As many of you might know, I studied fashion design for a while. During the fall semester 2011, I was working on a seven-piece collection for school, but I was unable to finish it because I was working and taking classes at two different schools—full time. Recently, however, I unearthed my notebook full of designs for the collection, and I thought I would share them with you.
Just to give you some context, at the time I was working on a collection for the spring fashion show at Salt Lake Community College. I went there after high school to study general education so I could transfer somewhere else later, but I ended up getting sucked into the fashion design classes. By the time I finally transferred to Westminster College, I almost had enough credits to graduate with an associate’s degree in Fashion design.
Each year the spring fashion show has a theme that everyone must follow, and this year’s was “speed”. I was really confused and panicked at first (classic Kathleen). It sounded way too esoteric to work. Then it just made me think I would have to end up making clothing for raves with special built-in compartments for meth. Eventually, I started listening to my professor as she explained that the Utah Museum of Fine Arts was installing an exhibit—at the same time the fashion show was going on—with a bunch of beautifully designed cars called Speed. Suddenly, things started to click.
I played with a few ideas. I started out thinking that James Bond exemplified speed beautifully and I pulled a bunch of material off of the internet of Astin Martins and Bond Girls, but none of them were very inspiring.
I also looked at a lot of pictures of time-lapse photography of large cities, but that didn’t take me very far either.
Finally, I realized that I had a perfect idea already. For a long time I had an idea in mind for a collection that was very futuristic. I already had sketches of ideas in a sketchbook, and I had a lot of inspiration from the show Doctor Who (yeah, I know, I’m a nerd).
Here is how I started out:
I initially got this idea from a song. (Positive Contact by Deltron 3030)
It made me think of things like nebulas like this one since I was taking an astronomy class at the time (I think it is being viewed with infrared radiation, but don’t quote me on that).
I also turned it into a textile in Photoshop.
I started to look for futuristic looking images of space travel.
I looked up pictures of The Doctor and some of the monsters from Doctor Who. I also loved the idea of using “Tardis Blue” (Pantone 2955C). It is kind of a trendy color this year—I even have a coat that is almost that color.
And pictures of Rockstars like Freddy Mercury and the men from Muse (particularly Matthew Bellamy; he dresses the best).
And I came up with these ideas:
I’m a little bummed out, however, because some of the ideas I had for this, like lace yokes and Tardis Blue elements, are really popular all of the sudden. I was working on these ideas back before they caught on. Oh well. It probably wont be the last good idea I ever have.
By the way if you want to see a mood board I'm working on for this, look at my Pinterest page here.
Thanks for not stealing my work!
Just to give you some context, at the time I was working on a collection for the spring fashion show at Salt Lake Community College. I went there after high school to study general education so I could transfer somewhere else later, but I ended up getting sucked into the fashion design classes. By the time I finally transferred to Westminster College, I almost had enough credits to graduate with an associate’s degree in Fashion design.
Each year the spring fashion show has a theme that everyone must follow, and this year’s was “speed”. I was really confused and panicked at first (classic Kathleen). It sounded way too esoteric to work. Then it just made me think I would have to end up making clothing for raves with special built-in compartments for meth. Eventually, I started listening to my professor as she explained that the Utah Museum of Fine Arts was installing an exhibit—at the same time the fashion show was going on—with a bunch of beautifully designed cars called Speed. Suddenly, things started to click.
![]() |
Jaguar XK–SS from the Speed home page. |
I played with a few ideas. I started out thinking that James Bond exemplified speed beautifully and I pulled a bunch of material off of the internet of Astin Martins and Bond Girls, but none of them were very inspiring.
![]() |
A beautiful man with an equally beautiful car. When they brought the original Astin Martin out in Skyfall, I just about fainted. |
I also looked at a lot of pictures of time-lapse photography of large cities, but that didn’t take me very far either.
![]() |
Time lapse in Vietnam. |
Finally, I realized that I had a perfect idea already. For a long time I had an idea in mind for a collection that was very futuristic. I already had sketches of ideas in a sketchbook, and I had a lot of inspiration from the show Doctor Who (yeah, I know, I’m a nerd).
Here is how I started out:
I initially got this idea from a song. (Positive Contact by Deltron 3030)
It made me think of things like nebulas like this one since I was taking an astronomy class at the time (I think it is being viewed with infrared radiation, but don’t quote me on that).
I also turned it into a textile in Photoshop.
I started to look for futuristic looking images of space travel.
![]() |
I think this is Appolo 11, but yet again, I'm not 100% sure. |
I looked up pictures of The Doctor and some of the monsters from Doctor Who. I also loved the idea of using “Tardis Blue” (Pantone 2955C). It is kind of a trendy color this year—I even have a coat that is almost that color.
![]() |
William Hartnell, the original Doctor. |
And pictures of Rockstars like Freddy Mercury and the men from Muse (particularly Matthew Bellamy; he dresses the best).
![]() |
I loved this guy's personality! I also loved the Jacket. |
![]() |
Muse is my favorite band. I particularly like the way that its members dress. |
And I came up with these ideas:
I’m a little bummed out, however, because some of the ideas I had for this, like lace yokes and Tardis Blue elements, are really popular all of the sudden. I was working on these ideas back before they caught on. Oh well. It probably wont be the last good idea I ever have.
By the way if you want to see a mood board I'm working on for this, look at my Pinterest page here.
Thanks for not stealing my work!
"I think this is Appolo 11, but yet again, I'm not 100% sure" The image is of a Russian "cosmonaut," as his helmet has CCCP, which is Russian for USSR :)
ReplyDeleteYour designs are lovely! I especially liked the first sketch. I would so wear that :)
~Yana