Cover Your Eyes

I’m often asked to find accessories for clients and shoots and at this time of the year it’s all about sunglasses. Expensive designer glasses may look fabulous but they often cost quite a bit and given the tendency of small accessories to mysteriously vanish or get damaged on shoots I’ve been looking for brilliant budget friendly alternatives.

The hottest styles this summer are the 80’s style Rayban wayfarers and big, round circular styles haven’t gone anywhere. Best of all- you need not look far on the high street to find them!


These two options from Topshop (right) are a (www.topshop.com) are a steal at £15. These circular sunnies are very similar to the stunning circular styles of and Oliver Peoples as worn here by Kate Beckinsale (left) and Tom Ford’s stunning circular designs (www.net-a-porter.com & www.my-wardrobe.com). Topshop also hits the fashion spot with these bright 80’s style pair. Why choose? At that price buy both!

The 80’s may be big right now but an alternative trend is slipping into the mix- 50’s style. Stay one step ahead in these retro glasses from new look (www.newlook.com). Teamed with strips and red lipstick a glamorous look is guaranteed. Alternatively go down the vintage route for real retro. Check out www.vintageclobber.com and www.myvintage.co.uk for some random unique styles and www.giantvintage.com for a choice of hundreds!

ASOS (www.asos.com) has again come up shinning with its vast selection of sunnies- including these men’s retro tortoiseshell pair (right) which I personally think are dead ringers for this pair by Modern Amusement (left) www.modernamusement.com) as seen here on Justin Timberlake (above left).



And for me personally? I am really loving these beauties from www.asos.com (below). Cheap, chic and cheerful. So happy shopping and fingers crossed the sun actually shines for our new sunnies ;)

Hanna

The Art of Fashion Sketching

OK, I’ll admit to having not picked up a pencil since textiles lessons at school so when I was asked to demonstrate my fashion sketching I was just a little nervous. It was inevitable that I would have to get to grips with sketching though- often it’s the easiest and most concise way of sharing ideas and inspirations with a client.

The difficulty of translating the beautiful ideas floating around in my head to a simple but inspiring sketch should not be underestimated. Preliminary web research said start with the basics they tell me, create some croquis and go from there. With the help of some fantastic templates from www.designersnexus.com and a few online refresher lessons from www.fashion-templates.com (which has some really stunning sketches) sometime later I am surrounded by hundreds of naked sketches.

Once I’ve got the hang of sketching croquis I needed to develop them by clothing them. Taking inspiration from my own wardrobe I started to draw some summer basics.

I know that practice makes perfect and after drawing 10 A3 sheets with 4 sketches per sheet I must be getting there- a sketch has gone from taking me an hour to about 20 minutes. I feel confident drawing women but men?! I just cannot get the pose and proportion right so as they say...back to the drawing board! Faces and men are going to take a while longer. It’s a work in progress!

Hanna