a photo a day: liberty love

This is a new collection Liberty's have pulled out of the bag (excuse the pun, i'm terrible). I absolutely love the pops of neon. I'v been a fan of neon since my final collection but did worry that it'd be a short lived and could very easily be tacky. Do you remember the trend in the early noughts when neon/eighties and everyone wore sweatbands? I absolutely did not wear sweat bands *blush*. Its seems neon and an overload of colour has taken a very sophisticated turn, lead the way liberties. 

| you can purchase the bag here |

a photo a day: SS13 look book

I haven't blogged about my summer collection lookbook yet so here is a look at it. I had this made prior to my exhibition at New Designers, a little sample book that potential clients could have a browse through and see my collection on paper. I'm so inspired by this collection, the colours scream luxury, holiday/ care free vibrancy. Now, which way to the beach?

a photo a day: silk scarf styling

I've been re-photographing my spring/summer scarf collection and absolutely falling in love with them all over again, I'm generally a very modest/ self critical person (a trait I think most designers can swear by) but after seeing these on film, i'm proud of their loveliness. Take a look on my website for more pics. 

a photo a day: summer scarves SS13

 Here is a few snippets of my summer collection of scarves. I'm adding more to this collection & creating an autumn winter range too. Wanna see some more of my occasionally coherent ramblings? then follow me on twitter and you'll never look back

A photo a day: website update

Here is a little peek at my new website. (Apologies for the shameful self plugging post, someones gotta do it). I've spruced it up a little made it a bit more directional for my target audience/clients. I'm still working on my look book for AW13 where you'll see my brand new collection of silk scarves along with a new collection of soft furnishings! AND you'll be able to buy it aaaall online! Excited? I hope so! Take a look and please share! www.zaravictoria.co.uk 

a photo a day: Camille Charriere style NAP

I'm kinda obsessed with this girl, she's my new Chung. (sorry Alexa). She is a fashion writer/journalist who works for Net-a-porter, blogger and generally just cool. Her life looks pretty swanky too, according to her instagram. life swap? Her style is 100% laid back, effortless chic, only the french (or half french) could pull it off. Have a look on her website or follow her on Facebook for her style updates. I can assure you, you won't regret it. 

A photo a day: Anna White

Here is a canvas from an Australian artist called Anna White. I am so inspired by these colours & the entire composition. Im trying to think where in my home i can place one of her prints...Lets hold that thought. Anna has an etsy shop where you can buy her prints. She's also an interior stylist, a lady with many talents. Take a look at her etsy shop & go treat yourself.

Pic taken from Instagram via: lonadeanna

A photo a day: Sannah Kvist

                  

'I leaned on the wall & the wall leaned away' by Sannah Kvist. I found this picture via Field Guided. The tones captured in this photo are beautiful, so delicate. Sannah Kvist is a Swedish photographer who captures interesting and alluring photographs. Definitely a new muse to add to my list.

This photo was taken from the field guided Instagram feed. 

A photo a day: Mary Katrantzou

This is my dream scarf. Designed by my muse Mary Katrantzou. As far as being in love with designers go, my heart belongs to Mary. I am in utter awe of her. When I think that her designs can't be transferred or captured any more beautifully, she pops this on to the Liberty's website and I lover her  a tiny bit more.I'v spent some serious day dreaming time looking at her beautiful collection. This scarf is luxury and of course it has a price tag to match, damn my expensive taste. I had better write to santa now she he can start saving. 

(If would like to buy this scarf you can buy it here)

A photo a day: designing

                 

A photo a day: Vogue inspiration

                         

Here is a little snippet from British Vogue, the September issue, featuring cover girl Daria Werbowy. Isn't she beautiful? so long and lean. *note to self: must take up Yoga*. The reason I heart this feature is that its so wild & animalistic but beautiful & sooo sophisticated. The soft silk draped with such rich colours is everything I adore about luxury fashion featured in Vogue. 

Picture take from: www.vogue.co.uk

A photo a day: style muse

                         

Emmanuelle Alt. The editor of French Vogue. She has so much style I can feel it  through my touch screen. I'm not sure if its the fact that she's French so it's reasonably in her DNA to look THIS effortless, or that she wears quite masculine colours; which makes her ooze an enviable confidence. Either way she's got it. I've always admired the French street style, it's so chic & stylish. Even women smoking, they really do make it look classy (sorry to any anti-smoking campaigner readers I've just lost). But they really do. Oh I wanna be French. Bonjour. 

