Marissa Bridges
  • Home
  • About
  • Collections
    • Tropical Garden
    • Metamorphosis
    • Lavish Lax
    • Splendor
    • W Collection
    • CounterCouture
  • Product Design
    • Bedding
    • Summer Mini Seasonal
    • Lily Pulitzer for Target
    • Beach Towels
    • Holiday
    • Rugs and Doormats
  • Contact

Fashion Illustration

7/31/2012

0 Comments

 
After recently creating a sketch for the Star Tribune article, I realized I need to get back into hand sketching on a regular basis.  In my day to day design life I rarely do any hand sketching; most of it is done in Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.  However it is a skill that I would like to improve on for my personal portfolio and to build on my overall design skills.  I have been researching a lot of fashion illustrators to learn about different types of illustrations and techniques.  I wanted to share a few of my favorite illustrators with you. 

My first inspirational illustrator is 21 year old British Fashion Designer/ Illustrator Hayden Williams.  He is so talented and inspiring I just can't get enough of his beautiful sketching techniques.  Here are a few images of his work.
Picture
Illustration by Hayden Williams
Picture
Illustration by Hayden Williams
Picture
Illustration by Hayden Williams
Picture
Illustration by Hayden Williams
Another beloved illustrator of mine is Inslee Haynes.  She focuses more on water color techniques and explores different subjects than just fashion.  She sells a beautiful fashion illustration calendar which is actually how I came across her designs.  Check out some of my favorite water color looks by Inslee:
Picture
Illustration by Inslee Haynes
Picture
Illustration by Inslee Haynes
Picture
Illustration by Inslee Haynes
Picture
Illustration by Inslee Haynes
Picture
Illustration by Inslee Haynes
The last illustrator is Jessica Durrant.  I love how she mixes black and white illustrations with watercolor.  She is inspired by the things that she is passionate about such as traveling, fashion, rock n roll music, architecture, and nature to name a few.  You can purchase her illustrations on etsy here.  Below are some of my favorites by her. 
Picture
Illustration by Jessica Durrant
Picture
Illustration by Jessica Durrant
Picture
Illustration by Jessica Durrant
Picture
Illustration by Jessica Durrant
The next few weeks I will be working on sketches for my Spring collection so I will be sure to share those with you.  It would also be fun to show how my sketching styles have evolved over the years, as long as you promise not to laugh :)

Stay tuned!

0 Comments

Local designers reimagine Team USA's Apparel

7/27/2012

2 Comments

 
I recently had the fun opportunity of redesigning an outfit inspired by  the 2012 Olympics for a article in the Star Tribune.  There has been so much talk about Ralph Lauren's Olympic gear so it was a great idea by Sara Glassman (style writer for Star Tribune) for local designers to do the same.  See below for the Ralph Lauren Sketch's and image of Opening Ceremony Outfits.
Picture
Ralph Lauren sketch of 2012 Olympic Outfits
Picture
Ralph Lauren Opening Ceremony Attire
There was not any specific direction from Sara other than our interpretation of how we would redesign the Olympic outfits if we had the opportunity.  For me, the first thing that came to mind was redesigning the tennis outfits.  I love to design dresses and having past experience designing figure skating outfits I thought it would be easy to translate.  I enjoyed playing around with different ideas of how I would change things if I could.  Here are a few images of what tennis dresses look like today:
Picture
Dresses by Nike, Polo and Adidas
The current designs are very simple with slim to full skirts, mostly solid color and not a lot of pattern.   For my design I wanted to incorporate a few fashion trends while still keeping the dress functional.  Here are some images of the trends I wanted to inlude below. 
Picture
I loved the faded coloring of this American flag. I do a lot with fabric dying so I thought it would be an interesting way to incorporate it into a tennis dress. I also love peplum dresses (dress pictured by Alice and Olivia) and square shoulder tops (dress pictured by ASOS)
Picture
This is where my final sketch landed. I played around with watercolor pencils which was a new technique for me. Unfortunatley it did not pick up the white stripes and stars like I had intended but overall I was happy with how it turned out.
In my design, the shoulders are squared off and have more shape than the current dresses.  I also included a double layer peplum skirt which we have been seeing a lot of in the runway. In the end I wanted to have a design that was wearable but pushed the boundaries of what we see on the court today.

