Amelia’s Magazine | Montreal Festimania 2011: Festival Mode et Design Review – Mode et Opera

Montreal Festimania Mode et Opera by Samantha Eynon
Montreal Festimania Mode et Opera by Samantha Eynon.

On Thursday evening we trotted down to the McGill College Avenue outdoor catwalk once again, more about this time for a collaborative show: garments pulled from the Opéra de Montréal costume vaults and showcased with modern fashion.

Fashion Mode Design Mode et Opera Montreal Festimania 2011 photo by Amelia Gregory
Fashion Mode Design Mode et Opera Montreal Festimania 2011 photo by Amelia Gregory
Fashion Mode Design Mode et Opera Montreal Festimania 2011 photo by Amelia Gregory
Fashion Mode Design Mode et Opera Montreal Festimania 2011 photo by Amelia Gregory
Fashion Mode Design Mode et Opera Montreal Festimania 2011 photo by Amelia Gregory
Fashion Mode Design Mode et Opera Montreal Festimania 2011 photo by Amelia Gregory
Fashion Mode Design Mode et Opera Montreal Festimania 2011 photo by Amelia Gregory
Fashion Mode Design Mode et Opera Montreal Festimania 2011 photo by Amelia Gregory
Montreal Festimania Mode et Opera by Samantha Eynon
Montreal Festimania Mode et Opera by Samantha Eynon.

Mode & Opera was more theatre than fashion, salve featuring catwalk parades on different themes interspersed with solo performances from baritone Etienne Dupuis, tenor Antoine Belanger and best of all, soprano Caroline Bleau, all of whom sang rousing numbers from famous operas – Tosca, Carmen and Madame Butterfly.

Fashion Mode Design Mode et Opera Montreal Festimania 2011 photo by Amelia Gregory
Fashion Mode Design Mode et Opera Montreal Festimania 2011 photo by Amelia Gregory
Fashion Mode Design Mode et Opera Montreal Festimania 2011 photo by Amelia Gregory
Fashion Mode Design Mode et Opera Montreal Festimania 2011 photo by Amelia Gregory
Tenor Antoine Belanger gives his all to the enthusiastic crowds.

Fashion Mode Design Mode et Opera Montreal Festimania 2011 photo by Amelia Gregory
Fashion Mode Design Mode et Opera Montreal Festimania 2011 photo by Amelia Gregory
Fashion Mode Design Mode et Opera Montreal Festimania 2011 photo by Amelia Gregory
Montreal Festimania Mode et Opera by Rebecca Rawlings
Montreal Festimania Mode et Opera by Rebecca Rawlings.

It was a fun chance to see the beautiful fabrics used in opera costume up close, styled with modern fashion to varying degrees of success. At the back of the stage a man in the shadows quietly fiddled on his ipad to produce the bright graphics on the big screens.

Fashion Mode Design Mode et Opera Montreal Festimania 2011 photo by Amelia Gregory
Fashion Mode Design Mode et Opera Montreal Festimania 2011 photo by Amelia Gregory
Fashion Mode Design Mode et Opera Montreal Festimania 2011 photo by Amelia Gregory
Fashion Mode Design Mode et Opera Montreal Festimania 2011 photo by Amelia Gregory
Soprano Caroline Bleau at Mode et Opera. All photography by Amelia Gregory.

Montreal Festimania Mode et Opera by Rebecca Oliver
Montreal Festimania Mode et Opera by Rebecca Oliver
Montreal Festimania Mode et Opera by Rebecca Oliver.

All of the Festival Mode et Design shows are open to the general public. Next stop LA, where the Mode & Opera show will take part in the Quebec in Hollywood festival on September 22nd 2011.

Categories ,Antoine Belanger, ,Carmen, ,Caroline Bleau, ,Etienne Dupuis, ,Festival Mode et Design Montreal, ,Madame Butterfly, ,McGill College Avenue, ,Montreal Festimania, ,Opera de Montreal, ,Quebec in Hollywood, ,Rebecca Oliver, ,Rebecca Rawlings, ,Samantha Eynon, ,Tosca

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Amelia’s Magazine | An Interview with Fashion Blogger turned Fashion Designer Coco Fennell

Kiss Me Coco Fennell by Jade Boylan
Kiss Me Coco Fennell by Jade Boylan.

