MERRY CHRISTMAS!

This illustration is for all my lovely readers out there. I just want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and I hope your holiday season will be filled with lots of love and laughter. Enjoy!

Danielle Shepherd Fashion Illustration

Hey everyone,

I know I promised some Rome Street Style in the next post, so think of this as like a commercial break post.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to plug (it's not shameful if it's on my own blog right?) my new fashion illustration blog, Danielle Shepherd Fashion Illustration.





I've posted some of my illustrations on this blog before but I thought it was time to create a new one dedicated solely to my work. I would really appreciate it if you'd check it out, and if you like, leave a comment or two. Thanks a lot!

Now back to your regularly scheduled program.

Ever walked a pot-bellied pig while wearing Chanel?

No...me neither but I think mini pot-bellied pigs are so cute and I've always had a love for Chanel so I was inspired to combine the two in a new illustration (below).

N.B the Chanel outfit featured is from the SS10 collection.




Also, I attended Fashion Fusion Expo 2010 as a backstage dresser (photos to come soon) and below is an illustration inspired by a backstage photo taken of an outfit by London-based fashion stylist, Hannah J.

London Calling

Hey everyone!

Since moving to England in November, I'm still very into doing 'tourist-y' stuff and I've managed to do a bit of sightseeing around London in the past couple months. It really is an exciting city - there's so much to do and see and what I've seen so far is only a very small percentage of what is available.

As an aspiring Fashion Visual Merchandiser, it's the shop window displays that grab my attention the most because they're so beautiful and creative, they're all over London and I don't have to spend any money at all to appreciate them.

Over the holidays, I took some snaps of a few Christmas displays that I liked and I thought I'd share them with you.

Harvey Nichols

Harrods

Pinko

Zara

As I previously mentioned, I also visited the Fashion & Textile Museum in London a while ago where there was a small exhibition featuring the works of Marion Foale and Sally Tuffin, influential fashion design duo of the 1960s.

As everyone knows, in the fashion world, what goes around comes around and many of the pieces on display could, with some minor adjustments, very well fit into the wardrobes of today's fashionable women.

Foale & Tuffin Exhibition at the Fashion & Textile Museum

Tabitha Big Sleeve Floral Tea Dress
Price: UK£20.00 (US$31.90)

Nom De Plume Yaya Moto Jacket
Price: US$58.00

ASOS PETITE Exclusive Cropped Sleeve Lace Tunic Dress

Price: UK£40.00 (US$67.99)

Domino Print Dress
Currently out of stock

Elisha Contrast Trim Cardigan
Price: US$48.00

Below are a Foale & Tuffin photo spread and some of their fashion sketches.

Relocation, Relocation

Hey everyone,

My sincerest apologies for being completely MIA over the past few months. At first, this absence began out of lack of inspiration, and then I was busy working on a mural for a preschool which took up all my time and energy.

However, I have some big news I must share with you! I relocated from Barbados to England on November 21 and I've been completely wrapped up in the chaos of settling into a new country.

While this new environment is completely different from the one I grew up in, it's so exciting to experince something new and interesting. It's been quite an adjustment particularly in terms of my wardrobe as many of the clothes I wore in Barbados were suited for tropical weather and are pretty impractical in the cold winter weather. I've had a chance to do some shopping for a few winter wardrobe essentials (coat, jumpers, boots etc.) but it's very basic so far.

In the short time I've been here, I have managed to explore quite a bit and I try to capture memories wherever I go. So far, the only photographic device I have had access to is my mobile phone but I've been making it work.

I attended the Clothes Show Live fashion exhibition in Birmingham on December 5 and it was a really fantastic event. Not only was it full of tons of discounted shopping deals, there was also plenty of entertainment in the form of fashion shows. It was my first time attending any fashion event of that scale and I was especially excited since it was my first time attending a designer fashion show. It was completely exhilarating watching the amazing designs of Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano, Dolce & Gabbana, Jean Paul Gaultier among others sashay down the runway.

Tomorrow, I plan to go to the Fashion & Textile Museum in London and I'll make sure to take some photos to share with you!

If any of you readers have any suggestions for any other great places to visit in England, I would really appreciate them. Thanks a lot!

Also, take a look at this lovely, atmospheric video of the Chanel Spring/Summer 2010 Details. Love, love, love!!

