In class

Thought I might sneek in a bit of blogging since we're not doing much in CAD class. I've done my marking (placing the patterns on fabric via StyleCAD to get the best possible yield) and still thinking about what borders to use on my fashion design research journal.

Corset is coming along nicely, fingers crossed. Still haven't posted the photos though I promised I would. It was a bit of a learning curve though. First, I learned the hard way not to use patterned fabrics if I don't have the patience to match them, second, using silk satin is haaaard, unless you use backing paper (or baking paper as a classmate suggested) to hold the fabric in place, third, there are always solutions to the problems especially when your lecturer is keeping a close tab on your progress. Solution for the first? Change the fabric to silk dupion. Expensive but less time consuming.

For fashion design, we need to do production notes for 12 designs so I'll be doing that over the weekend.

Lunch time now so logging off. =)

Feeling the Fool

Not really though 3 weeks into the new school year and I'm having a bit of a self-reflection of what I've gotten myself into. So far, I've learned how to weave (wafting as a classmate calls it. From weft to right) then I've learned how to knit (repeat after me: plain and purl, plain and purl). Seriously, my fingers became stiff after a whole day of knitting. It didn't help that I was knitting the wrong way when I've finished a square piece. =P

I've also learned how easy it is to do lingerie. We've done 2 kinds already, one is a g-string which was really fun to do. The other was a normal pair of undies. Next week, we're finishing the boylet (or was it boyleg) cut. Yep, we're using lace. Amazing how you can do those itsy-bitsy little thingies and how much they charge for them at the department stores.

For styling and couture, we're doing a corset. And we've done it by draping calico over the mannequin, unlike the flat patternmaking we were doing in first year. Unfortunately, I had to redrape because after I took the calico off the mannequin and traced it on cardboard, I made all the curved lines straight. Then after I corrected my pattern, cut out the calico for fitting, sewn the panels together, I thought I might fiddle with my patterns because the panels didn't match perfectly (there were teensy weensy excesses). Of course, once I did that and re-cut the calico, the panels definitely didn't matched so I had to retrace the draped panels onto cardboard. But it's good. I'm learning what I shouldn't do. =P

Will post photos later. =)

Golden Age of Couture at Bendigo

Our styling and couture class went on an excursion to Bendigo to view the exhibit entitled the Golden Age of Couture. The exhibit were made up of exquisite clothes and magnificent photos from 1940s to 1950s from London and Paris.
The clothes apparently were donated by the clienteles of Dior, Chanel, Balenciaga, Fath and others. The entire collection were on loan from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Unfortunately, photo taking was not allowed. Pity.
There were many magnificent dresses there. I was impresses by most of them. Some I didn't really like. There were miniature dolls showing the clothes and it was just amazing looking at the details. the beading on the dresses were also awe inspiring. It's sad that these kinds of high quality work is no longer as prevalent as before.

Missing Japan Already

What can I say about the trip? It was a cold, wacky, and totally inspiring experience. I knew there was a reason why I've always wanted to go to Japan, not just because it was the land of manga and animes although that's a very good reason, too.

It was strange seeing temples and shrines in the middle of the concrete jungle. It was fun watching people hurry along dressed in their business, preppy, and out-of-this-world outfits. I loved lookinga at the architectures at Omotesando and Ginza, Omotesando has edgier buildings from my point of view. Pity I wasn't able to see all the other designer buildings.



I smile as I remember the high-pitched greetings whether it was at Takashimaya or at Yoshinoya. I grimace a bit while recalling being pushed quashed inside the monorail while a polite white-gloved wearing staff pushed the crowd in. I laugh as I remember the horrified look of V when I explained to him the concept of the maid cafe. How he tried not to look embarrassed while we were being served by a very cute girl dressed in a french maid who could not speak a word of english but tried to entertain us, anyway. Maybe I was channeling my inner child, but I was so happy surrounded by cuteness. Even their commercials are cute.

