SHOPDIYGALORE

Shopdiygalore is known for their "pocket friendly prices" for all items. 

They will be launching the next few collections with a combination from UK 4 to UK10. All items are exclusively imported.

My personal favorite has to be this set...

I love that the bag is super big and spacious! What a great bag for school!

Do join the ShopDIYGalore mailing list because for the next few collections all mailing lists will get to shop all new arrivals 1 day earlier to the launch date.

website: www.shopdiygalore.com

facebook: www.faceook.com/diygalore

mailing list: http://www.shopdiygalore.com/2012/03/mailing-list-form-goes-here.html

History of Fashion Design

The realm of fashion design, by its sheer glamor and grace, has always been exciting and intriguing. When it comes to fashion design, it implies a form of art that includes the nuances of creating clothes and accessories.

The history of fashion design can be traced back to the early 19th century when the designs were the product of the dresses worn in the courts. Eventually, Charles Frederick Worth, the first fashion designer, set up his first fashion house in Paris. His designs greatly influenced the people and labeled them as the designs of the "House of value." As a result, a designer became synonymous with a particular brand.

Another important designer who made a significant contribution to the evolution of the fashion was Paul Motor Ret. He blended the classical style consisting of aesthetic dressing with Paris fashion. Other important designers of this age were Patou, Vionnet, Fortuny, Lanvin and Chanel.

Throughout the 20th century, Paris remained the world's fashion hub, with countries like the U.S. and Britain openly aping the French designs. The period following World War II saw the emergence of other countries, such as the centers of fashion and Paris ceased to be the sole influential factor. The rising British fashion industry brought a new range of street fashion focusing mainly on the young consumers.

Later, American designers such as Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren came to the fore with their sportswear and made it a style statement. Today, fashion designs can be categorized into two main categories. The haute couture is designed for individual customers. The other category is the ready-to-wear collection. While the former is based on certain themes and is more for creating a style statement, the latter is meant for the masses.

The mid-90s saw the emergence of a new generation of designers who redefined traditional concepts. They looked at fashion from a new angle, creating their own new concepts.

Thus, the world of fashion design has seen a constant evolution over the years and has been the by-product of the sincere efforts of many of the top designers.

Be Inspired

"Tammy, why do you eat so much but never get fat?" 

"How do you maintain your body?" 

I get people asking me this question ALL THE TIME. 

My secret?

I EXERCISE.

I do not exercise A LOT though but i guess enough to not get fat. :)

I do not have the most perfect body. I know people would say "aiya be happy with what you have" but i don't want to until i have a body like that...

This is my motivation. I might never get a body exactly like that because i LOVE to eat though. Lol.

Still, i look at the picture and it makes me want to go exercise! Like right now, i feel like changing into my sports attire and running shoes and go jogging! 

If i listen to what people always say, "BE HAPPY WITH YOUR BODY! YOU LOOK GOOD ALREADY", i don't think my body would be what it it today.

I would be lying to myself if i had a belly like this and said i was "happy with my body". That's just me. I know some people can be (well good for them!) but i can't. Or rather, i choose not to be.

I've seen things like this...

If given a choice, would you choose the body on the left or the right? 

The answer is obvious right?

If you're already "contented" with a fat belly, you will never achieve the body on the Right. So why be contented with a fat belly when you can get a better body if you're willing to work for it?

My whole life, i've never been fat because i've been doing sports since young. However, i also eat a lot of junk so despite exercising so much, i'm not skinny. 

After i got out of Secondary School, i stopped exercising and kinda gained weight and became flabby. My highest weight, 55kg. Not overweight but i didn't like how i look.

I hated how my arms looked. Oh and not to mention my chubby cheeks.

I am a model for my online store and want to look good wearing my stuff. Most blog shop models in Singapore are very skinny so when compared to them, i'm actually pretty "big". I was ALWAYS complaining but did not do anything to achieve a nicer body.

I think it got to a point everyone found me annoying. Even i found myself annoying.

Tried to stop eating. Dieting did help me lose weight. No doubt. How can you gain weight from dieting right?

My face and my arms became smaller!

But was i happy? Not at all.

Everytime i deprived myself from eating, i felt depressed. In order for me to get out of that depression, i have to eat. When given the permission to finally eat, i stuff myself like mad and gain even more weight. It was a cycle. It was unhealthy. My weight fluctuated like mad.

In just a month, i gained back all that i lost...

Face became fat again.

But i was happier being able to eat! However my confidence level kinda dropped too.

So this went on and on till i told myself this...

I WILL TO EAT BECAUSE I LOVE TO BUT I WILL EXERCISE BECAUSE I WANT TO LOVE MY BODY MORE.