I discovered via good old Facebook that my talented ex intern Jenn Pitchers has been creating bespoke print designs for gorgeous curvaceous dresses made by the blogger turned fashion designer Coco Fennell, so of course I had to check them out. Here Coco describes her career move and how she hooked up with Jenn.

Coco Fennell by Amyisla Mccombie
Coco Fennell by Amyisla Mccombie.

What is your education and what brought you to this point in your fashion career?
After school I did a great graphic design course in East London which then led me on to art direct a magazine where I met Jenn Pitchers, the illustrator who I work with on my prints! 

Coco Fennell Louie_Banks

Did being a blogger first help you to launch your own label and what has it taught you about the business?
Yes for sure, working on my fashion blog made me realise that what I really wanted to do was design dresses and that with the internet it could be possible. It showed me that it wasn’t impossible to have an online shop to start a label with low overheads when you don’t have terrifying things like shop rent to deal with!

Coco Fennell new tricks
What does your blog focus on, and has the focus changed since you started your own label?
Yes I think so. I probably blog more about editorials and look books where as before I was focusing on key pieces to buy. It’s just like an online scrapbook. I love that I can find great websites I blogged about ages ago which I would have otherwise forgotten. 
 
Coco Fennel Veronica Rowlands
Coco Fennell by Veronica Rowlands.

What is the process of working together with Jenn to create your unique print designs?
I come up with a theme, pull together lots of imagery and then we meet up, talk about it, Jenn sketches up some awesomeness and we go from there! 

Coco Fennell kiss me
Why was it so important that you create your own bespoke print fabrics and what do you think makes them so different to anything else on the market?
I’ve always loved designers like Jeremy Scott and Swash and when I met so many illustrators working at the magazine it inspired me to make some of my limited edition pieces in cool, unusual prints.

Coco Fennell by Rebecca Rawlings
Coco Fennell by Rebecca Rawlings.

What else inspires your designs?
The female form is the first thing because I want to achieve a flattering shape – if the dress isn’t flattering then girls don’t feel as wonderful as they could and I don’t think there’s any point in making something that doesn’t make you feel good! I love 60′s and 70′s designers too like Biba and Ossie Clark.

coco fennell 1
How have you managed to acquire such a good relationship with celeb fans such as Daisy Lowe, Pixie Lott and Bip Ling?
I’ve just been lucky enough to get in touch with stylists and have been even more lucky that the girls like my dresses so have worn lots of different pieces.
 
Gypsy Heart Dress by Jamie Wignall
Smokin' Hot Babe Dress by Jamie Wignall
Gypsy Heart Dress and Smokin’ Hot Babe Dress by Jamie Wignall.

Who is the model in your current look book and how did you achieve that amazing hair? what was the inspiration?
She is such a babe! She’s called Mimi Wade and she already had that amazing green hair we just added in some yellow extensions. I love big Dolly Parton hair!

coco fennell  2
How many collections do you create a year?
Around three, but it depends. I haven’t really been making set collections so sometimes there are bits inbetween.

Coco Fennell, Circus,Circus by EdieOP
Coco Fennell: Circus,Circus by EdieOP.

What are you aspirations for the future?
I want to grow my brand: promoting fun, friendliness and a positive body image! I love brands like Nasty Gal and Wildfox and the way they work – I aspire to build something like that. There’s a big aim to set myself!

Find Coco Fennell‘s collection online here.

Categories ,70s, ,Amyisla Mccombie, ,biba, ,Bip Ling, ,Blogger, ,Coco Fennell, ,daisy lowe, ,Dolly Parton, ,EdieOP, ,Fashion Designer, ,illustrator, ,Jade Boylan, ,Jamie Wignall, ,Jenn Pitchers, ,Jennifer Matignas Pitchers, ,Jennifer Pitchers, ,Mimi Wade, ,Nasty Gal, ,Ossie Clark, ,Pixie Lott, ,Print Design, ,Rebecca Rawlings, ,retro, ,Veronica Rowlands, ,Wildfox

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Amelia’s Magazine | Christmas Guide 2012: Artist & Designer Christmas Cards

Matthew Land Christmas Cards
Christmas card by Matthew Land.

