Shop the S/S 15/16 Collection Now!

A Sunday in Sheffield.

It started with waking up at 7am. A sunny day that I knew would turn into a blur once it was over. It's show day and I started the day manufacturing the final dress. This turned out to be a life saving idea later on.

I arrive dat the venue, Soyo Bar in Sheffield at 2pm. The day was filled with nerves, smiles, fittings, make up meetings and run throughs. It was interesting to make connections with models and get to talk with them about future work. This resulted in me being able to have 7 new potential models for runways and campaigns! In particular I have one that I have already asked to work with in an up and coming project with more details coming soon!

It was a great day. The outfits looked amazing, even if I do say so myself and it was then that I felt like a real designer. Only then. It felt real. Getting to see the clothing that I have slaved over for such a long time for on women, seeing them fit, seeing the women smile and compliment the looks simply warmed my heart. It made me feel proud of what I had accomplished. After the fitting was complete I had time to become organised. I had the opportunity to finalise my line up and work out who was changing into what next and if it was at all possible. Shoes sorted along with hair and make meant that we were free to sit and relax for a little bit. This was around 5.30pm.

It was at this point that I thought to myself 'this is what every designer had to do. This is what Coco had to do'. Each great label started somewhere. Yes it was only a small collection. But it was made out of love and each garment had the right amount of care and attention that it deserved. It was also at this point where I started to feel scared. Scared of the fact that there was a possibility that no one would turn up. Sharing this moment with non of the people closest to me was something I was scared of.  A feeling that if I'm honest isn't too new to me.

People started arriving at 7pm and it turned out that the first two people through the door were my parents. This was great as it meant that I had the chance to talk to them and it was nice to feel the support. The room started to fill and it was time for the first runway show to begin. I was the last designer to show a collection and I was happy with this arrangement. It meant that my looks would be the freshest on people minds.

9.15pm and my models were all dressed and ready to go in their first looks. It felt like I had a butterfly nest in my stomach. Look after look my collection was shown and to walk out and feel the applause from the audience was simply amazing.

After the show I got the chance to network with people in the audience and I made a business connection with a potential new event sponsor. The event was put on by Eleganza Events and helped raise £335 for Sheffield Children's Hospital.

An amazing experience.

You can shop the collection now! Use the links below with more of the looks being added very soon!

Draped top with a herringbone pencil skirt 

Seedling print shift dress

Ikat print shift dress

Black shift dress

Check out the Facebook page for more! www.facebook.com/RPDesigns
Any further information please email pilkingtonsdesigns@gmail.com 

Thanks,

Ryan x

Head 2 Toe Knits

Hello!

It's fall and winter time again and that means it's time to start digging out your long lost knitted loves again! For many fall and winter 2014 collections designers focused on knitwear as their major texture and they didn't go about it shyly! Ill be showing you the designers that love wool this season and some top tips for wearing al wool!

                            "Love wool this season" 

Now, knitwear can be big, bulky and frankly quite unflattering but designers had created skirts, dresses and tailored trousers showing that head to toe wool is completely possible and even fashionable! Designers such as Céline, Acne and Sonia Rykiel have created look that really are lovely.

Top tip: Don't wear too many tick layers of wool. Look for a mixture of thicknesses, Tops and trousers want to be thinner wools and jackets etc want to be thicker. Mix them for a look that makes heads turn and is still flattering!

Top tip: Simple is key! Dont overdo on the wools. This will add bulk and make you look bigger. Wear key wool items such as a skirt, top and wool socks for a fun, wool look that simple, minimalist and stylish!

Top tip: Designers this season looked to keep all the rolls the same colour. My favourite being all black as its chic, flattering and mysterious. Keep the colours neutral for a more understated look. Khaki, cream and black being key choices.

What do you think to this trend for fall/winter? Love it or hate it? Comment below and let me know! Remember to follow the blog too and never miss a post again! Thank you! Remember to "Always Be Classic" ! 

Bye until next time! 

NYFW Review - The "Worst"

Hello!

Last week was New York Fashion Week! Last time I took you through my picks of what I think are the best shows from NYFW day by day. If you missed the post click the link here to check it out: http://bit.ly/1qMaxgC. This time I'm going to reveal the collection that I thought should've had a longer life on the drawing board. I know I said "Worst" collection but that is such a strong word so I'll say my least favourite collection fro  NYFW.

10/09/14 - Jeremy Scott SS 15 - This collection isn't my cup of tea at all. But I also can't decide where it would be anyones cup of tea either honestly. This collection makes me think that Jeremy got a bunch of naughty little kids to draw the designs instead. Yes its fun, loud, wacky and youthful but its not exactly buyable, wearable or stylish (at least not in my eyes). Designers are known for having "out there" tastes when it come to style and fashion however i do think that there is a line where conceit's passed it becomes ridiculous. Its perfect for Miley Cyrus with her new crazy style and album but for us everyday people who love fashion its not. Incidentally Miley walked out with Jeremy at the end of the show.

Dont get me wrong, I like colour, fun and being adventurous with fashion. Just in fashionable ways. If you love the collection then fair play to you and I know that we all have our own opinions and views but this is not what I would ever design or ever buy.

Sorry Jeremy but I think this completely missed the mark…

Oh Chanel!

Hello!

Now I don't know if its just me or does fashion power house Chanel never disappoint? Inside that Chanel house there must be secret gold dust that Mr Largerfeld sprinkles onto each look of each collection before it goes out. Season after season Chanel has never let me down. Always something new, exciting and unexpected from the label.

Spring and summer 2014 brought us the 'arty' looks with fabrics in paint brush prints, colourful woven and beaded fabrics to make up a 90 look collection that was fun, loud and interesting. Each look had hidden details that you didn't notice the first time around. The set was stunning as always from the house. The venue was transformed in to a large art gallery with large Chanel logo's recreated in various media and the famous No5 bottle being recreated in marble. Amazing. The models even followed the theme through with the accessories with some of the models carrying clipboards and paintbrushes!



Autumn and winter 2014 Chanel brought the supermarket to the fashion lovers. The shelves were stocked with 100,000 mock branded Chanel food products!  Long coats, mixed and matched prints and textures and Chanel this time followed the trainer trend that has been huge for the past few seasons. This trend fro me isn't great or I'm at least in the fence with it. Not being the most sporty person ever I cant say I can do the trend much justice but I'm not a fan of women wearing this trend. On men done properly with some skinny jeans and a great jumper in a cool print or texture then I think it works a treat but on women I like to see more feminine shoes like the classic heel. Not chunky metallic trainers. Chanel lost a mark because of this for me so it gets a 9/10. However what's interesting to see is that even a major fashion house has to follow the street trends to be able to sell products and make profit. Designers now are having to design to sell not design to make art. If they make art that sells then they've hit the bulls eye.

As you can see Chanel has made me fall in love with it all over again this year in fashion and I cant wait to see what will come next from the worlds biggest fashion house!

Check out videos here:

 

Spring summer 2014

 

 

Fall winter 2104

Until next time! Remember to Always Be Classic!