So these are pictures of my almost finished collection, I just have to add trimmings such as zips and accessories then fit them to the models and I will be done. Which is kind of terrifying to think I've almost finished college! As I've said before my collection is based on the women's land army of the second world war, but bringing some of there styles up to date. Hopefully by now you will all know that I love vintage so of course I enjoyed researching for this work. If you read my blog around Christmas time I did a lot of blog posts about the women's land army and there style, so to save me from repeating myself just look back to the end of December.
I know the play suit doesn't look much now but once I've got the exposed zip on and belt as well as rolled up bottoms (which will be similar to the ones on my shorts) I think it will look really cute! The dress is possibly one of my favourite pieces as I feel I spent the most time on this and after the issues it began with, mainly thanks to me sewing the panels the wrong way round.... its turned out pretty well. Also I'm not sure if you can see the print of my pencil skirt and play suit arms but its map patterned fabric unfortunately I couldn't get any of the underground but this actually works really well (its a USA map with the routes on) And the collars on my garments were all found on eBay and bought all together, there is also another one going onto my play suit.
Today was the start of fittings week, so be prepared for a fair few posts either to do with my collection or just totally random because I may be waiting around for models. So one of my models came in today her name is Natasha and she was truly lovely she will be wearing my shorts and blouse which I fitted her in. She was nice enough to let me take some pictures of her to put up on here so I'll be putting those up tomorrow! Now I'm off to update my diary for my collection and hopefully get a brew.
These are two toile's out of my collection, when I am finally finished I will have created four garments which believe me is quite crazy! In case you don't know what toile means (which I'm guessing a number of you may not, because I've been a fashion student for over a year and I'm still baffled by it) A toile is in basic terms a mock up of the final piece, be it a skirt or a dress. I wrote a number of posts earlier this year about my final collection and telling you what my theme was and it was based on the women's land army and the 1940s era. All my pieces will have vintage style lace collars on them as pictured in the centre pictures. The market level for my collection is high street, but good quality and well made.
Over all I am quite happy with my toile's so far, though as I'm doing the finishing touches to these two now, the machines are driving me crazy by just deciding not to work and sew really badly.ARRGGHH! Okay my little rant is over now. I'm using binding on my sleeves and necklines to make sure the collection is pulled together with matches pieces, there is also exposed zips on both of these pieces which also ties together my collection with a modern twist. I used this because I felt I needed a modern edge to my collection so it didn't just seem like they are replica's of 1940s clothing.
The fabric I've used for my toile's is not my final choice of fabric and when I've finally put them all together I'll snap a few shots for you all to see what I've decided on! It's a mix of floral upholstery fabric, a vivid lilac colour and a white cotton with an extremely faint but lovely pattern of flowers across it. These with my tough exposed zips and vintage styled lace collars should produce a distinct but stylish contrast.
The skirt on these photographs will be produce in a fabric which is in a map pattern, if anybody knows where I can source this kind of fabric please let me know! otherwise I may have to create it myself and it won't then have the exact look I'm after. In case any of you lovely people were wondering where I got my collars from I found them on eBay, there is so many different type of lace collars on eBay ranging in era's and prices.
So what do you think of my collection so far? Would you buy any of it?
This is a film to go along with my final collection, my theme is based around The Women's Land Army and the era itself the 1940's. this video is portraying the visual differences between the of now and then as well as how the core of relationships within the war is still the same. By this I mean that the boys leaving the women to go and be soldiers still write and miss there loved ones. And that the women will feel exactly the same but have to keep going or do something to help the war ethic. Also within this film I am showing the contrast of women's clothing of the 1940's and a soldiers uniform from today. Obviously the clothing in this video is not original and is all generally inspired by the uniforms, but it does the job here.
I am in fact the girl in this film (note to self, do not ever become an actress!) and the pieces I'm wearing are not from the 1940's but I think help capture the essence of the look quite well. If you have been a reader of my blog for a while you will notice the first look from and outfit post I did inspired by the women's land army I just added a few changes to the original look as well as pairing different pieces together because in the land army the women wouldn't of had many clothes as it is so would of had to all most always wear the same trousers. In my second look I'm actually wearing a mans flannel shirt which I do wear quite often anyway (its one of those pieces you instantly feel comfortable in, if you understand what I mean?) because a lot of pieces the land girls would of worn would of been pretty shapeless and really rather practical. I added the brooch and headscarf because these could of been pieces which they had brought with them to the farms and possibly just an little amount of possessions they had left. Though they wouldn't of sported a brooch while working it would of been adorned to either there cardigans or blouses when off duty on the farms. And as I've said in some of my older posts based on the Land army the scarf was used to conceal there hair while working, which would of been knotted up in rags until the evening where they would be let down and left with beautiful ringlets.
The Soldier uniform is inspired by today's army look, and was borrowed from a very dear friend of mine Joe, who has the pieces as part of his uniform in the cadets (though this time next year will possibly be training for the army) this look consisted of camouflage trousers, fitted t-shirt and body vest. The bag Finn is carrying is in fact a camping stool, yes I realise how cool that makes me, though it was my brothers idea because Finn wouldn't just be walking away for war with nothing carrying his belongings really.
