Fashion. Music. Love.

I have made my return from a week in sunny Mexico, and if it wasn't for all the people I love in this town I probably would have stayed! That place is amazing, and so laid back. I took a LOT of pictures, some of which will be edited and posted on my Flickr (check it out, I'm not half bad a photographer)... as soon as I can upload them to my computer. Currently, I'm having technological difficulties. I'm taking donations for a new computer... just saying.

Once I do have pictures up, I will devote a post to my love for Mexico, but in the meantime, lets talk a bit about what's been heating up this small Southern Alberta town.

Last night was Lethbridge Fashion Weekend, a small fashion show that was created by my very talented instructor, check her blog, Schizo Style, out here. It featured some of the local designers, but was not as big as it was last year, sadly two designers dropped out, and I didn't get my shatner together in time (or at all) to make my collection. Lack of motivation would do that. I neglected to bring my camera, which is dead from Mexico, but my wonderful colleague, Kat, took lots of pictures for her blog, The Visual Gerbil. Both blogs are much more interesting than mine, as they're probably not high when they write them. Not that I am right now... it's too early.
I digress.

Last week was the Oscars, and despite my lack of movie watching of late, it was fun to attend an Oscars viewing party and watch all the stars in their amazing dresses. My top 3 favourites?

Halle Berry in Marchesa

Photo via weblogsurf.com

Scarlett Johansson in Dolce & Gabbana

Photo via sawfnews.com

And lastly...

Anne Hathaway in Oscar de la Renta
(one of her many dresses of the evening!)
Photo via celebrityfashiondirectory.com

Also in blogworthy news, next weekend me and my fella are going to go to Medicine Hat to see.... wait for it....

....Drum roll please....

EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL

I'm SO EXCITED I COULD PEE.

Photo via www.medicinehatmedia.com

I'm rather surprised it's playing in Medicine Hat, of all places... last year it was in Calgary, but I was still living in BC, and then when I moved here, it was in Vancouver. So this year, there is no missing it, and thankfully my significant other is just as big of a dork as I and wants to go too. Needless to say, it's going to be ridiculous.

In more exciting news, this summer promises to be a great one for music.
First up, April 1st in Calgary....

THE FLATLINERS!

Photo Via Groundcontrolmag.com

Anybody who knows me knows how much I LOVE this band. Anybody who's read my blog knows how awesome the last time I saw them was (SOOO RAD). They never disappoint, and every time it has been worth the trip - and then some.

Keeping with the Fat Wreck line-up, this coming June we have the self-crowned kings of candor, sultans of slander, Bastions of D.I.Y.....

NOFX

Photo via lastfm.com

Taking off on their first coast-to-coast Canadian tour since the 90's, NOFX will be coming to Alberta, playing dates in both Calgary and Edmonton. Words can't describe how STOKED I am to see NOFX. I've never seen them before, and I've been listening to them for about 10 years. These guys have been doing this since before I was even born. Also touring with NOFX, are lablemates Teenage Bottlerocket (upbeat pop punk), and Old Man Markley (punk rawk bluegrass). If you live in Canada, check out the dates at any of the links I've provided!

Also coming this June, we'll have SLED ISLAND in Calgary. I didn't get the chance to attend last year, but apparently I missed out on a lot of awesome bands, so this year I will definitely be going, especially if any of the local bands go up there.

Wow, with all of these exciting things going on, I have spent about an hour blogging about it and now my coffee is cold! I didn't even get the chance to answer the questions that I was tagged to answer from Kat's blog. Next time!

Your Career Will Never Wake Up And Tell You That it Doesn't Love You

Oh Lady Gaga, you always give me reasons to love you.

Well, it's been a long four months of summer, that have suddenly seemed to disappear in a time warp. And now it's back to school for my second year of fashion!


I couldn't be more excited, but more frazzled. Despite having done a bit of blogging, and a lot of shopping, I haven't done much in the way of keeping in touch with the fashion world!


This is going to be a big year. I won't be graduating with my class, as I've decided to do a 3 year diploma, favoring work and grades over getting it done with. I will, however, be designing my own collection for Spring/Summer (more to come on that regard!), and will be taking on a hopefully important role in the year end fashion show.


So what's in store for me this semester? Well, let me tell you!


I'm extremely excited about my courses this semester. I'll be taking my second Pattern Drafting class - one worde: draping. Finally! Garment Construction, where I'm assuming we will be contstructing garments that were drafted in the previously mentioned class. Computer Pattern drafting, and last but most certainly not least - Surface Design.


I must say I'm most excited about Surface Design. I would love to make that one of my specialties!


