ASOS Live

This is a live project for ASOS. The brief was to design trousers/pants or skirts. The catch was they had to be inspired by either the 60's, 70's, 80's or the 90's. 

I chose the 60's. 

Before I could start my research in to the decade, I had to establish who I would be designing my by garments for. A representative from ASOS came to college to explain their target market and their ethos. 

ASOS say their customer is "the twenty-something fashion-lover: an avid consumer and communicator who is inspired by friends, celebrities and the media." They sell "up to the minute fashion at a price our customers can afford, including ASOS own-label as well as an edit of the very best brands."

This is my customer profile board. I decided on a twenty something girl. With a part time job as a sales assistant on a makeup counter. Who is also a university student. Obviously she loves to shop.

Then came my research. I struggled at first to start the project, I found a 60's time line. That gave me an idea of the silhouettes from the 60's and I designed three skirts for each. 

1960-1961

1962-1963

1964-1965

1966-1967

1968-1969

Then I looked at designers of the time like Mary Quant, Chloé and Emilio Pucci. Out off them all Pucci was by far my favourite. I loved the cut of his garments, the intricate patterns and simple styling. 

Her I took inspiration from his boxy top and designed trousers to match. 

I loved the high waist of of the pink dress above. I designed skirts and shorts to mirror the originals shape. 

I came across some of his shorts. The possibilitys are endless for style lines and different patterns. I could really see them paired with a fitted vest and a kimono style jacket.  

Then I explored different icons of the 60's. Twiggy, The Beetles and Janice Joplin. 

I loved her quirky style and use of fur. 

Here Ive taken inspiration from her naked bead shoot. 

The space race of the 60's inspired some amazing fashions. I looked back at some of these and the designers original influences. Above and the next few images show a few of my designs. 

I loved the idea of space suit trousers. 

The orange wool and sheepskin suit was beautiful. I wanted so badly to create something with different textures such as that. 

I explored the possibilities of using alternative materials like plastic and rubber.  

I loved the bold colours I found in this mini board. 

I loved how the above designs are spacey but feminine at the same time. 

The metal beads on the woman in the foreground inspired the draped beaded wool trousers above. 

I really loved the checks that the iconised the female mods.

My tutor told me after the completion of my last project that I should mix up my illustration style,  so inspired by the space race, I thought of a killer combination.. ALIENS & DRAG QUEENS.

I took to Instagram and the drag queens and pinterest gave me aliens. 

My first sketches where very basic but got better as I developed them. 

Getting closer still to the fished thing.

And here they are, alienistic heads and the facial features to make even the most seasoned drag queen  proud. 

Below are my favourite designs, the ones in colour are the foal ones. Chosen during a peer assessment meeting at college. 

Look one was inspired by Pucci and his pleated silks. 

Look two is pleated at the waist and has oversized pockets (also is the design I have produced). 

Look 3 was again inspired by Pucci. A pair of high waisted shorts with a wrap panel. 

Look 4, draped trousers with a fur panel inspired by Janice Joplin.

Looks 5 and 6 where influenced by Pucci, mainly because of his printed silk. 

Look 7, high waisted monochromatic Mary quant inspired trousers. 

Look 8 was a take on Barbarella's black costume with leather trim. 

Looks 9 and 10, where both inspired by the more feminine space race take. 

Looks 11 and 12 are my personal favourites but unfortunately they didn't make the cut. 

Look 13 is a grey wool skirt with pleated panels and a fur trim inspired by Pierre Cardin. 

Look 14 is a bright yellow wrap skirt, inspired by the designer space wear. 

Look 15 was influenced by a ghastly early 60's YSL dress. 

And finally look 16, the large legs and simple design where inspired by Pucci. 

Below are the finalised designs complete with specification drawings. 

The mod inspired trousers have been made in dyed and printed satin. 

The Barbarella inspired skirt 

The green print skirt inspired by Pucci.

The Mary Quant inspired trousers. 

The space suit skirt. 

The wool and fur skirt inspired by Pierre Cardin. 

And the pleated and prined skirt inspired by Pucci. 

So that's the collection. Check back soon for the final garment and construction process.