I realized dieting alone does not help me achieve my ideal body. I realized exercising is WAY more effective than dieting. If you diet, you have to be very strict cus once you give in to temptation, you gain weight again VERY quickly. However if you eat and exercise, your metabolism will be higher so even on days you don't do anything, your body is still burning fats. If you're toned, you look slimmer. This is no lie at all. I am around the same weight as before however i look SO much better now because i am toned. 

Oh and i realized jogging helped me get rid of my fat face FAST. When i first started jogging, i always feel the fats on my cheeks bouncing up and down! Today, i can hardly feel it bouncing...lol. So if you want a slimmer face, try jogging! 

It sure isn't easy to squeeze time to exercise but i do it cus of my motivation (the VS model). My schedule is CRAZY!! I work like 10 hours a day. However if i can squeeze in 1 hour to go work out, SO CAN YOU! :)

Diet is also important but i'm sure every girl knows that eating McDonalds everyday is not going to help you lose weight. Try to avoid oily deep fried stuff. Try to not have it at all. If you HAVE to have it, make sure you exercise harder! 

A good choice at a food court is fish soup with rice/noodles. Ask for more fish (i will add $1 more), and less rice/noodles. Carbohydrates are OK! Just don't have too much if you want to lose weight! If you completely cut it off you will notice a huge difference in your energy level and wouldn't be able to function well. You need the energy if you are constantly up and moving. If you are going to exercise, you need to fuel your body or you will faint.

There's a lot more about food i want to share! Will do another post on Diet when i'm free! :)

I hope this post inspires you to pick up those running shoes lying at the back of your shoe cabinet! 

I know of some readers who actually joined the gym after seeing my previous post! SO HAPPY FOR THEM! 

p.s I am no fitness expert. Just a normal girl who has seen what exercising regularly has done for me!

p.s I know this post is a lot like the previous post i did a couple of months back but i know it won't hurt to inspire people to get fit or just lose those extra pounds.

In Need Of A Discount Digital Pattern Cutting Service?

If you are looking for a pattern cutting services as in an individual who can provide you with pattern drafting / pattern making skills to provide you with finished garment patterns, and you're also looking for a discount, then you've come to the right place.

Unlike other pattern makers I don't charge the high fees for my discount digital pattern making services. As a beginner in the industry, I will draft your clothing patterns for only $35 per garment item, and include free alterations should your pattern(s) need any adjustments.

The first step in my pattern cutting service will include a free drafting of a basic bodice pattern called a sloper, in the size or sizes you require, ( according to the Butterick standard size chart). Then the appropriate blocks which are also completed free of charge will be constructed for the given garment design and the pattern cutting process for your design(s) will begin.

Depending on the complexity of your garment design your pattern may take 1 - 3 days to be completed and delivered as a full size printable jpeg file via email.

Information I will need in order to start the pattern making process for your designs will include the following:

- fabric weight and type

- required seam width

- desire hem width

- desired garment fit

- intended garment closures if applicable

- size (as compliant with Butterick standard size charts)

I will also require an illustration, photo or drawing of the garment(s) for which you need patterns drafted for as well as a similar visual reference for the back of the garment and details regarding any unseen elements to be included in the pattern.

Once complete, I will email your pattern to you via the email address you've provided. You'll then be able to take your digital pattern file to your local print shop or print services to have them print out your garment pattern(s).

Aside from pattern cutting / drafting, I also provide pattern digitization and can convert your flat paper or fabric pattern to digital jpeg format so it can be converted into an accurate digitally reproduction with clean, consistent seam widths and identical, correctly placed notches.

If you are interested in this pattern cutting or digitization service or you have any questions please email me for more information at stylistwithacause@gmail.com

Wrap it one

traditional Furoshiki Bag is interesting to carry,
which could bring up all the stuffs you want..
in one bag with several knots on the cloth.

Genta Design created a creative Furoshiki bag,
which could carry your laptop and mobile in one bag too,
with stylish design.

Idoh

Watched this video on Miyake's blog and i had to share it.

This is his plea, and the plea of thousands of dog lovers living in HDB flats who wish to give street dogs a home.

"This is a ridiculous rule. We're losing so many lives due to irresponsible breeding and people who buy on impulse. It's terrible that we can't save all these lives and solve a problem that we have caused. The least we can do is to allow the more Singaporeans this chance to save these lives.

If condominiums can hold these large dogs, why can't HDBs? It's the dogs and hearts of caring Singaporeans that suffer here."

OSF Lace Bikini

Swim wear by OHSOFICKLE!

Comes in 3 colors, Black, Blue and White. 

Will be launching this on Thursday, 13 September at 7PM over at www.ohsofickle.com.sg!

FASH MOB

This is me in The Parisan Vest (Black) by Fash Mob.