Christmas is nearly upon us, yes really. And to start my lengthy round up of gift recommendations for the entire family I firstly give you a fab selection of artist cards: available to buy (more or less) direct from the artist.

Matthew Land Christmas Cards
First up, it was hard to choose which of Matthew Land‘s cards to include as thy are all so pretty but I settled on this one (and the opener) as the family scene resonates with me these days. Matthew was indeed inspired by ‘the joy, innocence and excitement of the festivities we recall from childhood.‘ In his designs he has ignored the tawdry trappings of a modern Christmas, simplifying things and concentrating on the best bits of Christmas in a traditional way. Here here!

madi illustration bahhumbug
Madi Illustration has gone for a cute yet contemporary look, incorporating hand-created typography. Her Bah Humbug card was created for those who don’t really enjoy Christmas; something that might appeal to them a little more than the usual card, and putting a smile on their face.

Livi Gosling foodie christmas cards
Livi Gosling has created a stunning collection of 6 cards themed around edible Christmas treats.

Nicholas Darby Holly Card
Nicholas Darby combines bold shape and detailed line work with hand produced textures. The cards themselves are then printed using 100% recycled Mohawk stock. I particularly like this dashing set of Holly leaves and berries, but he also does a fine line in the ever popular Matryoshka dolls.

JoanneHawker-RedBirdHouse
Forget santa and his reindeers, send something a little different this Christmas! Joanne Hawker‘s Pack of 6 Bird House Christmas Cards show little birds with perfectly decorated little homes, patiently waiting for their stockings to be filled full of presents! She has also produced a range of line art cards, designed for bespoke kiddie colouring in.

stacie swift xmas cards
Christmas cards by Stacie Swift were inspired by traditional motifs and imagery; hand drawn illustration combined with a simple colour palette give them modern appeal.

elisa mac christmas card
Elisa Mac was inspired by seasonal imagery and festive colour schemes to produce a collection of traditional cards with a contemporary twist.

rebecca rawlings
Rebecca Rawlings‘ bright cards have been finished off by hand with glitter to add a bit of extra Christmas sparkle.

Emma Cowlam Anna at the Rink
Emma Cowlam‘s illustrated Christmas cards are currently stocked at the Rizzoli Bookshop, Somerset House where she is showing her original stitched illustrations as well as prints. The Somerset House Christmas Arcade pop-up shop also stocks her illustrated ceramic tableware which was a result of her successful application to a Handmade in Britain open call out.
 
louise jenkins artic animals
Illustrations of the mystical Arctic Fox and Polar Bear by Louise Jenkins have been hand painted in beautiful decorative style using water colour and Gouache.

Jenny Robins xmas cards
Jenny Robins has created a collection of colourful Christmas cards inspired by Christmas carol lyrics.

Chloe Bonfield christmas cards
Chloe Bonfield is offering a range of tasteful watercolour Christmas cards, and a personalised service for that special someone.

Why not pick your favourite cards and shop straight from your artist of choice this year? Just think how much your friends and family will appreciate such an individual choice.

Categories ,Arctic Fox, ,Bah Humbug, ,birds, ,ceramics, ,Chloe Bonfield, ,Christmas, ,Christmas cards, ,Elisa Mac, ,Elisa MacDougall, ,Emma Cowlam, ,etsy, ,Guide, ,Handmade in Britain, ,Holly, ,illustration, ,Jenny Robins, ,Joanne Hawker, ,Livi Gosling, ,Louise Jenkins, ,Madi Illustration, ,Matryoshka dolls, ,Matthew Land, ,Nicholas Darby, ,polar bear, ,Rebecca Rawlings, ,Rizzoli Bookshop, ,Somerset House, ,Somerset House Christmas Arcade, ,Stacie Swift

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