I'm back!

Hey everyone,

I hope you're all doing well. Oh, how I've missed you and this blog.

I have finally completed my degree and it feels so good to be free. My final exhibition went well; I received great feedback from the people who viewed it. It was such a challenging experience trying to get everything finished in time because I had some major setbacks along the way, but I made it through. Thanks to everyone who offered their support and encouragement, I really appreciate it.

My major project was a lifestyle brand for girls around ages five to ten, based on different aspects of my country Barbados. It was comprised of products, packaging and advertising. My minor project, on the other hand, was a weekly style inspiration magazine and shopping guide for young women around mid-teens to 20s. Unfortunately, I can't show any pictures of my major project at this time because of copyright issues (sorry!) but I've posted some photos below of some of the outfits I styled from the magazine.

I tried to create an interesting and diverse set of outfits that looked natural; I didn't want the photos or the outfits to look too 'perfect' or forced. Tell me what you think!










In the time I've been gone, I feel like the fashion world has moved on and left me behind. I have had little to no time to check up on what's been happening but I will do my best to get back on track now.

What fashion trends/news are you excited about at the moment?

Break...

Hey everyone,

I hoped it would not come to this, but unfortunately, it is an unavoidable situation. Due to my upcoming final year show, Fatal Attraction 2 Fashion will be going on hiatus until early May. My focus has to be devoted to this show right now, so I hope you understand my reason for this decision. Thanks everyone for your support thus far and I hope to see most, if not all, of you when I return :)

Birthday Spots and Stripes

I didn't get to go out on my birthday last weekend because I was feeling quite under the weather (great timing huh? Sheesh!), so I went out this Saturday instead with my mother and sister for dinner and a round of mini-golf. Here's the outfit I wore:

Vintage Leopard Print Dolman Sleeve Blouse - Etsy, Brown Cinch Belt - Thrifted, Black Cami - Unknown, Pinstriped Full Skirt - Express, T-Bar Sandals - Old Navy

Oh yeah, I got a fringe cut a few weeks ago and it was a spur of the moment decision actually. I was flipping through an old magazine that my hairdresser had in the room and I saw a model with a fringed hairdo which I thought looked cool so I decided I'd get one as well. Unfortunately, it looks a little weird in the pic below because the wind was blowing it out all night.




When it comes to birthday gifts, people tend not to know what to get me unless I let them know specifically, so most just usually end up giving me money - which, of course, is A-OK with me!

After a very long, seemingly hopeless search for affordable shoes in my size (11/12) that I actually like, I finally found these two pairs which I purchased with the money I received. Can't wait till they arrive!

Nine West Women's Lahdidah Shootie
Price: US$56.90

Fitzwell Fanny
Price: US$69.00

I am also eagerly anticipating the arrival of some recently purchased items from Love Colour- Love Tights (Thanks Marian!), Etsy and Ebay - here are a few of my favourite purchases below.

Pleated Bolero from konane

Vintage Griffin Belt Buckle from 5andDime

Black Long Drapey Open-front Thingie from cotton fields

Floral and Striped Tights from Love Colour, Love Tights.

Vintage Diamond-Shaped Sunglasses from Forever Vintage Sunglasses

Woohoo! I love birthdays, especially milestones like the 21st. Hopefully people will still care about me this much when I'm 30.

Speaking of caring, I can always count on my lovely friends in the blogosphere to make me feel appreciated. I recently received the Cute's Blogger and the Your Blog is Fabulous awards from Hiking in Stilettos and Searching the Inner Me, respectively. Thanks so much ladies!

Cute's Blogger and Your Blog is Fabulous Rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2.Nominate at least 10 blogs which you think are fabulous.
3Be sure to link your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received the award.

For these awards, I nominate:

Style Spot, The House of Style, Walking in Midgie's Boots, The Ongoing Project, Vain and Vapid, We Wear Things, With Love..., Wendiva, Africana in Atlanta, All in your Innerspace, Along the Shore, Aphex Nation, Asian Cajuns, Budget Chic, I Am Style-ish, Femme Rationale, Dapper Kid

You can pick one or have 'em both!

P.S Don't feel obligated to pass on these awards, especially if you've already received them.

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend, take care!