NCAD Graduate Show – Updated

Dear Readers,

This exhibition is definitely worth a look. I dropped into the Harry Clarke lecture hall at NCAD, Thomas Street today for a quick look at the ten graduate pieces. I ended up staying for over an hour, trying things on and chatting to Amanda Grogan. One of the ten designers showcasing her collection in the exhibition.

See that’s the thing that kept me. Last years graduate show was a simple showcase of 23 pieces from 23 textile and fashion graduates. This year’s show is about each fashion graduates collection, as a whole. There is also footage of the graduate fashion show on loop and plenty of information about each graduate and the inspiration behind their collections.

This year’s graduate collection as a whole is called 10/10. As in ten students for 2010, and it’s an amazing showcase for the fresh talent that is coming out of this country. Above L-R; Charlotte Gallagher, Olivia Malloy, Silé Ó Shea (River Island Bursary Winner) and Amanda Grogan.

Above L-R; Vraja Lílá, Alan Taylor, Julia Doherty and Charlotte Gallagher.

L-R; Averil Blakely, Emmy Slattery (NYFDA Winner) and Shelly Voom. (sorry about the dodgy, blurry photo).

Above; Pieces from Amanda Grogan’s “Cut, Sealed and Cauterized” and Averil Blakely’s, “Hydrophilic” collections in more detail.

On a really exciting note, Amanda was telling me that her and fellow graduate Averil Blakely had entered an international competition that will be held in Madrid in July. Mittel Moda, “is one of the most sought-after and well-known fashion competitions at an international level“. It is working with 620 schools of fashion design in 66 countries, promoting the exchange and comparison of international creativity. These two graduates will be judged, along with 21 other finalists, on July 1st; the winner will show in the Milan Fashion Week (!).

EDIT: News just in, Irish Times Monday July 5th: Amanda Grogan wins the coveted prize of €10k and the chance to show her collection at Milan Fashion Week at the Mittelmoda competition in Milan.

Image via Irish Times.com

The NCAD Graduate show and designer sale, is on at the Thomas Street venue until Monday June 20th. For all info and opening times go HERE. Or become a NCAD Gallery Facebook fan HERE.

Xx

Revel in Roberto Cavalli at Milan Fashion Week AW10/11

I had a fantastic afternoon completely indulging myself in Dublin fashion, (see tomorrow’s post) but not before I spent the morning perusing photo’s from the collections shown in Italy this week. On a more specific note, namely this pair of gold printed trousers… Over-here please, I think you’ll find I ordered them, waitress!

On any other occasion, velvet waistcoats, animal-prints, fringed scarves, brocade jackets and billowing fabrics, may sound like the contents of your grandmother’s closet (I’m using that word because I think it sounds better in this context than ‘wardrobe’). It was, in fact, Roberto Cavalli‘s AW10/11 collection show, at Milan Fashion Week yesterday. A collection that was actually far from anything my grandmother would wear and one of the most relaxed Cavilli collections I’ve seen. Known usually for ultra-feminine pieces that are at home on the red carpet, this collection will look more at home on the street. Though, said street would naturally be in Florence or Rome rather than rainy old Dublin, of course.

His multi-layered, multi-textured looks were created from what looked like the most luxuriant fabrics and embellishments. I loved the use of Navy-blue and sleek black silhouettes in shows during London Fashion Week and Roberto Cavalli produced similar looks. Although his palette was more varied; not only in his use of gold braid and brocade, but also by including softer colours, like light greys, winter nudes and the odd flash of something richer, like deep, burnt-orange. It’s a beautiful collection and again the dark blacks and blues are what grabbed my attention. I will be thinking tailored, dévoré velvet jackets and lots (more) scarves for this autumn/winter.

All images via Style.com