The girls at Fash Mob are back with a branch new gorgeous series and collection filled with high street fashion style that you wish you can strut down the streets in and also wear them for your day-to-day outfits! Look out for their brand new exclusively manufactured series, BRIDGE by FASHMOB which they have just launched! It's what the girls do best at Fash Mob with chic, stylish, classics and edgy! Every piece of clothing is of the best quality you can ask for!

Fash Mob is also now available on rack at FirstDay at Plaza Singapura, #B1-19! Expect new arrivals to be stocked in weekly!

Join their Mailing List now to enjoy free normal postage or spend a min of $80 in a single invoice to enjoy free registered postage! Follow them on Twitter and instagram (@fashmob), read their Blog and like their Facebook page to get the latest updates or sneak peeks for upcoming collections!

Website: http://fash-mob.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shopfashmob

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/loveFashMob  

Blog: http://fashmobblogs.wordpress.com/

Dress Classy and Dance Cheesy

Watched this and felt a little disappointed. They didn't even introduce him properly, he had to go "Can i  introduce myself? And not just dance?". They didn't even treat him like a celebrity. :/ Also, i was hoping she'd do an interview with him but sadly, no.

New Arrivals

Some of the stuff i just put up on my webstore today!

www.ohsofickle.com.sg

Designing my Dream

By BSC Fashion Management & Communication Bursary Student,

Francoise Jeanne de Villiers

Armed with a degree in graphic design and an obsession with fashion, I was desperately scouring the internet and sending out my CV, hoping that someone might give me a chance to work in the fashion industry without the “4-5 years experience… degree in fashion design” criteria so clearly stated in the job requirements. It soon became clear that an intense love for fashion expressed on the pages of a fashion blog, is not enough to get that much needed breakthrough into the fashion industry.

The only options were to either give up my dream of being a stylist, or start searching for a degree in fashion. The problem being that, not only have I just completed an exhausting 4 year degree in design, I was more interested in fashion styling, photography and writing… everything but pure fashion design and constructing patterns! A degree focusing on that, was at that moment, non-existent in South Africa.

   Francoise de Villiers NWSD fashion shoot with Photographer Donovan Roets

Longingly gazing at the fashion jobs offered on iFashion.co.za, I found myself relentlessly scrolling to the ‘Jobs in Graphic Design’ section. It was at that exact moment that my eye caught the words “bursary… fashion” in the title of a press release, followed by a pop up window telling me my internet connection had reached its volume limit. I comforted myself thinking it was probably a bursary for the ‘normal’ fashion design degree, which I was not interested in.

It was only later that evening that an unexplainable restlessness came upon me, realizing that I was making a big mistake not being able to read that press release.  I grabbed my blackberry and started with an internet search only to become frustrated with the small screen and zoom control that… I cannot control. Eventually I did manage to track down the press release and could not contain my excitement when reading that North West School of Design presents SA`s first B.Sc. Degree in Fashion Management & Communication and is offering a three year bursary to one lucky student. The course covers management as well as the financial, administration and communicating side of fashion to prepare the student to work as a forecaster, Fashion Photographer, Fashion Agent, Fashion Marketing specialist, Fashion Events coordinator, Retail / Boutique management, and even as a Fashion Publicist.

(to read more about this bursary, visit http://www.ifashion.co.za/office/northwestschoolofdesign/PressRelease.php?StoryID=225253)

This was the opportunity I was waiting for. This course consisted out of everything I ever wanted to do and even more! The excitement was unfortunately temporarily since it dawned on me that the deadline for this bursary application was in fact the very next day. Driven by adrenaline I rushed in making the arrangements and within 24 hours I have applied, written the electronic application test, got my CV together and heard that I actually won the bursary! It was the friendly voice of Charles Oosthuizen that broke the news, commenting that the only problem they had with my application was in convincing me to leave the Western Cape for Klerksdorp. Being overwhelmed with the news, I suddenly found myself asking, where in the world is North West School of Design?

After some investigation I read that North West School of Design, situated in Klerksdorp, has been presenting fashion design for the last 13 years with many success stories making their mark in the industry. Klerksdorp is located in the North West Province and the only thing my immediate family could tell me about this place, was that it was situated with a huge taxi rank next to the N12. It was a month later that my mother and I drove into Klerksdorp (pass the taxi rank), and not even the exhaustion from the 15-hour trip could contain our excitement. Unfortunately it was already dark so finding our way to my new home in a strange place was a mission itself.

Francoise de Villiers receiving Certificates of Merit at North West School of Design

It is now ten months since that night I drove into Klerksdorp, and to be truly honest, I still haven’t found my ‘stiletto cladded’ feet here. My Capetonian lifestyle and habits do not help me blend in, nor does my excitement of suspecting rain when I see a cloud in the cold winter sky. Even though it still doesn’t feel like home, I cannot deny the friendly welcome I got from the people and the school.