I've also decided I'd like to take some courses in PhotoShop. For some reason it's not offered as part of my curriculum. Guess I'll need to upgrade my computer in the near future!


Now it's just a matter of getting re-inspired. I'm not entirely ready, but as with everything else in life, I don't mind jumping in head first.



"Walk, Walk Fashion Baby. Work it, Move that Bitch Crazy. Walk Walk, Passion Baby. Work it, I'm a Free Bitch, Baby."

Get your "Eh"ducation!

When I first decided I wanted to go to school for fashion design, I was hardpressed to find a school I wanted to go to. Canada isn't really the fashion capital of the world, although we are full of up-and-comers.
If you are like me, an aspiring fashion designer from Canada, allow me to provide you an easy list of both public and private post secondary schools, taken from the Toronto Fashion Incubator. Turns out, It doesn't matter if you live to the west or the east, there are plenty of options, if you have the balls to just go for it!

Academie de Dessin de Mode Richard Robinson Academy of Fashion Design

447 Sussex Dr.
Ottawa, ON, K1N 6Z4
T 613-241-5233 | F 613-241-7676
info@richardrobinson.com

Fashion Design Diploma (Full Time)- 2 Years
Couturier Diploma - 3 Years

Academy of Design (Formerly International Academy of Design)

1835 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M5S 1X8
T 866-838-6542 | T 416-929-0121

Fashion Design Program -18 months
Fashion Marketing and Merchandising Program - length not stated

Academy of Fashion Design

218B Avenue B South,
Saskatoon, SK, S7M 1M4
T 306-978-9088 | F 306-933-9362

Fashion Design Certificate - 1 Year
Fashion Design Diploma - 1 Year (Completion of Certificate required)

Blanche MacDonald Centre
460 Robson St.
Vancouver, BC, V6B 2B5
T 604-685-0337 | F 604-685-0317
info@blanchemacdonald.com

Fashion Design Diploma - 1 year, 4 semesters
Fashion Merchandising Diploma - 1 year, 4 semesters

Campus Notre-Dame-de-Foy

5000 rue Clement-Lockquell
Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, QC, G3A 1B3
T 418-872-8041 | F 418-872-3448

I don't speak French, but had the page translated, so hopefully this information is accurate.
Fashion Design Program - 3 years

Cégep Marie-Victorin
7000, rue Marie-Victorin,
Montreal, QC, H1G 2J6
T 514-325-0150 | F 514-328-3830

Another French site...
Fashion Design Program -3 years
Fashion Marketing - 3 years
Production Control - 1 year

Coco Fashion Design Centre
226-65 Carl Hall Rd.,
Toronto, ON, M3K 2E1
T 416-739-0875 | F 416-739-0063

Patternmaking and Garment Construction Certificate
Advanced Patternmaking and Garment Construction Diploma

Dalhousie University
1685 Argyle Street,
Halifax, NS, B3J 2B5
T 902-494-2211

Honours Bachelor of Arts - Costume Studies - 4 years
Costume Studies Diploma - 2 years

Ecole de Joaillerie de Montréal
900 - 416 Maisonneuve ,
Montreal, QC, H3A 1L2
T 514-281-9922 | F 514-281-9933

Sorry, no info on this one, I couldn't translate the page :(

Ecole superieure de mode de Montreal (ESMM)

C.P. 8888 Succ. Centre ville,
Montreal, QC, H3C 3P8
T 514-933-6633 | T 514-933-1807
mode@uqam.ca

Fashion Design & Styling - 3 years
Fashion Marketing - 3 years
Industrial Management - 3 years

Fanshawe College
1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., PO Box 7005,
London, ON, N5Y 5R6
T 519-452-4430 | F 519-452-4420

Fashion Design Diploma- 3 year co-operative
Fashion Merchandising Diploma- 2 year co-operative

George Brown College
Casa Loma Campus - 160 Kendal Avenue,
Toronto, ON, M5R 1M3
T 416-415-5000, ext. 4840

Fashion Techniques & Design Diploma - 2 years
Fashion Management Diploma - 2 years
Fashion Business Industry Diploma - 2 years
International Fashion Development and Management Certificate - 1 year (Postgraduate)
Jewellery Essentials Certificate - 1 year
Jewellery Methods Diploma - 2 year
Jewellery Arts Diploma - 3 year

HPACAD - Acadamy of Applied Arts and Design
885 Don Mills Rd. Suite 404,
Toronto, ON, M3C 1V9
T 416-652-1881 | F 416-652-3531
inquiries@hpacad.com