Photo sourced from: The Sartorialist.(http://www.thesartorialist.com) 

A photo a day: drawing / designing

                  

I've decided to set myself a challenge called 'a photo a day'. It's pretty self explanatory: I will post one picture every day throughout the whole of August. Genius eh. I do love a good blog post but genuinely struggle for time. This way i'm staying focused, keeping it short & sweet & letting my readers know a little more about me. No strings, a pretty little something every day. perfect yar? I'm going to share absolutely anything that inspires me. Are you ready? Lets. Do .This. 

So here is my 'photo a day' #1. It's a little snippet of a piece of work I have been working on this week. Inspired by an Indian summer. *I've only just realised how much I appear to like pink now I'm a graduate.* send help. 

Inspiration: Colour / movement / India

My r&r time is now over, i'm back to designing. I'm looking to move my designs on but maintain my original theme of movement and colour. I'm gathering my inspiration before I start working on some development techniques such as photography, hand printing, dying and shabori. Dying is a technique I'v wanted to play with for a while, but I haven't had enough time to commit to it fully. So here I am. I'm going to experiment with each of the above techniques in layers, colours & try to manipulate each technique to show new forms. I plan to spend the next few days researching then the gloves are on. I'm VERY excited about all of these colours! 

The bottom picture (above) looks like the Holi Festival in India. I actually did a weave project about this festival in my first year of Uni, the colours are out of this world. So much natural vibrancy in India, so rich in colour. I smell a follow up blog post coming on!

images sourced (via pinterest) from: www.douban.com - weheartit.com - http://sun-stones.tumblr.com - pinterest.com

new direction: home furnishings

Since graduating I have spent some time experimenting with my graduate collection. The silk scarves that I exhibited at New Designers (and shown on my website) have not been forgotten but I always saw my designs as being much more versatile than that. life in the old dogs yet, so to speak.  So here above is the next transition. My next stage is going to be to produce cotton napkins & place mats in the same designs. I personally love colour & statement pieces in the home to accompany more classic furniture. If anybody is interested in buying a cushion,  Just drop me an email. 

The Graduate. Lately.

The past few weeks have been very busy & much like a whirlwind. I'v been an absent blogger, please forgive me. Merci. Well I had a great week exhibiting at New Designers 2013, great feedback and great memories too. Since then I'v spent the past couple of weeks catching up with my friends & family, I spent a few days working in Chichester where I stayed in the most beautiful country house (note to self: must. get. rich. quick) and I'v also been trying to re-write my next 5 year plan. *fumbles for a pen*

Most importantly, I graduated with a 2:1 BA Hons in Textile Design and have been celebrating with champagne since, champagne charlie is me. 

Its fair to say the past 3 years have definitely been the most stressful ever, thankful I still have a full head of hair. So I'm now winding down for my final week of r&r. As they say, its the beginning & not the end. I assume 'they' mean its the beginning of my champs hobby? If they insist, who am I to break the rules. 

HCA Graduate Show

I exhibited my work at the HCA summer show last week from 15th - 19th June. It was alongside various other design disciplines from graphic design, jewellery, photography and illustration. It was an exciting few days, particularly our private viewing evening on the 14th. I won an award, was invited to exhibit my work at another emerging artist exhibition & I made my first sale. Champers at the ready.

HCA isn't the biggest of Art & Design Colleges, however we certainly make up for that in talent, which I say with a (tiny) bit of modesty. All areas of design on show was so diverse and innovative. I think this year particularly out of any years, really raised the competitive bar, high five HCA.

Next stop. New Designers, London. It starts next week on the 26th June - 29th June. If you're in London, you have to come. See you on the other side! 

        *all pictures taken by me www.zaravictoria.co.uk*

Graduate Collection: final assessment

This week I had my final assessment as a BA Textile Design student. It was great to see all of my work together, a project that has seriously pushed me to my peak of sanity, some may say it has pushed me over but I won't quibble about minor details. One thing is for certain, I have no idea where the last 3 years went. Who knew it'd go soo quick. But an exciting new chapter is on the door step, that or I find myself on someones door step...hopefully the former. I do keep having beautiful day dreams about my future plans though, I won't divulge for fear of ruining them but i'm sticking to the mantra that if you work hard enough & never give up, good things will happen.

And just like that I got a degree. 

*all pictures taken by me. www.zaravictoria.co.uk*

Graduate Collection: Zara Victoria

Here are a few pics of my graduate collection. The collection consists of uniquely designed luxury scarves. I'v designed each scarf individually to infuse my original design concept which was the concept of chaos, using colour as my focus. Moving away from the arty lingo, I personally love this collection. Very proud & very excited for the future. I just wish I could design for longer. I'm so close to being let in to the design world, its a little worrying. Is the world ready for a me? Oh I hope so. 

I'm going to be selling my scarves on a made to order basis. So if anybody would be interested, take a look on my website for more details here