of branches.
jenelle
12:54
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Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Jacket Workshop
the jacket workshop has been really interesting - there is alot that goes into making a jacket!
my jacket came out quite well, the collar wasn't as sharp as it could have been, the corner stitching thing is hard! my fabric i chose was also quite a loose knit weave meaning it stretched out of shape quite abit - perfect for putting in sleeves though!
i definitely want to include jackets in my collection, and i have loads of ideas for the traces project now!
jenelle
10:27
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Monday, 2 November 2009
Dragons Den..
We met Matt Desmier - the crazy enterprise pavilion guy - nice chap, real funny and it was an interesting lecture. He set us a task to "sell" a new idea to him and sarah and basically think about business plans and how we would market and sell a project. Me, Ivy and Grace choose a really interesting project which we felt resembled a bottle opener, and here is a few of the questions we answered:
- What is the big idea? We have created a stylish modern bottle opener, which will be a massive hit, especially with young professionals and families. We have only got the bottle opener to show you, but we plan to design and make a whole range of stylish kitchen untensils, similar to the bottle opener.
- How would you develop the product? We would develop the product by introducing a whole kitchen utensil range, including a can opener, salt and pepper shakers, egg timer and jar opener. We could also design and make a range for pets and bathrooms.
- What have you named your product? We have named our product Billy the bottle opener, and our tag line is 'Don't let Billy be a no mate' therefore there is possibility for developing the range.
07:02
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Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Inspiration
Transparency in menswear
love this designer - junn j
jenelle
13:34
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Friday, 16 October 2009
Lost communication.... in more ways than one!
its a couple of weeks in and as a team we are struggling quite a bit! our final idea on how to interpret the brief has been chopped and changed about, which has really unsettled us. it has also lead to divisions within our team - its a bit designers v promoters!
as far as myself and johanna are concerned we understand the concept we originally came up with - overexposed.
the brief given is about traces and memories. we have interpreted this by looking at what we feel our generation will be remembered for - so we considered the role the digital age plays within our lives. nearly everyone our age has a facebook account, we all write blogs! most of us have internet on our phones - our entire generation communicates constantly. but what is the value of this communication? this is our concept.
when karen met with the promoters in our group the week before meeting with me and johanna they explained our concept as having something to do with michael jackson and britney spears!!!!!!!!!! now we had discussed the role of overexposure in terms of celebrity - jackson and spears being the ultimate of that - but in no way what so ever was this ever going to be any bases for our project.
hmm.... lost communication in more ways than one!!
jenelle
10:26
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Monday, 5 October 2009
First Day Back
Finally! soooo glad to be back at uni, it has been a hell of a long summer! cant wait to get stuck in - and absolutely cannot wait to start my collection!!!
and all has changed - hello AUCB! hmm.... it'll always be AIB for me! and what is with the colour scheme....looks like the job centre! not a good omen!
jenelle
10:25
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Friday, 4 September 2009
Work Placement
My work placement took place at LMP Models in Bournemouth. I had previously helped them backstage at a charity show they produced in April and was then offered a longer placement with them over the summer in the lead up to Bournemouth Fashion Weekend.
The Company
The “LMP” in LMP Models stands for Lindholm & Morgan Production and is owned by Emma Van Lindholm and Kellyanne Morgan, both of whom are ex models with 17 years experience in the modelling industry. Emma is also a trained photographer who takes many of the models first portfolio shots. LMP Models is a relatively new business, having only gone ‘live’ in March 2009. Previous to this they have spent the last year building up a list of contacts and scouting new faces, as well as producing and choreographing fashion shows.
Reason For Choosing Work Placement
The reason I chose LMP Models as my work placement is because I had really enjoyed Working with the Doll team at London Fashion Week back in February and I felt that the work placement at LMP; helping to organise the Bournemouth Fashion Weekend event would show me even more of what goes on behind the scenes of putting on a fashion event. I have also always been interested in the prospect of working at a model agency; scouting new faces, involvement in image branding, styling and look creation. The LMP work placement ticked all of these boxes.
