From the original shape of the robe and after quite a few experiments and draping on the stand I quite like this one which was simple fold from the corners to the shoulder line, which I thought created this great from of it being short in the front and long in the back also this volume to the garment. Also there's a simplicity to it and I think with the right fabric it could be modern and interesting design. 
Check out Miss Selfridge's Autumn/Winter 2010 catwalk collection Video below!
& TaLeNtEd LeBaNeSe Designer,who's has worked for Alexander McQueen, John Galliano and Chloe.
Window Installation >> Selfridges>>London, July 2006 
Window Installation >> Pringle>>London, May 2008
Window Installation>> Smythson>> London, August 2007
More toiling with calico and developing design ideas. I used the basic shape from the previous robe and just worked about with the shape and experiment with simple drapery. I think there are some interesting forms which I created and I like that there are quite simple ideas. 
Louis Vuitton's collection was interesting and almost not what I expected from the fashion house. The collection embraced many different things by ' Jacobs was talking about Art Deco, Art nouveau, orientalism and the first designer he ever worked for Kansai Yamamoto.' (style.com) All I can really say the collection wasn't boring but wasn't exactly my taste, however I did like the use of colour maybe it was a bit too much at some point but I prefer collections to be colourful and exciting than monotone. There were clear signs of inspiration from the Chinese cheongsam but definitely modernised.
My tutor told me to dye some traditional fabrics but I could only get a hold of some disperse dye today and thought it would be quite cool to try it out as I've never really done textiles experimentation before. I also wanted to try using the disperse dye on the traditional fabric but didn't really make a difference. Disperse dye is applied to fabric by firstly applying the dye to paper with a design of your choice and then simply putting the paper on top 
of the fabric and ironing then the dye is transferred to the fabric. In the pictures show the dye painted on top of a Chinese outline pattern and then the outcome after being ironed on to calico. I thought it turned out really nice and intricate pattern, it created a delicate textile. 
Paper Art- Yulia Brodskaya's Paper Cutting Art Techinique
Fabrics samples which I have collected so far. Normally I would look and choose a solid coloured fabrics but as I looked at the Chinese traditional robes from the qing dynasty they used such richly decorated fabrics which i thought are beautiful. So I wanted to incorporated some printed and brocade textiles in my collection to give make my designs more unique. My favourite fabric that I ve collected is the fabric in the forth picture which is a fuchsia coloured Chinese brocade from Borovicks on Berwick street. I love the colour and the dragon and flower patten on the brocade.
I discovered a new designer who just recently debuted at London Fashion week with a collection based around white but accented with doses of silver, gold and mint green. The collection is beautiful in detail and simplicity which is what I want my collection to highlight on. I love the use of mixed textures in the outfits and silhouettes, which includes stunning layering with jackets and flowing shirts. Also I adore the use of asymmetric aspects to the collection makes the garment interesting and fresh as she only used muted colours, where white to me is such a crisp colour. 
At the first stage of developing design ideas I've been simply playing around with the shape of the collar on traditional Chinese robe to create this layering. I want to use the form to make something simple but unique. I don't want anything too complex as I want my collection to be marketable and for high street shoppers to want and think its simple beauty but I m still in early stages of development and have some way to go into finalising.
A historic runway show in 2007 showcasing Fendi's 2008 spring/summer collection was an amazing event and marketing tool for the company to advertise to the chinese population as the fashion show was placed on one of their most iconic monument. Not only setting a beautiful scenery but one of the longest runway in fashion history at 1,500 mile. 
He creates amazing art with an intricate and detailed physical structure with single sheets of card, which also echoes an equally lacy and delicate emotional centre within the pieces.
Photos taken at the V&A by Virginia Man
The other aspect of the Chinese culture which drew my attention was the traditional dress during the Qing Dynasty in China. Which can be known as several different names such as Hanfu, Ch'i Fu, Official Court Robes or Dragon Robe. I find the 'robes' remarkable in the richness it presents and I like the simplicity in the design but still accented with the collar & cuff detailing, making it appealing to me. 
So I am now focusing on these two aspects of the Chinese culture for my collection and hopefully the outcome will be extraordinary!
My initial inspiration for my final major project (collection) was 'Ethnic Fusion'. I love culture and different ethnic clothing as it's filled with admiration and heritage of different country. It colourful and energetic to me, but from my tutors looking at the work that I had done, I seemed to have gathered too much. Which sort of left me in a confused position and needing to re-think a lot.
The wonderful Victoria & Albert Museum is filled with plenty of history and culture, there is so much to see and explore !
