PHOTO-STYLING

We were really happy with our finished Tricorn hats but needed to showcase them both on line and to prospective customers as we want to make them to order.

Usually I have got some idea of how I would like to present what we have made but this time I struggled so I am very glad that we met Joanna Jacobs at the Boscombe Vintage Market where we both have stalls. Joanna is a talented artist and photographer and an excellent stylist, have a look at her work on her facebook page http://www.facebook.com/JoannaJacobsPhotography?fref=ts.

The day started bright and early and we met her just after 8.30 am in a beautiful small village in Wiltshire

We started with the black silk hat and this was dressed up with furs. I had already applied my make up but Joanna suggested lips in the style of Clara Bow which did look great.

The dovecote was the background here

Next up was the lovely burgundy velvet and Joanna cleverly styled this with layers of tulle

The small tricorne proved the most difficult to photograph but I got to wear an Erte coat and for this one we started to darken my eye makeup to accent the mood

Great fun was had with the blue felt which was dressed up with a Hermes scarf and an Armani coat. The little blue and yellow flowers in the background just accent the photo but the great thing is that the hat really stands out which obviously was the whole point of the exercise.

The weather started to break at this point but there was just one hat left and we stayed under cover for the steampunk one.

This was an experience not to be missed, very clever styling by Joanna and beautiful photographs which deliver what was wanted. It was incredibly helpful to have input from a third party and be able to stand back and look at the finished product. It is important to do this, it helps you to grow as an artist/designer and also to see how other people interpret your work because it is not always how you envision. Alternative fashion is all about taking risks and playing with the style. Although I mainly focus on Lolita fashion this photo shoot just shows how versatile accessories are and how they can be translated into different fashions.

The Anonymous Travelling Market at Wilton Shopping Village

It has been a very busy couple of weeks since the Vintage Market in Boscombe. We had booked an inside stand at The Anonymous Travelling Market on Saturday 24th November and because this wasnt solely ‘vintage’ we could add in items from my Shinkurose, Etsy shop as well as taking home items such as upcycled cushion covers, some framed photos and a couple of candlesticks made from brass plumbing fittings.

Wilton Shopping Village is a lovely venue but the flood and strong weather warnings did keep some people at home.  Those that came were lovely and we had a good time.  We had learnt a lot from our first market and our stand looked much more inviting.   We had two tables placed in an L shape and covered them with a beautiful crochet cover and a patchwork quilt.  We set up the younger, cuter more everyday wear first at one end and moved round the table gradually changing the feel with the steampunk fascinators in the middle on my steampunk cake stand made from old cymbals, copper pipe and some other plumbing oddments I had found at the Steam Fair in Blandford.  The end of the table had the small bridal selection and the cushions were on the floor as if they were on a settee.

There were two indoor rooms where stands were situated

As well as stands selling all sorts of beautiful items there was food stalls where you could buy fish burgers, hog roast, crepes, wonderful artisan bread and lovely looking cakes.  In the food marquee there was entertainment, it was such a shame that the weather was so bad.

The Anonymous travelling market likes colour, creativity and quirkiness and keeing in line with this theme I wore my  yukata and during the afternoon a canotier and I really needed the muff as it was a bit chilly.

It was a fun day and we did make some money and therefore can invest in more materials but more importantly I learn a lot at each fair and am gradually working out the best way to proceed and make my small business grow.