A day in the life of a Fashion Designer
This was my chance to be a Fashion Designer for a big brand. I wanted to create a capsule collection that would ultimately flatter any female form and appeal to all shapes and sizes. I wanted a collection that could take girls from day-to-night with ease. To help, I looked to the 1940s’ for inspiration, as this stylish era was all about glamour, sophistication and femininity. Here’s how I got on!
A collection with my name on it
I was involved in the whole process, from the designing process right through to the marketing of my collection. Firstly, I designed around 40 different outfits in various shapes, colours, lengths and styles. I then sat down with the Buying and Marketing teams to pick out what we thought were the best outfits. That was quite a difficult task for me as I loved all of my designs! With our selected outfits, we headed to the factory to take a look at the fabrics available.
The final cut
Three of my outfits made the final cut, as we felt these designs would really attract the target customer. I was involved in the fitting sessions, making alterations to clothes when needed. It was great seeing my designs coming to life right in front of my eyes! After production and sampling we worked with Marketing and PR, and the final stage will be when the collection goes on sale in July.
The process didn’t always go as smoothly as I’d wished. There were a few restrictions when it came to fabrics and lengths that I had to work around and resolve to make sure the designs still looked wearable and current – but every problem was a learning curve for me.
It was a challenge in itself designing a collection for a customer who knows exactly what she wants. The Look Again customer likes eye-catching key pieces that don’t require too much styling or accessorising. So I decided on 3 staple pieces:
- The Jumpsuit – a stylish alternative to a dress that’s a statement of its own and perfect for any occasion
- The LBD – a feminine and flirty option that isn’t too short
- The Berry Dress – a floaty number with drape detailing to hide any lumps and bumps
I’ve gained valuable experience working professionally as well as creatively with Look Again, and loved every minute of it. I think it will all become very real once I see my collection on the website; words can’t describe how I’ll feel when my designs go live for the first time. I’m sure there will be tears – if not from me, then definitely from my family!