Typical Days Duties
The two main people I worked with at LMP Models were Kellyanne Morgan, the company director and Paul Scadding another employee. A typical days duty at LMP Models involved checking emails, answering the phone and contacting varies clients or companies LMP work with. I was also attending and assisting at model castings, holding first meets with potential models, selecting and booking models for varies jobs and general communication with the models to keep them updated and informed.
I also took on the responsibility of updating the website. This involved selecting the best shot from the models latest pictures, editing them using Photoshop and uploading them to the LMP website. This is a job usually done by the other company director Emma, who at the time of my placement was on leave. Neither Kelly or Paul knew how Photoshop worked and so I was able to assist by continuing Emma’s work on the website so that she didn’t have a back log of jobs to complete when she returned.
a photo from the shoot we did with LMP model Natalie
Photoshoot
The first project I assisted on was a test shoot with 3 of LMP’s new models – Natalie, Abigail and Tiffany. Paul had arranged for his brother Mark , who is a photographer to shoot the girls at a studio in the basement of the My Boutique shop in Bournemouth. In the week leading up to the shoot Paul and I had to arrange a hairdresser, make-up artist, clothes, shoes and the models. We had no budget, so the whole shoot had to be completely free! Paul already had a contact at the new hair salon in Bournemouth – Rage Hair, and so the girls were able to get their hair done for free – in exchange for the salon having usage on the images. We then arranged for the girls to go down to House of Fraser and have their make-up done by the girls on the make-up counters – also for free. LMP have previously worked with House Of Fraser on a fashion show, and so we were able to borrow some clothes from their new range for the day. I work for New Look at the weekends and so with my staff ID card I was able to borrow the shoes we needed for the shoot. So by pulling in lots of favours we manged to do the entire photo shoot for nothing!
The day of the shoot involved a lot of running around. I was the only one who could drive and so I was driving the girls from hair to make-up and then on to the studio. My self and Paul styled and directed the shoot through-out the day, helping the girls to figure out various positions and poses. The girls were excellent, they are all very younge and brand new to modelling but they picked it up straight away and the images came out fantastic.
Bournemouth Fashion Weekend
My main duties over the first month working at LMP revolved around the organisation of Bournemouth Fashion Weekend. BFW was a 2-day event held in Bournemouth town square on the weekend of the 25th and 26th July. Five fashion shows were presented on a catwalk in the middle of the town centre over the weekend. In between shows, hair and makeup demonstrations were showcased on the stage and the square played host to a number of local business who all had a tent around the catwalk providing them with a town centre presences for the whole weekend offering them a perfect PR and advertising slot.
One of my main duties was communicating and organising the models throughout the week leading up to the event. This involved phoning and emailing them to find out their availability for the varies appointments, consultations and fittings they needed to attend before the shows. All the models had to be booked in for hair consultations at Rage hair salon a week before the event so that their hair could be cut and/or dyed if need be. This also allowed the hairstylists to work out and experiment with varies ideas for hairstyles they wanted on the catwalk. All models had to attend dress fittings at Fab Frocks and Beales in order to ensure that the clothes picked for them were the correct size.
On the day of the shows my job was to be the backstage caller. This involved wearing a headset and communicating between Kellyanne, who was outside watching the show and instructing me when to send the models out and Paul organising the models backstage, making sure they were dressed and sent out as quick as possible.
Having got to know all the models quite well over the weeks id worked at LMP made the job a whole lot easier. Knowing which models I had ready to send out was essential so that Kellyanne knew the formation the models needed to come out in. Working backstage and doing the job of caller was quite stressful! Because we only had 10 models – 6 girls and 4 boys, it meant that the girls had back-to-back scenes. So as the last model was coming off she was due back on the catwalk almost straight away. This meant that me and Kellyanne had to re-arrange the choreography as the scenes were developing, because if a model was late, or had been dressed in the wrong outfit – which unfortunately happened on the first show, it meant she missed her slot and so the choreography had to change in order to ensure that although we knew there had been a mistake – the audience didn’t!
the boys in Pauls collection!
