Thinking

Today I was thinking about the recession today and how it has affected my work and overall drive to continue. I have to say that I was feeling down trodden and do still at times, due the decrease in buyers/shoppers, buy when I think about it, there are still people out there who are buying, despite the recession (I am not one of them!). And I got a glimmer of hope, especially when I realised that I don't want to be one of the nameless designers who tried but failed...



(Above: Lined barrel bangle, handmade, designed by Olivia Antoinette Duke, Sterling Silver)

Sleep Mode

From stressed to now knackered, hard to stay awake, my bed is calling me...and alas the sewing machine is looking at me, it has been a little while since I have been back on the machine, I a leaving it too long, lingerie inspires me more to design, but need to practise with basic clothing shapes...too many thoughts at once running in my head, eyes closing, body shut down...zzzzzz

Stressed

I am stressed out doing company tax, so I have not had the pleasure of delighting in a bra here, knicker there fantasy combination, or fantasising in general of becoming a world famous and successful designer, ooo just had a 2 minute one! xxx

Designs

The exhibition of underwear opened my mind to different aspects of design and technology of the staple bra and knicker piece, or corset.





The corset above, is unique in the bust area, and iconic of many bras today, with a ruffle design at the bust. The colours are rich and playful. The underwear below, was one of my favouirte pueces. The hands placed on the knickers are different, naughty and playful. I love the colours and originality of it.

I am still working on the dress design, and will be also designing underwear pieces of which I will be constructing and sewing. It has been a little while since I have sewn, so I am a little nervous..

Lingerie Exhibition

I recently went to the lingerie exhibition at the Fashion Textile Museum, at London Bridge. I didn't know what to expect, or if I would find the answers to many of my unanswered questions, of how will I get my designs and name out into the public stratosphere, and I was stunned by the variety of designs, and their progression from the late nineteenth century onwards. I was impressed by how the emancipation of women economically and socially directly affected the underwear they wore, and the detail on some of the pieces (below) was spectacular.



It was interesting how the iconic corset has re-manifested itsef and formed into body suits and bras


...and re-invented as a sexy and glamorous staple:



I was also amazed to see the differing types of designs, and some futuristic pieces:



In my next blog I will be dissecting the differing designs...xx

On auto pilot

Long day...early start, late finish, ideas swimming in my head that I cannot translate onto paper, need to sleep xxxx

Friday Night Activity

Ok, so I did not manage to scan the pictures I wanted, in fact I am not quite happy with the designs I do have! I am planning on a big design spree this weekend, to see what I can come up with!

I have to say that I am loving the hot new designers on show at London Fashion Week, will try and sneak in next week.

I also plan to go to a design exhibition of which I will give you my feedback!

Enjoy the weekend!

Wet Dreams

Ok, picture this, I was in the midst of designing some more dresses, and visulaising a design that does not make a curvy lady lok frumpy, when I asked my fiance to get me some water. I was at his home and unfortunately his kitchen ceiling was leaking...midway through churning my brain, when lo and behold, I hear a hug crash bang wallop! Panicking, I thought my darling was underneath some rubble, when I called out to him , I heard nothing, and then his sweet squeaky voice said he was ok phew!! So now awkwardly, I am in some raggy night dress whilst he, his family and a friend are fixing this huge leak!

Ok so back on to the theme of designing...I am currently sketching, so I do not have a scanner, but will scan some images tomorrow. In the meantime I will try to design some wet looks...!

And just a quick mention, I design handmade jewellery and lingerie/clothing for women (UK size 8-30+). Get in touch and let me know your thoughts on dressing sexy with curves in all the right places!

My initial Designs

Ohh the weather is terrible, it is the type of weather, that encourages plenty of hibernation! As I cannot hibernate, I have been working on some designs for my project. As I have mentioned, I am self taught in all aspects of design, jewellery making and sewing! I have been thinking and churning ideas in my head, and came up with the following rough sketch! I love lines, and the way you can manipulate them. The lines represent folds/gatherings in mind for the dress. They will come from various points on the dress with no uniform starting point.


(Copyright Olivia Duke designs 2009)


I want this dress to be able to fit a beautiful woman with some high definition curves on her. Being larger than the 'average' size 10/2, it can be difficult to find a beautiful dress/outfit without looking like a potato sack. Although there are good shops out there, stocking clothing for curvier women like myself, it can be disheartening when you see a beautiful purple dress you want to fit so badly, but it doesn't, even in your size!!!!!!! (that happened to me on the weekend!)

I will sketch some more designs. The aim, is to make them come to life!

Shopping

Handmade 22ct Gold Vine Bangle with 7 different coloured Sapphires (Above), designed by Olivia Antoinette Duke.

Hello! Weekends, I love them, often the best time for businesses to make money, high sales days. When I traded at a particular market in East London, it was difficult, I started off well in 2007, then the recession hit, at the end of last year and this year, and everything changed. My sales really declined and I felt that I was losing my edge. I stopped trading, as I was strapped for cash, and struggling to earn a decent living from what I loved, so I embarked on a long and hard mission to find a brand new job to support my dream. I landed a good job, the only thing is, am shattered when I get home, a bad excuse, but sometimes it feels as if I am moving further away from my dream, instead of closer.


However, I am feeling inspired to design and make something colourful and lovely, so I am going to keep you updated each day on my progress. After I finish writing this blog, I will start to design and invent my piece. I usually make my dress pieces, using fabrics I think match well together, and do not usually draw it, although I do have drawings of other designs. See what funky thing/things I shall come up with!!!!!!!

I shall also be working in pushing my luxury jewellery range!

The new 'it' word

(Above: Handmade Sterling Silver Daisy brooch with Yellow Topaz gemstone, designed by Olivia Antoinette Duke)

I have to admit, I am an addict to glossy magazines and ofcourse one of my dreams is for my work to appear on the front page on a regular basis! Ok ok, I am working on it! I will save that rant for another blog!

What I have noticed, is the new buzz phrase 'Recessionista', all encompassing, one word - people like myself, who are caught out in this recession but are still fabulous, fashionable with affordable clothing...its quite hard from the designers' perspective, boutiques that housed our creations, once fabulous, are now in disrepute. Businesses on hold due to not enough buying power. So having created a luxury range, I am faced with the severity of the recession and the millions of people it has affected, and left with the challenging task of finding the right distributor and customers for my collection.

So with my recessionista hat on, I look forward to continuing to promote work and increase my customer base!!!!!!!!!! Wish me luck and a HUGE change in our economy!

Do you want to wear me? ;)

Hello and welcome to my new design blog! I am a London based designer, who loves designing more than anything!! I am self-taught in all aspects of design, and originally began with making beaded jewellery using beads of different shapes and sizes:



I then progressed to working on my line of clothing...I started with some interesting shapes...



...and went on to design and make some really fun pieces that were sexy and exciting...



...and now I am back with another idea: a new line of exquisite fine, handmade jewellery made of Sterling Silver, 22ct Gold, and gemstones all designed by myself: Olivia Antoinette Duke!



Do you want to wear me? ;))