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

The First

Hello again!

Hope everyone has had a great weekend and that going back to work isn't too bad! With this blog post I want to give you all an update and a look in to the latest collection being designed here at Ryan Pilkington!

Recently with orders being placed for evening wear I have had opportunities to look more into one of my favourite parts of the fashion world. Evening wear and haute couture. Designers like Elie Saab are my favourites. Always stunning, feminine and classic. I love seeing the details, the silhouettes and fabrics. As you'll soon find out "classic is my favourite word".

 

"Classic is my favourite word"

I wanted to use this information and growing interest a little more and design a small capsule collection of 8 looks and this would become the first collection officially designed for the Ryan Pilkington brand/business! Very exciting! With the collection, that's in the works now, I wanted to design looks that are classic, unique and sexy. It's no secret that the colour black is like the sword in the stone for fashion. Loved by all, this colour is the main colour for the collection. Dark, mysterious, intriguing and sexy this colour said everything I wanted with this collection.

Along the silhouette lines fort he collection I wanted simple elegance. No fussiness, nothing that was overworked or too flashy. This collection is more a celebration and a look into simplicity. The form of the female body and the classic chicness of letting just the shape of the woman and the fall of the fabric  do the talking. No distractions. Following along with those key points for the collection in mind I thought of fabrics. Silk is classic, falls beautifully and slides on the skin. This was the first obvious choice and then came lace. Lace is a cheeky fabric I find. The idea that your still wearing a piece of fabric however around 80% of it is sheer. Covered but exposed at the same time. Add black, silk and lace together and this is the foundations for the Black Classics Collection by Ryan Pilkington.

Check out the looks so far and find out more information along with new looks and more on the official Facebook page for Ryan Pilkington

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ryan-Pilkington/1586243024937075

Non Stop Trends 2013

Trend are popping up everywhere for spring and summer 2013. Including trends from Instagram and Pinterest! Of all places. Street fashion trends are always edgy and something that we never expect but that's why we love it. Here I'll be sharing all of the amazing new trends from the runway and the streets and how to wear them.

Hitchcock Heroines.
Seen on the runways of Oscar De Larenta and Christopher Kane this trend puts its focus on the 1960's and the screen sirens. Colours such as pastels, greens, yellows and pinks are key along with lace, tweed jackets and tailored skirts. Accessories to look out for are cat eye sunglasses and classic court heels. Lady like and classic with a fun twists. Try wearing pastel colour lace shirt dresses with peplums and have your hair done up or in curls. Perfect.

Blend-able Bags.
Usually matching your bag with the rest of your outfit wouldn't be accepted in fashion but for spring and summer 2013 that rule has been changed. See on the runways of Marc Jacobs, Mulberry and Carven this rend look stunning for summer. It helps give your outfits a classic sophisticated look. This look can be seen on the high street already in stores such as Karen Millen, Ted Baker and Oasis. If you don't want to go all out head to toe matchy matchy with your style then try wearing a pair of printed trousers and a matching bag like Ted Baker. Simple and lady like. This trend can work for every occasion. From everyday, office and wedding to everything in between.

Minimal.
This trend is all about the is simple silhouetted and plain colours. This was seen on the runways of Paul Smith and Osman. To nail this trend perfectly don't overdue your look with accessories. Stick to simple garments and chunky strap heels. Stream line your look with coats and tailored trousers. This trend can be seen on the high street in stores such as Topshop, Warehouse and Reiss. Simple.

Cacoon.
This trend is all about playing with your proportions. Dropped shoulders and capes are key to nailing this trend. This trend can be seen at Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana along with FROW celebrities such as Elle China Fashion Editor Mia Miao Zheng and L'Uomo Vogue Editor Giovanna Battaglia wearing the trend.

Stripes.
This trend is one of the most summery. Stripes are seen every spring and summer season along with the nautical trend. Seen at Dolce & Gabbana and Moschino the models wore head to toe stripes. For the runway look pile on as many stripes as you can! A striped top, trousers and bag would scream Moschino but for a more high street and Instagram take on the trend wear a striped pair of jeans with a classic shirt and wedges. Or maybe try going somewhere in between with a striped pair of trousers and a striped bag. This would nail both the Blend-able Bags trend too.

My New Logo

Recently I have wanted to redesign my logo. I wanted something interesting, edgy, unusual and instantly recognisable. We played around with the idea of having my initials mirrored, layers, sizing and font to see where it would development. I also wanted to incorporate a cross into my logo since its become a signature image in my style. Then at 3.30 in the morning my brand logo was born. A backwards R and normal P with a cross in the centre of the rings. Simple, stunning and edgy. It's everything I wanted my logo to be. It's my initials and my signature. Perfect. I love my logo now.

She's The Golden Girl, She's The Aphrodite

I recently took an interest in an artist that I never really payed much attention too in the past years. She is one of the most influential and well known stars out there. She started out her singing career in 1987 with the very catchy pop song that is "The Loco-Motion". it spent seven weeks at number one on the Australian singles chart and became the highest-selling single of the decade ! With her very catchy songs and stunning style Kylie Minogue is one of the world biggest superstars. The pint sized pop star has had hit after hit of songs including "Can't Get You Out Of My Head", "Wow", "Spinning Around", "All The Lovers" and many, many, many more. In July 2011, she released her eleventh studio album, Aphrodite. The album received amazing reviews and it debuted at number one in the UK, exactly twenty two years after her first UK number one hit ! The single "All the Lovers" became her thirty third top ten single in the UK. Wow.

With a career to die for top designers such as Gucci are falling over their own feet to have their creations worn by her. Dolce & Gabbana even custom designed her Aphrodite Tour costumes ! I recently saw the tour on tv and I have I say it was Stunning. I've gone from a bit of a Kylie virgin to being quite a little fan. Her style is known for being quite relaxed and simple while out and about in everyday life but always in heels (well done Kylie). Whilst being very extravagant and loud on stage. This woman always knows how to look her best and dress for her body. She knows she isn't very tall, so she uses cropped jackets, turn up jeans and heels to give the illusion of being taller. It's known that Kylie is a big Christian Louboutin fan and she can be seen wearing a pair of sky high platform heels on and off stage.

I think I've got a new favourite pop star....