From patterns to Polyvore, North West School of Design seems to cover every aspect related to fashion, only to surprise me in introducing even more knowledge and information on a daily basis.

During the first semester at NWSD, I have accumulated more knowledge about the industry and working environment than in the 4 years studying at the university. This is the characteristic I value most about NWSD. With all this knowledge and information at my disposal, and subsequent recognition received from the school, I cannot help being motivated to work hard on every project and also in developing my own personality and skills by challenging my abilities through goal setting. 

To summarize everything I have learned so far, is an improbable task, but some of the things that really intrigued me was the construction of patterns using the X-act Patternmaker, CAD patterns, sewing up a kiddies garment, fashion sketching, creating storyboards, technical illustrations, fashion marketing/branding, fundraising, fashion buying, trend forecasting, researching famous designers, and doing a lot of fashion writing and blogging. The list is endless.

Francoise alongside 6 of the 8 NWSD semi finalists for the LIVE OUT LOUD Young Designer awards

To me NWSD is like a ‘very fashionable’ family, under the guiding hand of principal Marlene Oosthuizen, who strives to promote the individual growth of every student, by introducing us to the realities of the fashion industry. Instead of highlighting the perks of being a glamorous famous designer, NWSD reveals and guides us in how to get there. Therefore NWSD embodies the realistic and practical side of fashion, without neglecting to express and acknowledge their love for the beautiful and extraordinary contribution that fashion brings to life.

NWSD has contributed to my life in many unexpected ways, and I cannot wait to see what the rest of the course hold in store for me. Being surrounded with amazing people and support I cannot help but feeling privileged to be where I am today, which would not have been a reality if it was not for this amazing opportunity North West School of Design has offered me. Therefore I would like to express my gratitude towards Marlene, Charles, Lisa, Kobus, Marina and the rest of the staff, for not only presenting me with a lifetime opportunity, but also for guidance and giving my creative abilities more freedom than ever before. 

Got UGG Fluffie?

what's the fashionable item
which you are need the most in summer?

UGG introduces a kind of sandals, fluffie.
with fluffy and shearling-lined foot bed.
cute appearance will make you wanna take
all of the colourful sandals back!

Japanese girls are crazy with this sandals,
so what about you? :)

GUSHCLOUD APP

Gushcloud Rewards is back!!!

You can start earning money on Gushcloud again! 

How to earn? 

Tweet about a brand, follow a brand on twitter, complete a survey or visit a brand's website! On average, you get to earn 30cents to $2 per task. 

Gushcloud just launched a mobile app on the App Store! Download the app to gush on the go, and earn money on the go! No reason to be lazy to earn extra moolah. :)

Simply go to the App Store on your iPhone, search "Gushcloud" and DOWNLOAD THE APP.

Here's a step-by-step on how to use it to earn $!

Step 1: 

Sign In to your Gushcloud account

You can choose to Sign In using either Facebook or Twitter. I suggest you connect both to your Gushcloud account. 

How to connect both FB and Twitter account to you Gushcloud account? 

Go to gush.co, register using your email. Use that registered email to Sign In the app.

You will be directed to the welcome page when you have signed in...

Step 2: 

Go to Campaigns

On the top left hand corner, you will see an icon with 3 bars, click on that and click on Campaigns.

Step 3: 

Choose a campaign you want to Tweet/Like/Share!

For this campaign i chose, all i have to do is "LIKE" them on Facebook and i earn 39GP!

Step 4: 

Follow the instructions on the campaign you chose.

For this campaign, i had to click "Start".

I was directed to the Guinness Singapore Facebook page where i had to "LIKE" to earn my points.

Step 5: 

Rate the Campaign

Once you have completed the task, you will be asked to Rate It!

AND YOU'RE DONE! In just 30 seconds, i earned myself 39GP.

10 GP = SGD$0.12 (approx)

So in 30 seconds i earned myself around $0.48! 

Imagine i share 10 campaigns a day (which will take around 10 min or so) and each campaign i earn $0.48, that will be like $4.80 earned in 10 min?! People working at McDonalds need to spend 1 hour working to earn that money!

To check the total GP you have earned, click the coins in a cloud icon at the top right hand corner!

And once you're done with all that tweeting and liking, i'm sure you'd wanna know how to GET YOUR MONEY!

How to Cash Out?

Go to gush.co

Click Rewards (at the top left hand corner)

You can choose to Redeem something, Withdraw the cash or Donate it!

I hope you all like this iPhone app. :)

I'm sure the people at Gushcloud worked extremely hard to put this together because it is really impressive!