The basic story of this film is that they are spending there last moments together before he goes away to war, they say goodbye at there special place (which is familiar to them, and classes as 'there' place) and we see how the women copes and becomes a land girl, as many of the girlfriends did in the Second World War. Then she gets a letter but yo don't know what it says.... and I'm not going to say the ending just in case you haven't watched it! The song I chose was Buddy Holly - Dearest, some of you may of heard it on the Juno soundtrack (this is where I found it.) the main reason I chose this song is because of the lyrics and in my opinion they fitted to the story quite well, not only did we choose to shoot this film in the woods and farmland because it looks nice but its also because trees spend 100's of years next to each other, this will make more sense if you've watched the video. We filmed in the lanes about 5 or so minutes away from my house for the scenes with me and Finn. Then for the shots of the land girl at work these were taken in my Granny's orchard and field.
I would like to say one last thank you to my brother who kindly shot it for me and rented the equipment from his uni to do it. (My brother is in his final year at uni studying media so I was helping him as well by making this film)
I hope you enjoy the video and understand what I was trying to put across with using fashion as communication, I would genuinely like to know that you thought of it, so please let me know with a comment.
Straightforward and patriotic land girl Joyce, tries her best to serve her country and do her bit to help win the war.Her parents were killed in a German bombing raid, and her house and possessions were destroyed. In addition, she is worried about her husband John, who has been posted abroad.On the surface, Joyce is sunny and optimistic, but – like the war rhetoric she spouts – it's all a way of coping with the inner pain. She's genuinely the most caring of the girls as she knows the true meaning of loss.
Forceful, opinionated, and whiney, Nancy had to enlist when female conscription started, but she worked in a recruitment office in Cambridge which suited her as well as it could. Then, to her horror, there was a shortfall in women going to work on the land, so she was transferred to the WLA.Nancy hates it at first, but realises that she can't escape the war and will do her bit. She's not work shy, just perhaps the last to volunteer for a particular task.
Bea is a 17-year-old innocent who lies about her age to join the WLA, discovering a world of adventure as a result.Inquisitive and fun-loving, Bea is headstrong with a desire to change the world. Sometimes irritating due to her constant energy, Bea will happily launch campaigns for justice, albeit ill-considered ones.Bea fluctuates between being a child and a woman and struggles to navigate a course between the two states. Her older sister Annie has always looked after her and it's no different now they're both land girls.
Annie is the oldest in her family, and has always been the responsible one. She and her younger sister Bea are already living and working at Pasture Farm when Nancy and Joyce arrive. Annie is the peacemaker of the group, holding the girls together as they face the challenges of life in the Women's Land Army.
I got the chance to watch this one off series when it was on the BBC for a week long special event. The show is set against the backdrop of war-weary Forties Britain. Land Girls is set in the Hoxley Estate, as the girls balance their working lives at the run-down Pasture Farm, and the opulent Hoxley Manor. Nancy, Joyce, Bea and Annie have all joined the Women’s Land Army for very different reasons, but they all have one outright goal which is to serve their country and help win the war. The drama follows the women as they try to live out their lives in very challenging circumstances, with lots of laughter and tears along the way.
I just wanted to borrow the little introductions for each of the women from my original source (this being the ever so lovely BBC) because I do feel that through out the episodes you really get to know these women as if you lived with them, and I wanted you to know them while reading this. When I originally watched this special series, it was because my grandmother wanted to really, But I think I got more involved with the characters and plot lines than she did! If you have read the small paragraph's on each women you can see that they all come from different walks of life. Annie is the over protective sister of Bea and always looked after her until Bea lied about her age to join the land army, so now her and Annie are equal.
Many things happen to Nancy, Joyce, Bea and Annie during there time together working on the land. They loose people close to them as well as gaining a few (at times unwelcome) guests. Over all I think land girls drama does truthfully portray how life was for the women during the second world war. Though obviously for television time purposes some aspects of the women in the land army's day to day tasks were not included in part. I also feel that the actresses brought the characters to life extremely well.
I was lucky enough to catch this film on TV during the Christmas holidays. I was planning on renting it anyway as part of my research but somehow film4 read my mind, that clever little thing. Anyway before I go on about the story and why I watched it and everything, I just have to say I genuinely loved this film because to be quite honest I did not aspect it to be as good as it was. From watching this film it looks like there was a fair amount of scandal going on in the country side! The basic outline of the story is that three young women from very different walks of life join the women's land army during World War II and are sent to work together on a farm in Dorset and the experience circumstances that change their lives forever.