I went there to be inspired, and, boy, was I inspired. Yes, the Japanese are known to have a cattle-mentality, follow the pack, so to speak, and yet, inspite of this or maybe because of this, they also have the ability to break away from the pack and do something marvelous. I'm not a fan of Rei Kawakubo's clothes but I can admire the genius behind the deconstructive clothes she makes. Neatness and cleanliness also seem to be one of the hallmarks of the culture. Whether it be in Tokyo Central or downtown Ueno or nearby Mitaka, things seem to be in order. Houses and buildings are neatly separated or stand neatly together.

That wasn't my first impression though, when we were riding the Skyliner and seeing parts of Narita. My first impmression was that it looked like Hong Kong without the haze. It was reinforced when we arrived at Ueno. Again, it looked like Hong Kong, albeit with wider streets and cleaner surroundings. When we started checking out the tourist sites, I thought, "Now it looks like Beijing but with more stylish people following the traffic/pedestrian lights."

Then we ate at tiny shops and went into department stores and finally it hit me, this is Japan. There maybe similarities but Japan, I should say Tokyo since I haven't seen the rest of Japan, has its own qualities. Its own quirks. But what I love the most is seeing beautiful people. By beautiful, I mean people who look like they like dressing up, who look great in what they're wearing and who are confident as they giggle and walk down the streets. I can also stare endlessly at the perfectly trimmed / pruned bushes, as well as at the elegant buildings.

And the food? Love their miso. Sounds weird but I seem to have developed a love for miso. =)

Can't wait till next time when we go to Kyoto and Osaka. Fingers crossed.

I wonder if they also have cute greetings like this?

Updates to continue

Sorry, peeps. Will have to postpone uploading and updating as I'm on travel again.

Blogging and posting of photos will resume when I come back.

Ta-ta

**Groggy ***

Shinjuku

After visiting the Ghibli Museum, we decided to go to Shinjuku.

According to Lonely Planet, it is the place to go to to experience modern Japan in all it's screaming neon glory. And they were right. Coming out of the station, even with the grey sky and slight drizzle, the neon lights and mass of humanity give the place a buzz.

I had a hard time concentrating since my eyes were constantly drawn up to the large electonic screens and beautifully presented window displays as well as to the very chic-ly dressed people I was meeting on the street. I managed to take some pictures, taken from the back most of the time as I didn't have enough courage to ask them to pose for me. Had it been the Sartorialist, he probably wouldn't have had any qualms taking their photos. sigh.

But it was great. Ginza just didn't compare to Shinjuku and I was actually expecting to see more well-dressed people in Ginza. I did see a lot of kimono-clad ladies in Ginza so that was another visual feast.

Photos to be uploaded later.

Ta-ta!

In Japan

Hullo,hullo

Day 2 in Japan. Have not been able to update since was too tired yesterday. Arrived yesterday and was so beat. Managed to go around Ueno, where we are staying right now, while waiting for the room to be ready. Will write about it more later.

Today we went to Kamakura, kinda similar to Kyoto according to one description. Would not really know since have not been to Kyoto. In case you guys are wondering why I am spelling it out everything, it is because the keyboard here is on an international mode, meaning, it has Japanese, Chinese and English characters but the apostrophe key seem to be missing. Anyway, lots of temples in Kamakura but could only go to 2 major ones and 3 minor shrines. Will upload the photos later.

Food is not that expensive since we eat at relatively cheapy but good eats places. We tried Yoshinoya, a popular fast food, and Suki-ya which from what I understand specializes in beef. I even started liking miso again. There are a lot of Western style restaurants but we didn't really want to eat there since we could have them back in Melbourne. Lots of sweet shops here too. I bough mochi, sticky rice thingies, at the the Giant Buddha temple. They even have them, the mochis, similar to bochi from what I can tell, in the shapes of the buddha. hehehe

That's all for now.

Tomorrow, we will probably go to Akihebara, the electronics city, since we want to see other things aside from temples and shrines.

Nyt, nyt.