Oh following my final crit today, I thought I would do a quick post about it! For this project - designing and making a character from Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' I have ended up doing Trinculo. The jester. Who in my production is a 1950s confident fool mash-up of Teddy Boy meets office coffee-maker. The kind of guy who constantly checks his reflection, copies every fashion tirelessly and has delusions of grandeur. The stand out line from the play for me is when asked how he survived the storm he answers:

'Swam like a duck'

                       - He probably can't even really swim.

Anyway, here is my take on Trinculo.....

So this is my final design. The diamond pattern and winkle pickers are small nods to his Jester roots, and the neck tie,  jacket, quiff and turned up trousers reference my Teddy Boy research. He has got the overall look wrong though, showing he is a comedic character - not stylish and serious, but eager to give off the impression of authority through his appearance, but sadly misses the mark!

Back view.

Initial idea - before it became as heavily influenced by Teddy Boys!

Acting as though he is. Too. Cool.

Exploring the balance between Teddy Boy and office influences.

Working drawing of jacket.

Play with the jacket? An accessory for him to flaunt and pose with. 

Just some visual references portraying his character.


Now I just have to make it!



P.s. When I got in after class I did this. I think it is fair to say it has been a productive evening.....

What a week! It got off to a good start when on Tuesday while making some soup I stumbled upon this parsnip. Just look at it.

And the rest of the week has been equally exciting. It has been pretty full of culture vulture activity all topped off with some Halloween fancy dress.....

It all started off with a brilliant night at The Royal Opera House where I saw Romeo and Juliet, lovely traditional evening with a serving of champagne - felt so suave.....

Then the next day I went to hear costume designer Carlo Poggioli, who has done the costumes for the new Romeo and Juliet film! We got to have a sneaky peek at some of the costumes. He was such a cheeky chappy and had great advice such as.....

 'Take time to become a costume designer' and 'Never tell a director they are wrong.'

- wise words Poggioli.

Beginning of the film Juliet wears white, symbolising her purity and innocence.

Bad quality photo, but this skirt detail was beautiful, inspired by the content of Juliet's speech, how she talks of the moon and stars.

By the end of the film, Juliet's dress is very similiar to her initial costume, however the red mirrors how her character has developed with the tragedy.

And then I went to one of The National Portrait Gallery's late nights, 'The Elizabethans undressed' ! Great fun, if a tad on the busy side. As well as watching some dressings, I went to a talk on Elizabethan make-up, and how it all centered around their knowledge of herbal remedies, for such things as bad skin, teeth whitening and urm gum tightening? Learnt so much, like how they used to pluck out their eyelashes and for bad breath they recommended drinking mulled wine - something I could get used to.

Dressing in action.

Elizabethan beauty concoctions being put to the test.



'To make the hands and face white -
Take leaves and roots of nettle and boil them in water and with this water wash your hands and face and they will become white and soft.'

- 'Gli Experimenti' by Caterina Sforza (c.1500)

 Oh I felt busy! But my week wasn't quite over, I still had some fancy dress to do - what a hardship! This time an ode to the AMAZING Tim Burton by dressing, with Snow, as Beetlejuice and Lydia. I loved it and had a cracking night.....

 After all that I am winding down with a cuppa and catching up on Downton, looking towards the week ahead which includes my final crit for The Tempest, the beginning of some work experience, a student night at The Wallace Collection and an 80's themed party! Best get a good bit a sleep tonight!

Hello! Since my last post I have been a bit preoccupied designing a 1950s take on 'The Tempest'so haven't been up to much - apart from a lovely free-flowing champagne afternoon tea and running Cardiff Half Marathon!

However, as a costume design student I believe that fancy dress is technically work, maybe, so last night I swapped my watercolours and research for pearls and lipstick for a top night sipping cocktails and bubbles while dancing the Charleston. That is right my friends, another theme party.....

Looking swell guys!

Ausra's mojito sskills.....Lucy and I really need to buy some glasses.

Enjoying the caramelised onion.....

Today I am back in 2013, cracking on with work for Trinculo the jester, who in my interpretation of Shakespeare's play is a 1950s Teddy Boy office fool.....

Today I decided to take a break from my Tempest research to make macaroons with Amy! - Peanut butter and jam flavour. YUM. They may not be the prettiest, we were short of a piping bag, but they sure taste good.....

Granted, they look like bite size scones, but once I get me a piping bag there will be no stopping me!

The work I abandoned for baking fun.....