Quiet Stella (Catherine McCormack), young hairdresser Prue (Anna Friel) and Cambridge graduate Ag (Rachel Weisz) arrive on a remote farm in the glorious Dorset countryside. These three women are the 'Land Girls' all are originally from the city and have volunteered to take the place of young men who worked agriculturally on the land have gone to fight in the war. I think these women were an unlikely trio: Prue is outgoing and blunt; Ag is quiet and well reserved as well as being innocent about life at the start; while being quite and almost in a world of her own Stella is in love with Philip her fiance a dashing naval officer, who is charmingly played by Paul Bettany, who in my opinion almost all of his characters are always the quintessential English gentlemen. Though the girls obviously have strong differences they soon become close friends but in the situation they were in I think you would be friends with anyone as long as you weren't alone. The film follows their relationships with each other and the men in their lives in the face of the war. And believe me the situation with the men in all there lives gets pretty complicated. I won't tell you the whole story of the film because then there would be no reason for you to watch it! and if you feel your a little bit like me I feel you should love it! But these three individual women don't just become friends due to there situation there friendships last a life time.
Now I'm going to talk about the uniforms and clothes. Yes there were ration books, no they couldn't just pop to Primark like so many of us do now. They had to make do with what they had and if that wasn't good enough they altered it or mended the problem. I wish I had this mantra to my life more, then maybe I would be able to wear more of my existing wardrobe. When these women dressed up or had dances they really did make the best of themselves and they looked beautiful. Postbox red matte lipstick perfectly applied, their hair hidden under scarves during the day while working, ready for the rags to be removed for the evening and to have beautifully curled hair.
In fact I have to admit I do tend to walk around my house with my hair just like this, not just because its retro or anything but because its practical. It keeps my hair from falling forward and getting in the way and if I just can't face spending an hour washing and driving it the scarf hides my greasy roots from sight. You all have to agree with me the women of the land army new what they were doing with what they wore and how as well on how to fake a great stocking (gravy browning and eyeliner pencil and if you didn't have eyeliner then coal worked quite well too). For a number of my designs and drawing I have taken inspiration from their official uniforms which you can see from a snapshot out of the film above. The woman's land army also had armbands with which group they were a member of embroidered and sewn into it. ( well as far as I am aware this is what they were for) I am lucky enough that my grandmother still owns her armband and has been kind enough to lend it to me for a day or so next week so you will definitely be seeing it up on my blog.
In the next number of week I am also planning to try and do a few outfit posts inspired by the women of the second world war. From uniforms to there outfits for functions, dances and working the land. Please tell me if I've missed anything else out about the clothing from the film, or if you want to ask me any questions about the land army and I can try and answer them.
My own interpretation of the uniform this is also my second attempt, my first being in my journal was just a very messy sketch this is much more refined and detailed. I genuinely like the style of the jacket and tie. I am thinking or incorporating this influence into some of my designs.
This uniform was worn by Marlene Dietrich while she was touring Europe during the war. She was visiting all the soldiers at there different stations to entertain them and to brighten up there spirits. What I initially found appealing about this uniform is the high waist band of the trouser (which is similar to how the land army wore there's) but as I looked into the more detailed parts of the uniform I saw the style of the shirt and tie, the structure of the jacket and how it all fastens together.
Another aspect of this touring uniform is the pockets not only are they practical but they also add detail and definition to certain area's. There are many parts of this individual uniform which I wish to take inspiration from for my own designs and garments. such as the buckles and the style of how the pieces fitted along with the little details such as badges and medals which for my own garments i plan to put a modern twist on.
Once I have done more designs I'm just wondering if you would like to see any up on my blog?
These photographs were taken in the "women at war" section in the Imperial war museum in Manchester. I have to say a big thank you to the old fella who works there; he saw me drawing the uniforms and tapped me on the shoulder to tell me I could take pictures in the section. He then came back when I’d finished to ask me what I was doing it for and when I said fashion he seemed surprised then told me to go downstairs and tell one of the learning staff there what I was doing and that they would give me some of pieces on the women at war, unfortunately I couldn’t find these people so my dad’s offered to take me again, so anyway thank you sir!
The reason I ventured out to the museum is because I have chosen the women’s land army as my theme for my final major project. I am concentrating on the women of the war and especially the Land Army of the Second World War because my granddad was in the army at this time my late grandma was a nurse during this time (how she met my granddad, he was sent to her hospital after being poisoned by water) and maybe the most important for my collection my granny who was in the women’s land army and this is where my inspiration came from.
But unfortunately the imperial war museum does not have a large amount on display about the land army but it has a collection of uniforms lining the side of the wall as you can see in my pictures. I have a number of other images from my trip to the museum which I will use in another post where I shall try and talk more in depth about what I would like to take from each uniform such as the structure or form of the pieces. I found a large amount of information at the museum which was really interesting and I am planning another visit so I can really take it all in. In the next few weeks i will be posting about the land army and the film I watched (which I loved!) and the television series I’m also re-watching parts of to refresh my memory.
Have any of you been on your trips this Christmas?
So these are pictures of my almost finished collection, I just have to add trimmings such as zips and accessories then fit them to the models and I will be done. Which is kind of terrifying to think I've almost finished college! As I've said before my collection is based on the women's land army of the second world war, but bringing some of there styles up to date. Hopefully by now you will all know that I love vintage so of course I enjoyed researching for this work. If you read my blog around Christmas time I did a lot of blog posts about the women's land army and there style, so to save me from repeating myself just look back to the end of December.
