Apologies for my lack of posting recently, A-Levels have taken over my life these past few months and I needed some time to get over it all!
This is just a quick overview of my final A-Level piece for fashion design - the title I chose was "mobile" and so initially thought that the Gypsy culture would fit in nicely as it was a travelling community, and therefore mobile.
A piece by Ossie Clark, exhibited in the Museum of Bath
A piece of second hand research - my own sketch of a tunic by Zandra Rhodes (1982)
In order to make my first hand research, I visited the British museum and also found a Gypsy caravan (or a Vardo). Then, as pictured below, I gravitated towards designers from the 60s/70s for my second hand research, looking at pieces by Ossie Clark, Zandra Rhodes and Bill Gibb in particular.
From this research I began to create samples, initial, developed and a design final idea, and then went on to create my textile design, ready to be transferred onto a silk screen to be screen printed. This process was all to be done before the exam.
One of many experimental samples I did throughout the project
Rough sketches of my developed idea, the design on the right was to be
finished and adapted to create my final design
My design, on the silk screen
Finally, during the exam I created my ensemble of both a tunic and trousers (not pictured), the main details of which were of course the screen print design, as well as shearing.
The pattern of the tunic was adapted from a basic female block, as well as this, I added a collar. I drafted the high waisted trouser block myself, from the pattern book and then proceeded to adapt it to my design.
My final piece! - only the tunic is pictured here, because
I couldn't find anyone to model my trousers properly!
Stevie Nicks became famous in the 1970s when she joined Fleetwood Mac with boyfriend, Lindsey Buckingham. Audiences were captivated by her soft, sultry voice; and so, paired with her floaty style, a true icon was born.
Born: 26th May 1948
Famous for: 1/4 of the 1970s Anglo-American rock band, Fleetwood Mac.
Style Characteristics: Romantic/hippie stagewear.
Early Life
Stevie was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and first learnt to sing with her grandfather (who was a dwindling country singer). She recalls performing duets with him as a young child.
Stevie's gyspy style (in both fashion and music) was heavily influenced by her love of fairy tales - a by-product of her mother's overprotective nature. Instead of going out to play with friends, Stevie would immerse herself in stories.
Stevie wrote her first song on her sixteenth birthday, it was called "I've Loved and I've Lost, and I'm Sad But Not Blue". With this, she joined her first band, however, later met her future musical and romantic partner at High School, Lindsay Buckingham, leaving "The Changing Times" to join "Fritz".
Fritz became a popular live act, and they soon began to support iconic musicians such as Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.
Fleetwood Mac
Stevie and Lindsay left Fritz in 1972 to pursue a career in music together, however, Stevie endured many years of waitressing and cleaning before her career with Fleetwood Mac turned her into the 70s icon she is today.
Nicks and Buckingham joined Fleetwood Mac at the end of 1974 (only after Buckingham insisted that he would only join if Stevie be invited into the band too - they insisted they were a "package deal" - something that paid off as Stevie is the most iconic member of the band!).
Stevie Nicks worked with designer Margi Kent to develop her unique onstage look - this often included flowing skits, shawls and platform boots (influenced by the floaty dresses often pictured in fairytales).
Although Fleetwood Mac as a band became extremely successful, tensions started to grow between Stevie and Lindsay; Nicks eventually ended the relationship as she felt it was affecting their creativity. Despite this, the band continued to record their album Rumours.
Nicks' most notable contribution to Rumours was "Dreams" which was the band's only No.1 hit single. Regardless of the tensions and affairs within the band, however, they continued recording well into the late 70s.
Icon-Worthy
Stevie Nicks is known for her romantic image, flowing skirts, shawls, lace and long blonde hair have become her most notable style characteristics. Nicks collaborated with designer Margi Kent in order to perfect her style which she still calls her "uniform".
During the late 70s/early 80s, Nicks adopted the style of Renaissance velvet berets decorated with plume feathers, this was a continuation of her romantic/gypsy style.
Stevie's shawls and capes have great significance within her live performances, for example, she wears red/crimson for "Sara", white for "Edge of Seventeen" and gold for "Gold Dust Woman".
Although they are often associated together, Stevie Nicks admitted to being inspired by Janis Joplin and Grace Slick (from Jefferson Airplane) as her first band "Fritz" began as one of Joplins' supporting acts.
Stevie has commented on her style in interviews, conveying her shock in finding out she was not only appreciated for her music, but also for her "Bella Donna/Witchy" image. Most of her clothing, she says, was for practical reasons. She often wore platforms so as not to feel short in comparison to the rest of the band.
"I'm timeless, I got that Dickensian, London street-urchin look in high school. I'll never be in style, but I'll always be different."
"I've always liked long, flowing clothes,...I used to rummage around in my grandmother's trunks trying to find them. I love the feeling of chiffon and lace."
