Coutured Trash

Finished garment
Finished garment

Using couturier Stéphane Rolland as my inspiration, I wanted to create a garment that reflected his classic and simple silhouettes and his modern lines and asymmetry. With a nod to his 2012 Fall/Winter collection, I constructed a garment that had architectural elements as well as a soft side. I used magazine pages to create the definite lines of the structured side of the garment and I used pleated plastic bags to create the flowing drape of the other half of the garment. I also incorporated a metallic belt, made from the foil of a chip bag, to reference the belts and accessories that so often complement Rolland’s designs.

Stephane+Rolland+Fall+2012+QYE44-yHMXHl
Design Inspiration
Preliminary Design Sketch
Preliminary Design Sketch

Couture: Stéphane Rolland

Stéphane Rolland has the distinction of being the youngest French Couturier in Paris, beginning his Haute Couture work for Jean-Louis Scherrer at the age of thirty.  Ten years later he opened his own Couture house, admitted to the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. With twelve collections under his belt, his Couture line is renowned for its modern, architectural, and luxurious aesthetic. Image

After studying at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, his career in the fashion industry began twenty years earlier when he was named artistic directer for menswear at Balenciaga. At twenty-four, Rolland launched his own prêt-à-porter line, which was immediately successful. He is also a costumer, nominated for two Molière awards, and  an official partner with the Cannes Film Festival. Image

His design aesthetic is bold and structured. His garments are often asymmetrical and feature exaggerated shoulders, intriguing folds, pleats, and flounces, metallic belts and accents. His color palate usually remains neutral, with only a splash of color here and there. Rolland is inspired by contemporary art, often using architecture and even furniture as his muse. This is reflected in the dramatic lines and curves of his designs, as well as the innovative manipulations of fabrics.ImageStéphane Rolland’s designs are sleek, and elegant, combining the classic principles of Couture with a modern flair. The simplicity of the silhouettes gives way for dramatic, often mysterious detail, achieved through creative draping and use of materials. His celebrity clientele includes Queen Rania of Jordan, Sheikha Mozah of Qatar, Lady Gaga, Cheryl Cole, and Beyoncé. This year he will be launching a ready to wear and accessories line. Image

My Favorite Designer

My favorite designer is Alexander McQueen, not the brand, now run by Sarah Burton, but the designer himself and his strong, innovative designs.  I admire his creativity with materials, whether they are shells, feathers, or glass. His use of texture and color helped convey the complex thoughts that inspired each collection. His designs are strong and sometimes dark, yet he also has the ability to evoke a fragility and softness. Alexander McQueen was clearly a designer that understood the rules of tailoring, but he was not afraid to break them in order to get his point of view across. He was deeply imaginative and inspires me to challenge the conventialism of fashion and use it as a tool to convey what is important to me.Image

http://www.alexandermcqueen.com/alexandermcqueen/en_US