Update

It's been a while since my last blog entry and since I just had a breakthrough, I thought I might celebrate with picture-free, all-writing blog entry.

I've been working on different way of cutting pattern to create more elegant silhouette. The technique I tried to master only by looking at high-definition photos of fashion shows is often used to create Haute Couture garments (whether it be a dress or a jacket) in Paris. It seems that it is one of those techniques that originated in the golden age of Haute Couture by true masters, which became a part of Haute Couture heritage, history and tradition. This technique is still being used by Chanel and Dior and it is very easy to see it's affect on the garment and why it is very much preferred. Seamless shoulders creates beautiful and very feminine silhouette by mimicking the natural curve of female shoulder and it also almost entirely gets rid of unattractive creases and wrinkles around armpit area of a garment when it is being worn. Regular shoulder with its angular silhouette is also used but if feminine is what a designer is going for, seamless shoulder is the way to go.

As with most of my pattern cutting knowledge, I didn't get a chance to learn this technique and it seemed laughably simple when I first thought about attempting it. I was proven wrong. It took five days and six mock-ups for me to realise the importance of the angle of shoulder slope for this particular technique and be able to produce a pattern that works and has the desired affect.

I was ecstatic to see my final mock up, looking like a Haute Couture piece (I do realise the irony in calling my garment a Haute Couture piece after my outburst few blog entries back but I am not saying that it is a Haute Couture piece, I just felt that I was looking at one :))

I will be uploading a photo when I finish a garment with the seamless shoulder as I only have half constructed bodices with one sleeve to show at the moment.

-Seph-

Lady Gaga - Alejandro

Inspiration seems to have come from the directors editorial for W magazine last year titled 'Klein Academy'

I must say this is very unexpected. Because of Steven Klein's collaboration, I was expecting something artsy but I wan't expecting something as confusing as this. I really like the video, I love the simpler scenes with dance routines. The video looks amazing but for 'Alejandro' it would also have been appropriate to do something colourful perhaps? It feels little drained and lifeless. This video would have made more sense if it was for 'Dance in the Dark.' Still a great video though. Very stylised and chic, every frame looks like an amazing fashion photography. The fashion in this video was incredible, being the artist that she is, most of the costumes were custom made. All the military costumes and boots for the male dancers were custome made by Armani and all of the headpieces, shoes and costumes for Lady Gaga was custom made for her by various designers. Lady Gaga's costume for opening sequence is custom made Alexander McQueen but I'm not sure if it was actually made by the designer. I noticed during the funeral scene, Lady Gaga is actually wearing a dress from Alexander McQueen 2007 Spring pret-a-porter. Could it be a tribute to designer Alexander McQueen. Both Gaga and Klein collaborated closely with McQueen so it seems very fitting.

I do think when Gaga or Klein or both decided to use religious imagery the way she or he or they did in this video, it was crossing the fine line a little and it's a shame because it seems that what people are focusing on now is those few seconds instead of seeing the whole video and appreciating it. On more positive note though, people are completely blinded by the religious controversy that they are forgetting all Caucasian, Nazi-esque military dancer boys and footages of the WWII in the video, which could have (or will, at this point in time) resulted in terrifying interpretations. One other thing I noticed is that I see a lot of Steven Klein but too little of Lady Gaga, I was shocked to notice that this video does not have Great Danes which were present in all of her other videos as Lady Gaga's signature.

-Seph-

Lady Gaga - PokerFace (acoustic live) HD

I love acoustic versions of Lady Gaga's musics!!