Adobe Illustrator for Fashion Design
Modern Fashion Drawing
Photoshop for Fashion Design

Humber College
205 Humber College Boulevard,
Toronto, ON, M9W 5L7
T 416-675-5000 | F 416-675-2427
enquiry@humber.ca

Bachelor of Applied Business - Fashion Management - 4 years
Fashion Arts Diploma - 2 years

John Casablancas Institute of Applied Arts
220 Cambie Street, Suite 150,
Vancouver, BC, V6B 2M9
T 604-688-0328 | F 604-688-9365
info@johncasablancas.ca

Fashion - 43 weeks

Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Surrey Campus Admission Office- 12666 - 72nd Avenue,
Surrey, BC, V3W 2M8
T 604-599-2000 | T 604-599-2100 | F 604-599-2086
admissions@kwantlen.ca

Fashion Design & Technology Diploma- 2 years
Fashion Marketing Diploma - 2 years
Bachelor of Design - Fashion & Technology - 4 years

(This is where I plan on going after my diploma! I can't wait!)

LaSalle College
2000 Sainte-Catherine Street West,
Montreal, QC, H3H 2T2
T 514-939-2006

Fashion Design Diploma
Fashion Marketing Diploma
Apparel Production Management Diploma
Fashion Design Certificate
Buyer Certificate
Fashion Marketing (Online)
Fashion Marketing
Event Planning
Fashion Illustration CAO
Computer Assisted Patternmaker CAO/FAO
Fashion Patternmaker Certificate
Media Communication and Publicity Certificate

(Wow. I went to school with a girl who's going here this fall!)

Lethbridge College
3000 College Drive South,
Lethbridge, AB, T1K 1L6
T 403-320-3200 | F 403-320-1461

Fashion Design and Marketing Certificate- 1 year
Fashion Design and Marketing Diploma- 2 years

(I am currently entering my second year of my diploma, but I'm doing mine in 3 years. And I can transfer to Kwantlen when I'm done!)

New Brunswick College of Craft And Design
457 Queen St. ,
Fredericton, NB, E3B 5H1
T 506-453-2305 | F 506-457-7352
nbccd.email@gnb.ca

Fine Craft and Applied Design Diploma (Regular or Advanced) - 3 years
Bachelor of Applied Arts (BAA, major in ceramics, fashion design, jewellery and metal arts, photography, or textiles)- 4 years

Okanagan Fashion Institute
414 Cedar Avenue,
Kelowna, BC,
T 250-712-1136

Fashion Design Program - 36 weeks

Olds College
4500 - 50th St.,
Olds, AB, T4H 1R6
T 403-556-8342 | F 403-556-4724
ablackburn@admin.oldscollege.ab.ca

Fashion Marketing Certificate- 1 year
Apparel Technology Diploma (2 majors - Fashion Apparel and Costume Cutting & Construction - 2 years

Ryerson University
350 Victoria Street,
Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3
T 416-979-5333
fshningo@ryerson.ca

Bachelor of Design, Fashion Communication - 4 years
Bachelor of Design, Fashion Design - 4 years
Master of Arts, Fashion - 2 years, Graduate Studies

Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology
Newnham Campus - 1750 Finch Avenue East,
Toronto, ON, M2J 2X5
T 416-491-5050

Fashion Arts Diploma - 3 years
Fashion Business Management Diploma - 3 years
Fashion Business Diploma - 2 years
Fashion Studies Certificate - 1 year

The Art Institute of Vancouver
2665 Renfrew Street,
Vancouver, BC, V5M 0A7
T 1-888-718-9073 | F 604-684-8839
vancouverinfo@wherecreativitygoestoschool.com

Fashion Design & Merchandising Diploma
Fashion Design & Merchandising & Foundation for Design Diploma - 2 years
Fashion Marketing & Management Diploma

University of the Fraser Valley
33844 King Road,
Abbotsford, BC, V2S 7M9
T 604-504-7441

Fashion Design Diploma - 2 years

Oh My Marchesa! Part Deux

I'm starting to find myself a bit of a fan of Marchesa. The way the fabrics are manipulated and all the details are stunning. I just want to hold it in my hands and try to figure out how they made them. I stumpled upon this blog post that privvied me to the Fall 2010 collection, and I felt like I was taken away to this fashion dreamland.

So allow me to pass it along, and bring some beauty to an ugly world.

Imagine being able to fly with fairies. That's what this dress makes me think of. Stunning.

OMG. WTF. HOW DID THEY DO THAT? I WANNA TOUCH IT. ARE THOSE FREAKIN UNICORNS!?