As well as the high street store collections from Beales, My Boutique, Costal Creatives and Simons Leather, Fashion Enter were also showcasing some of their new designers in the show. Many of the Fashion Enter designers collections were quite complex designs and so they were hard to get on or hard to figure out how to get on! And so it was essential that the team of dressers knew the collections being shown, inside out. The Fashion Enter collections only arrived the morning of the show and so Annie, who was heading up the dressers team, and myself, spent the morning before the first show fitting the models for the fashion enter collections, pinning and stitching the dressers to fit them and working out how exactly some of the pieces went on. We then had to relay all of this to the dressers in order to ensure everyone knew what they were doing.
In between shows the LMP team - Kelly, Paul, Annie and myself and some of our models went out into Bournemouth scouting for new faces. Alongside the fashion shows LMP were also running a model search competition over the fashion weekend. The winner was to receive a 12month contract with LMP Models as well as the chance to walk in the final show on the Saturday and a whole bunch of other goodies. The Scouting was lots of fun and gave us all a chance to chill out in-between the shows.
Overall the Bournemouth Fashion Weekend was a great success, and we received some fantastic feedback for LMP’s role in the whole event.
Networking
I ended up spending 4 months at LMP and over that time I met so many people within the fashion/modelling industry. LMP have a very close working relationship with the Animal clothing brand and now supply them with models for their campaign shoots. Natalie one of the models on the shoot me and Paul did, is now the face of Animals A/W ‘09 footwear campaign due to be showcased on posters, billboards and buses all around the country! I met several people from Animal including Jo Gregory who is the marketing and PR executive at Animal and it was fascinating to see how she works, and the variety of work and jobs she has to organise on a day-to-day basis.
I also worked quite closely with the guys from Big Bear/Fonix Events. Bournemouth Fashion Weekend was organised – as far as staging, sound, lighting, and sponsorship by Big Bear/Fonix Events. The Clothing, styling and obviously model side was organised by us at LMP Models. And so this meant that a lot of the week leading up to the event was spent communicating with Big Bear/Fonix to make sure that the whole thing came together in time for the shows. LMP always work with Big Bear/Fonix (Fonix being the technical side of the business and big bear being the event organising side) when they produce shows, so they have a great working relationship that benefits both businesses.
I was also able to meet various photographers, stylists, hair and make-up teams and it was fantastic to be apart of it all. The highlight, in regards to the people I met, was meeting and working with the various models. As LMP Is only a very new boutique size agency, many of the models are first time models, who all seem to be so grateful and thankful that they have been given the opportunity to work in the modelling industry. Everyone gets along fantastic and all of the models are extremely polite, professional and fantastic to work with. Hopefully as the agency expands over these next few years these qualities will stay with the team at LMP Models because it most certainly makes them stand out!
My Expectations
My work placement with LMP far out weighed what I had been expecting to gain from a work placement. To be honest I thought I would be doing really boring office admin jobs, I thought id feel like I was in the way and a bit of a burden but working with the LMP team was the total opposite. I was involved in everything, there was nothing which was kept secret or which I couldn’t be apart of. I was constantly asked if I felt I was getting enough out of it and was helped in gaining as much experience as possible from the work placement. I relished the responsibility given to me and I have come out of the experience feeling like I made a difference and was a valued addition to the team.
My Strengths and Weaknesses
Working at the agency has defiantly improved my self-confidence when meeting new people – something, which has always been a real weakness of mine. People skills really is a must in this industry and watching how Kellyanne and Paul work with clients taught me a lot about how to respond to and interact with people in a professional manner – something which in the past I would have felt completely intimidated by. I have also gained a hell of a lot of experience in speaking to people on the phone! Which I have always been terrible at! In the lead up to BFW the LMP phone was literally glued to my ear so I had no choice, but it was always such a stumbling block for me and so it was good to be thrown in at the deep end and forced to get over it!
Working in Fashion Production
Up until this point I had always imagined I would end up working in the design side of the fashion industry. I love design and construction and meeting the people from Fashion Enter over the Bournemouth Fashion Weekend, talking to them about their collections and the experiences they have gone through to get to the point where they are at today – selling and showcasing their designs through fashion enter, I was really excited to see how it can all become a reality and is all very achievable and possible – something which, from a “ id like to be a fashion designer “point of view, can often seem out of reach.
