Summer 2014 DW Fashion Design Challenge: Entry #9: Professional

Entrant Category: Professional

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After doing internet research to see what the trends for this year's back to school were on different stores websites such as Forever 21, Justice among others and watching many You Tube Videos of Back To School fashion hauls, I determined what I was going to do.

I had picked up a piece of floral knit fabric a few months ago that was in my bin and I had no concrete plans for it and I decided that it was what I would build my design around.

It was a tiny scaled floral and the scale was really so perfect that I couldn't help but buy some. I decided after seeing so many skater style skirts that would be the basis of my designs. However, my issue with them as a whole for back to school or a school outfit is that they are really short and we have a really strict dress code both here and in my home town. After talking to some mom's of teens I found out the way they get around that is bike shorts underneath. I saw they were pairing them with tanks often quite strappy tanks and that is also not allowed on many dress codes so the lacy crochet sweater was the perfect solution and cropped with the high waist of the skirt. I had an overall sense of Deja Vu. The 90's are back somewhat. I made a floral print flat with the same fabric, a matching headband and backpack for accessories. I also got some mini Composition books because American Girl is big on the school stuff to support the story. I added some doodles to the notebooks as I would have had them by then.

Other aspects of my design were that it would be sold again as separates to be a wardrobe builder so I made two pairs of shorts and two tanks. You can mix and match the pieces and they are all things you can work into your wardrobe in other ways. Versatile pieces are keys to her collection. For example with a top in one of the key colors of the floral print you can easily pair the headband and shoes with a pair of jeans. The backpack is really fairly plain. The skirt can be worn with leggings and a different top in one of the key colors. The shorts will work as short the tanks can be paired in different ways. So many choices. With the sweater, without the sweater.

The sweater I crocheted to fit the doll and I opted to make it go over the feet and not have any kind of closure. It is very open and it would mar the look to have velcro or snaps up the back. The sweater is boxy and loose but fitted on the doll's arms. I added a floral motif to the sweater's design to coordinate with the floral in all the other areas.

I again designed for my Girl Of The Year Candace and she is really into fashion, blogging and vlogging on You Tube. I added content to her blog and her vlog for this Fashion Design Competition. She models for Confetti Doll Designs. She met another model at a shoot for a charity that Confetti Doll Designs supports called Dolls for A Cause and his name is Devin and he is her boyfriend. However they basically only chat online because he lives in a different state. So since she is young still it isn't more than puppy love. The doodles are his name. He models for Mini Me Dolly Diva's. I included a link so you can find him and to help promote our charity group. Devin is a Harmony Club boy doll.

Candace is all wrapped up with her new school year and getting homework done to blog, vlog, and chat with Devin in this book. She realizes how hard she has to work to make her dreams come true. She wants to become someone big in the fashion world.

Here are some links to all of the internet stops for her story line:

Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ConfettiDollDesigns?ref=pr_shop_more

Blog: http://iwantcandytoo.blogspot.com/

Vlog: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHW8oySmVUjLMRveUcSEvOQ

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Confetti-Doll-Designs/1424421391147498

My friend who own's Candace's boyfriend: https://www.facebook.com/MiniMeDollyDivas

Charity group Dolls For A Cause: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dolls-for-a-Cause/1374284286135770?ref=bookmarks

Inspiration Board

I made some collages of my process photos to simplify the photo transfer. I tend to get really into what I am doing and forget to take a ton of photo's while I work. I get into a zone. These were shot with my cell phone and aren't the highest quality but you can see where I drew my skirt pattern with my compass and my sweater I did just have a doll handy and crocheted around her.

^ This is me working on the shoes, headband and the backpack. Shoes are made from a Love U Bunches pattern. I bought the blank headbands a few years ago from an online seller. Denim is upcycled and the backpack is my own design.

Fabric choices, the shorts and tank tops from Liberty Jane patterns.

My skirt from drafting the pattern to sewing it.

Crocheting the sweater with Kaya by my side getting fitted for it.

Finished Outfit

I tried to show several ways to mix and match these pieces and I have also included some photos I used a few filters on. I hope you enjoy.