Ahh, it's just so film noire. Elegant. Timeless.

It's almost like a Marchesa tribute to YSL. The shooting stars are what won my heart, and the details on the cuff are lovely. I love the way it's styled with the boots and tights!

I love Marchesa's tendency to make their dresses look like they are floating in water or frozen in time. The details in the chest are mind boggling. Love the stars!

Form, Fit, Fashion, FABULOUS.

I just recently celebrated my birthday - go me! - and I got this amazing book as a gift. It's called "Form, Fit, Fashion" by Jay Calderin, from Rockport Publishers. This book is a fashion designers bible. I am about halfway through and so far it has touched base on just about everything I've learned in school thus far.
Here is a little excerpt from the back:

Topics encompass collection theory, forecasting, budgeting, specializations, color, textiles, silhouette, fashion illustration, patternmaking, stitching, finishing, digital technology, quality control, portfolio building, branding, merchandising, and show production. Interspersed throughout, interviews with leading fashion designers demonstrate how these ideas can be creatively interpreted in practice.

Unlike many of the textbooks we have to buy for our classes, this book is easy to read and small enough to fit in your purse. Aspiring designers, established professionals, and fashionistas alike can all take something from this book. It offers a comprehensive overview of the fashion industry focusing on six core aspects of fashion: research, editing, design, construction, connection, and evolution. If you are a fashion student, or thinking of pursuing a career in a fashion industry, this book is definitely a good investment!

God Save McQueen

Seeing Alexander McQueen's latest and last collection re-affirmed that the fashion world lost a unique and amazingly talented designer. For this "McQ" collection, McQueen took the London skinhead, and modernized it using a combination of gentleman and total bad ass. This collection is so sexy it makes my heart break.

All photos courtesy of ViewOnFashion.Com

Oh My Marchesa!

I was flipping through my roommate's In Style magazine, and came across this beautiful Marchesa dress worn to the Emmy's by Olivia Wilde. We were recently assigned to design a Marchesa wedding dress for a Textiles assignment, and I really wish I would have found this photo! But since I can't cut it out, since it's not mine... I'm going to blog about it! The front is a little risqué, but the super dropped back with the pleats (?) and folds of fabric and lace is where it really sells me! It's such a beautiful dress... intricate, timeless, a work of art... oh, but you know... a picture is worth a thousand words!

Necessity Becomes Fashion Accessory

If you're like me and are visually challenged then you know what it's like to spend $400+ on glasses. My last pair were Ralph Lauren transition lenses. But, those broke on an unfortunate day, and me, without my parents' usual medical coverage, couldn't afford to get another pair. But!!! There is hope!! Zenni Optical has $8 frames - no that's NOT a typo... EIGHT DOLLARS. So, I got 4 pairs for about $40, including a pair of sunglasses. All you need is your prescription and pupil distance The downside, you can't see what they look like on, and sometimes the prescription might not be 100% right. For example, out of my 4 pairs, there is 1 I wear all the time, 1 I wear sometimes (although it's kind of weird wearing them, takes some adjusting), and 1 I never wear because they make me feel cross-eyed. My sunglasses are great though!
I've thought about getting laser eye surgery or contacts... but I'm so attached to my glasses... I've worn them since I was in grade 3. So rather than fighting it, why not make it a fashion statement? With a website like this, it's fully possible! No $500 on glasses for me!
Here's some lovely pairs I'm looking at picking up for myself, the last pair my friend bought, and conveniently enough I was looking at them myself, and got to try them on!






Ahhh, so many choices, I can't decide!

Hail to The Queen!

I found out this morning when I came on Facebook... some of the 2nd year students were already heartbroken.

Here is the People's Article on the death of the designer.

British fashion designer Alexander McQueen, 40, was found dead at his London home on Thursday morning, his office confirms.

"Alexander McQueen today announces the tragic news that Lee McQueen, the founder and designer of the Alexander McQueen brand, has been found dead at his home," his family says in a statement to PEOPLE. "At this stage it is inappropriate to comment on this tragic news beyond saying that we are devastated and are sharing a sense of shock and grief with Lee's family."

"Lee's family has asked for privacy in order to come to terms with this terrible news and we hope the media will respect this," the statement continues.

According to the Scotland Yard report, "Police were called by London Ambulance Service at approximately 10:20 a.m. [Thursday] regarding a man found dead ...The deceased is believed to be 40 years old and from London. Next of kin have been informed but formal identification is awaited. A postmortem examination will be arranged in due course. The death is being treated as non-suspicious at this time."

