Edited images from the Little Black Dress photo shoot, by Jon Lloyd

I am a very ambitious student, I believe that hard work and dedication is key. I have always been incredibly interested in fashion design, both the commercial and high end aspects. I have had a passionate interest in fashion design from very young age and currently work in retail.  While at school I felt I could excel more in the creative subjects than the academic and my focus to enter the world of design became stronger.  I have a personal interest in pattern cutting and always find it incredibly fulfilling to create a garment from scratch and see it develop along with my ideas and skills.

My starting point for this project was the theme of the peacock, not the cliché bright colours and bold print but the sophisticated silhouette and graceful nature of the animal.   I found myself focusing on the feather and tail of the bird which is why I chose to create a train and emphasise the detailing on the back of the dress. I used the 1940’s as a visual starting point, researching in to historical and contemporary references, reflecting on the hour glass silhouette and classic necklines from that time period. I also found inspiration from designers such as CoCo Chanel the visionary of the original little black dress and john Paul Galliano’s 2011 collection for Dior.