Laura Hockey

I’m loving this design so much more now

My next project is the Extended Major Project (EMP), which is divided into two sections. For part 1 we had a couple of options which we had to apply for, and the one I went for was a collaborative project with the University of Kentucky. It is for a production that they are doing out there of the musical ‘The Pajama Game’ and we will be making about 8 costumes here, shipping them over and then two of our students will complete them on the actors.

Today I got the chance to speak to the designer, Nelson Fields, over skype about my design that I also got today, which was good to clear up a few questions, hopefully we’ll get coloured versions and back views asap.
I don’t really like my design as such, not because it’s not a great design but because I guess I was hoping for a pretty 50s swing dress. On the plus side, its gonna really add to my portfolio, teach me a lot (its going to be checked fabric!) and just generally be a unique experience so I’m not too down! Also, Nelson has a brilliant design style, both in that its really clear for a maker, yet very characterful and expressive!

For part 2 it is a self initiated project, and when I thought about what was missing from my portfolio and felt I needed to do a female 18th Century costume with some textural work. I had also had discussions with my tutor who suggested I should do something pretty girly and frilly. At the moment this is the design I’m thinking about, although I haven’t contacted the designer yet so who knows!

I’m also a bit tempted by this image of Queen Charlotte, but that is something I don’t need to totally decide on til the new year so I’m not stressing over it yet.

So that is my news really. My SP costume will be finished thursday so I can get an image uploaded, then in the new year I’ll be doing a photoshoot for it!

I promise one day I will do more than just a ‘quick update’ but for now:

I finished my Specialist Practice costume last monday. I say finished, there were bits missing and I didn’t sleep all weekend, but now it is done! I have an updated version of the design and hopefully this week I’ll manage to get a photo of it on the stand.

It’s still not quite right, but I think I’m getting there with it

Apparently it looks beige, but the slip and underskirt are meant to be like pastel gold, and the underskirt is a sheer fabric finely knife pleated. I like it, it really suggests femininity in contrast to the tailored jacket.

One of the projects I’m doing at the moment is a Anne Boleyn/Elizabeth I costume. Two of my favourite historical women, I could hardly say no.

As with most of my other projects there is a twist (I just can’t do anything normal!). We’re working on a budget so we’re trying to do a lot of reusing pieces etc.

Anne:

I was trying to keep Anne kind of simple while maintain her royal status, so while she is essentially quite plain, she has lots of layers and textures etc. The underskirt is a curtain I found on ebay that I think is going to look so lovely, and we’d previously agreed we wanted the colour scheme to be green, which is very fitting for Anne!

Elizabeth:

For Elizabeth I’ve tried to keep the same look, but I’ve suggested a more exaggerated skirt shape and removed the tabs. While the new bodice panel would be more like an 18th century stomacher, I couldn’t think of any other way of just adding in a panel at the front there. The ruff/collar piece would be goldy and there would be much more embellishment than is shown, but I kind of like working on embellishment without too strict a design, and my design style is very strict, so I avoid it.

I’m actually really pleased that what are essentially two very simillar dresses have captured the very different styles between Anne in the 1530s and Elizabeth from the late 1550s on (dates from the top of my head ladies and gentlemen, I do love the Tudors!)

so this was the final piece
Here is the original design of Pasha Selim from Mozart’s Il Seraglio. Designed by me

here is after the second fitting

I’m not really that happy with it, the neckline is a total botch job, the tights were never finished and everything is held together with snap fasteners….which may or may not be right
On the other hand its finished, and at least I know I can make something for a guy…I just never want to again.

This was the costume I made for Renaissance to Restoration Realisation (based on my design for Renaissance to Restoration Design below) I unfortunately don’t have a photo of the final costume but felt it was worth posting. When finished, the costume did have all the ruffs as designed and the crinfrills were brown