Britain's Daily Mail reports that he hanged himself in his luxury apartment.

McQueen's death comes days after the death of his mother, Joyce, and almost three years after the May 2007 suicide of his close friend Isabella Blow, who discovered the designer and helped launch his career. The designer was so upset at his friend's death, that he dedicated his spring-summer show at Paris Fashion Week 2008 to the late Blow.

Designer for the Stars

The youngest of six children, the designer was born Lee Alexander McQueen. He was trained in tailoring in Savile Row, and in 1994, McQueen enrolled in London's Central Saint Martins fashion school. After graduation, he began his own business in the city's East End. In 1996, he was named head designer at Givenchy, before joining with Gucci, who bought 51 per cent of his company, bolstering his eponymous line.

During his career, the designer won many accolades, including being awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and being named International Designer of the Year at the Council of Fashion Designer Awards. McQueen was also named British designer of the year four times between 1996 and 2003. He was known for his exquisite, couture-quality gowns and over-the-top theatrical fashion presentations, with fashionable stars such as Nicole Kidman, Penélope Cruz, Sarah Jessica Parker and Katie Holmes often wearing his creations on the red carpet.

McQueen was expected to present his latest collection on March 9 during Paris Fashion Week. One of his contemporary lines, McQ, is scheduled to be shown at New York Fashion Week on Thursday afternoon.

His contributions to the fashion world will be missed :(

Music always inspires me, and it's also my favorite when I'm working and totally in a zone, and I have a good background noise going. This band is AWESOME. They make me feel all warm and fuzzy and creative. They have so many good songs, but this one actually has a music video to go with it.


Finally have my first assignment to actually make a garment! I will be making a skirt. Working with 5 other classmates I have to take inspiration from different pattern trends. The fun part is, all our skirts are going to be different, but as in a line, there will be cohesive elements. It's exciting, but very intimidating! Doing my research, adjectives that come to mind are: "Bold", "Young", "Bright", "Fearless". Lots of florals, geometrics, and abstract/psychedelic patterns. Should be fun! Check out this fun design by Vivienne Westwood:
This chick just looks bad ass!

Can't draw people.

I'm a creative mind, but not the best at taking those messy thoughts in my head and bringing them to fruition. I've gotten better, and definitely surprised myself this past semester... but I still can't draw people very good. The class I took for Fashion Drawing wasn't really helpful. I came away feeling like although I learned a bit, I didn't learn enough. But! Just because the class is over doesn't mean I can't continue learning via the internets! So I found a little dittie that really helped me figure out how to get good proportions, shapes, and poses for a 9 head figure. I'm not trying to infringe on any copyrights here, so this photo comes courtesy of Burke Publishing.

First Post Ever.

Hello future readers of my blog! You probably won't read this unless you see it in the archives. So I apologize in advance for any of my ramblings. I'm probably not very interesting (disclaimer!). I am a fashion student, thrift store aficionado, vinyl collector, and lover of music. Things you will see on this blog will consist of - of course - my thoughts, fashion and clothing, music, and any other random things that inspire me, make me laugh, or that I feel like I should share with whoever reads this.

Welcome to Rock It From The Crypt. A play off of the brand that I'm building, Rockette From The Crypt which is also on Etsy (on hiatus until I hone my craft and develop some sellable product - keep an eye out!). The name comes from a few things. A band called Rocket From the Crypt (music=inspiration), the Rockette's (a dancing version of a pin-up girl), and the concept of refashioning - so much clothing gets thrown in the garbage, why not put it to use into something exciting, and...Rock It? That's what I love about thrift stores, you can find such interesting one of a kind clothing, inspiration, deals... anything!

I'm in my first year of fashion design - and let me tell you - it's pretty much radical. Although at 23, I'm older than most of the students here, but it's not my first time on the post-secondary circuit.. at least this time I'm doing something I'm actually very enthusiastic about. I wanted to be a fashion designer when I was 18, but really, looking back on my style and attitudes then, I'm glad I waited, and am now doing what I really feel like I was meant to do. Maybe you won't be seeing me on the cover of Vogue, or selling haute couture garments for an arm and a leg.. but that's not really my style anyways -as interesting as the high end lines of Yves St. Laurent and such are, I like to think of good clothing being a little bit more practical. But there's that feeling that you get when you find yourself doing something you really love. And you think to yourself:
I was made for this. That's how I feel about this.

I don't know what the future holds, and where my success will lie, but that's what makes it so fun. Never doubt yourself when you're doing something you love!

And with that little gem of wisdom, I will call it a post. See you cool cats later!