Here is the full article in the Star Tribune by Sara Glassman:

Anticipation is building for the Olympics, when the world will be watching Team USA in uniforms designed by Ralph Lauren. The combo of blue blazer and white skirt or trousers, shown above, seems classically stylish to some, but downright dull to others.

"They should be more fun," said local designer Lindsey Hopkins.

Designer Marissa Bridges agreed: "Right now they are pretty basic," she said. "There's an opportunity to incorporate more trends while still keeping them functional.

To host our own fashion Olympics, we asked Hopkins, Bridges and three other Minnesota designers how they would improve on what the American athletes should wear for their international appearances.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
It was fun to see how the other designers incorporated the challenge, with all of us having a different point of view.  Even though these probably won't make it into the Olympics anytime soon, hopefuly the outfits in the future continue to evolve and incorporate new materials and design.
2 Comments

Let Life Happen...

7/18/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
Keeping this in mind :)
0 Comments

Style Icons: Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen

7/6/2012

0 Comments

 
I have to say two of my favorite fashion icons and designers are twin sisters Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen.  Not only did I grow up loving them on Full House but I have appreciated watching their style change and develop over the past 10 years.  They now are faces to some of my favorite designers, Karl Lagerfeld, Dolce and Gabbana and Badgley Mischka, to name a few.  The sisters were recently named Women’s Wear Designer of the year at the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) for their high end line, The Row, a luxury apparel brand named after London’s historic Savile Row.  They were up against many well-known names such as Proenza Schouler and Michael Kors.  The sisters also own a t-shirt line called style mint, a contemporary clothing collection Elizabeth and James and design for JCPenney under the label Olsenboye.  These two show no signs of slowing down and I look forward to watching their style continue to evolve in the coming years.  Check out some of my favorite outfits worn by the sisters below.
Picture
The sisters at 2012 CFDA Awards
Picture
Shoot for Elle magazine
Picture
2007 CFDA Awards
Picture
Wearing Badgley Mischka
Picture
Mary Kate in Roberto Cavalli (on the left) and Ashley in Prada (on the right)
Picture
Karl Lagerfeld and Chanel Fashion Show in Paris
Picture
Ad for Elle Magazine
Picture
Ad for Badgley Mischka
Picture
Sisters wearing Badgley Mischka
Picture
0 Comments

Independence Day

7/3/2012

1 Comment

 
Hope everyone can get out and enjoy some sunshine for the 4th of July.  It's supposed to be 96 and hot here in Minnesota so you know you can find me by some body of water.   As you are out celebrating with friends and family, keep in mind what this holiday is all about.  Be reminded of all the people who sacrificed their lives so we are able to feel safe in our country and have the freedom to pursue our dreams.  I know it's something that I sometimes take for granted so it's great to have these days to keep us grounded and remind us of these things.  Here are two of my favorite quotes that I found appropriate for today.
I believe in America because we have great dreams - and because we have the opportunity to make those dreams come true. 
~Wendell L. Wilkie

And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
~Lee Greenwood

Have a great and safe holiday!  Here is some fun 4th of July outfit inspiration that I found on pinterest to get you in the spirit!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Happy Birthday America!
1 Comment

    Marissa Bridges

    " We are shaped and fashioned by what we love" Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

    Archives

    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011

    Categories

    All
    Arielsimone
    Bright Colors
    Bright Prints
    Color Blocking
    Design Collective
    Dip Dye
    Emerging Designer Showcase
    Fabric Stores
    Fabric Stores Minnesota
    Fashion
    Fashion Group International Show
    Fgi
    Ginny's Fabrics
    Hand Dyeing
    Inspiration
    Internships
    Jns Performancewear
    Lace
    Mathew Williamson
    Neon
    Ombre
    Ralph Lauren
    Realia By Jen
    Richard Moody
    Spring And Summer Brights
    Sr Harris
    Style Icons
    Tara Latour
    Warehouse Winery
    Womens Clothing

    RSS Feed