Modifying the Form

Last term at London College of fashion we were taught how to Modify the Form and then use this knowledge to help inform our design work. See here for my design project for the story Animal Farm by George Orwell adapted by Peter Hall.

We used body padding to modify the form. I decided to make a simple pregnancy belly. I'm still dying to go out walking around London with it on! It would hopefully guarantee me seat on the tube in the mornings!

We then made an 18th Century Pannier from the Jean Hunnisett Book: Period Costume for Stage and Screen (1500-1800). All of her books are great and these ones in particular are a must have for Costume students!

I wanted to make a second pannier but didn't have enough money to buy more steel so I used polyester boning instead... As you can see it didn't quite have the same effect as (the right one) is a bit flat! When I have a bit more money I will buy some and remake the right pannier.

The majority of our workshops were spent making a late Victorian corset to fit ourselves. It was made from a beautiful white courtil with white satin binding and silk embroidered flossing. Working with white was a bit of a nightmare as I'm not the tidiest of people so I had to be extra careful with washing my hands all the time etc. I can't imagine what it must be like to make a wedding dress!

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

I recently went to see the live screening of the Royal Ballet’s production of Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at the Royal Opera House and I absolutely loved it! My boyfriend actually turned his nose up at the idea of going to the cinema to watch ballet but I think it’s a really great idea that’s affordable. Although you don’t get the same experience as dressing up and going to the magnificent Royal Opera House, you still get the exciting atmosphere off of the audience which you wouldn’t get from watching it on the television at home. I would very much recommend it!

The wonderland was brilliantly imagined by Christopher Wheeldon (choreographer) Joby Talbot (composer) and Bob Crowley (set and costume designer). There is something very fashionable at the moment about Alice in Wonderland, particularly tea parties, whether it be cupcake merchandise, teapot jewellery, baking television shows such as The Great British Bake Off, fashionable pottery such as Emma Bridgewater or just hosting your own Mad Hatter tea party. I thought the ballet was very “on trend” if you like so I’m just going to share with you just a few of my favourite moments because there are just too many to write about!

Set Design by Bob Crowley

Alice in wonderland visual world was created by Bob Crowley who ingeniously designed the inventive costumes and sets. Whilst still keeping the traditional Alice in Wonderland basic themes Crowley upgrades the basic designs in a 21^st century manner as well as using set to solve seemingly impossible design problems for a live ballet such as the shrinking and growing of Alice in act 1.



The belly dancing sensual Caterpillar



Performed by Eric Underwood

365 crystals encrusted onto the Caterpillar's ballet shoes

In the ballet the different character’s personalities are reflected through their dance style, which are then further complimented with costume and set. For example the Caterpillar, played by Eric Underwood, is cleverly portrayed through sensual belly dance and (to use the hip hop term) ‘the worm’ where he almost seduces and hypnotises Alice. He is one of the eight dancers who has custom-made shoes encrusted with 365 crystals. Read about it here.

The energetic and quirky Mad Tapper
played by Steven McRae

The Red Queen
played by Zenaida Yanowsky

The Red Queen, played by Zenaida Yanowsky, wore a hard, dominant costume on wheels where she rolled around the stage. This was complimented with strong, aggressive choreography and un-elegant movements in her arms which was a complete contrast to Alice’s delicate traditional and contemporary ballet dance.

The ingenious flamingo costumes were easily my favourite from the entire production

The Royal Ballet’s production of Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is truly magical, visually and technically excellent, and suitable for all ages. If you have never been a fan of ballet I would really recommend this one as it is modern, entertaining and exciting to watch – one that is hard to beat!

To find out more about the Royal Opera House's live screenings at your nearest cinema click here.

Les Miserables Costume and Props Exhibition

 Today my Mother was lovely enough to take us over to Portsmouth to see the Les Miserable Exhibition  at the Mary Rose in Portsmouth. The beginning scenes from Les Mis were filmed in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with HMS Victory and Portsmouth Naval Base both being used as locations in the film.

Costumes designed by Paco Delgado and worn by the main actors and actresses as well as the extras were on display in the exhibition. Seeing the costumes in the film is great but there is something special about seeing the costumes in the flesh that encourages you to really appreciate the fabrics, colours and amount of detail that goes into every costume. Well worth a visit!