However the work I have been involved in with LMP has also made me see that the promotion and production side of the fashion industry is also something I would love to get involved with. I have always enjoyed being involved with organising events and productions, something which I did a lot of at school, and the work I have done this summer has really made me realise that I could be just as happy, content and ambitious in a job working on this side of the fashion industry.
Conclusion
I have absolutely loved everything about working at LMP over these last few months. To be honest this time last year, knowing that within a year I would have to complete at least a 2-week work placement I was absolutely terrified. Having had a bad experience in the past on work placement, I just felt like it would be way out of my comfort zone. But having completed an extended work placement of 4 months I can honestly say I have gained more from this summer than I ever imagined possible. The placement has made me even more determined to one day have a career like this, which I love, working in this industry, which is fascinating and with people who are amazing at what they do.
jenelle
09:26
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Sunday, 7 June 2009
On the Catwalk
my final outfit was picked for the show!!!!
the show was a fantastic experience - can wait for next year!
jenelle
14:32
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Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Easter!!
End of Another Term!
well its nearly easter...and more importantly its nearly flip flop weather!!!
Blog is due tomorrow and fingers crossed it will work - it works on my computer but bloody technology these days - i couldn't view it at uni the other day and freaked out - turns out the text colour was too light - it refuses to change to black(i have no clue why!) so i apologize for your impending eye strain from reading my ramblings! i cant find where the "blog followers" code bit has disappeared to, its somewhere in the HTML code but because ive edited the skin so much and change so much around i can't figure it all out, so yeah thats why there is no followers link. i tried adding jamie's blog link but it wouldn't let me access, so i eventually gave up! i will continue this blog into next year so after its marked ill sort it then.
but anyway enough of the complaints/excuses! ive loved doing the blog its a fabulous idea - especially for some one like me who cant spell for toffee - oh i apologies in advance for my spelling mistakes and grammar errors - not my strongest point!LOL! spell checker is a godsend!
its nice to look back on, you can edit it, add pictures, videos its brilliant. i would have hated having to do a written based journal and we have so many different papers, handouts, sketch books and folders its nice to do something different!
♥jenelle♥
11:58
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Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Toile Review
Toile Review
Busy week this week. my toile review is friday.
im really not happy with my design. the jumpsuit ive designed has gathered pockets on the waist. having constructed the main base of the jumpsuit ive pinned on the pockets and they just dont lie correctly on the bodice, it looks stupid. there's no tutors around but along with some of the other girls in the class whose opinion i asked, ive decided to change it. one of my other designs is very similar it contains the same style lines but includes a waist belt instead of the pockets and the shorts are gathered up the sides.
by the end of the thursday session i have finished my garment, im just quite concerned it wont fit a size 12 - i make a note to raise this issue in my toile review. i gathered the side seams on the shorts just using a needle and thread but come friday when i put the jumpsuit on a dummy to sort out the taped on style lines i rip all the stitching up the side so i have to rush to machine stich it all.
thankfully Emily had sorted the models. her friend from work whose about 5ft10" and a size 8 bought along her friend whose also about the same size so we had 2 of them. problem was my girl was a size 8 - and the jumpsuit fit her perfectly but it has to fit a size 12. in the toile review i raised this with Pat who has told me to add 5cm to the length of the garment, which should solve the problem!
Az wasn't to happy about the fact that i'd bought my fabric already but i explained it was the only chance i would have. what i needed to have done was extensive fabric research and bought a load of swatches to the toile review for them to pick, but this is something i will know for next year.
originally i wanted to make trousers/leggings out of the velvet but because my jumpsuit was so tight i figured they wouldn't fit underneath. so in my toile review i suggested the velvet could be used for the side panels but i can't because the velvet doesn't stretch. so im going to be using it for the waist belt.
overall i was quite happy with my toile review. there are a few changes i need to make to the original pattern but i feel more prepared and confident with what i need to do to complete my project now.
♥jenelle♥
11:58
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