Tuesday 26 July 2011

Proof

Yes, it has been proven that a young woman can set up her own jewellery company and be extremely successful, and these two lovely ladies lead by example. Jess and Emily Lathan are sisters whom set up their own jewellery company after realising the success of their designs with friends and friends of friends. Their online store www.rocknrose.co.uk is favourite for celebrities such as Pixie Lott and Peaches Geldof. You can read all about their story in this week's 'Look' magazine on page 53 or simply check their website out and marvel at their oh so fabulous head gear! Why am I featuring this article? Because it fills me with hope and gives me a target to aim for with my own minuscule company. Maybe one day I'll reach this high? We will see... remember this name and hold this space!


Two posts in one month... I must be on my summer break from university!

So if you have looked at my website (www.francescasmithbydesign.co.uk) in the past you will know that in 2008/2009 I played with the idea of ear cuffs over earrings. Well check out who's liking the idea of cuffs....


Asos and Topshop have put out these sexy little numbers. Not as crazy and lethal as mine but wearable and in my opinion a must! I Love the little feather lovely in particular by Freedom at Topshop. Let's see if this concept catches on. Also would it be a good idea for me to make some to sell on my own site? Let me know! I love a bit of feedback!

Tuesday 12 July 2011

Public Affairs

Hi all.... Yes I am alive! Which is extremely surprising after the past incredibly manic 6 months I've just had!
I have now finished my second year and finished it with a lovely 2:1. It is now the beginning of that beautiful time in every university students life, 3RD YEAR! I have to say at my 3rd year breifing I didn't realise it was possible to feel both excited and incredibly terrified at the same time. It's safe to say many bricks have been passed.
On a very exiting note my secondary school very knidly asked me to preview some of my work at their annual technology exhibition at Bluewater shopping centre in Kent! It was open all this week 8am-5pm so if you had the chance to go and have a look thank you. The technology department at the Leigh Technology Academy do some amazing things and it was the platform to my relationship with product design.



Now on a retail note ..... I WANT THESE NOW!!! Say hello to the oh so beautiful Burberry Brights Foldable Sunglasses. Everybody loves a gimmick and these scream LOOK AT ME!


Burberry have even produced this lovely interactive video so you can see just how yummy these beauties are! They come in several tasty colours, but if you like them as much as I do you better scramble together £210.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Burberry?blend=12&ob=5

It's an industry fact at the moment that jewellery design is being hit hard by the lack of jewellery being used in current fashion trends. Let's admit it, when was the last time you bought some sweet bling for that oh so fabulous outfit? So to my sweet surprise when I opened Vogue on my fabulous Greek holiday I was pleased to find Chanel backing our corner........


This post is pretty short and sweet but I need to get back in to the swing of blogging. I'll update you when new posts are up on my 'Francesca Smith' Jewellery page .....

http://www.facebook.com/editprofile.php?sk=basic&success=1#!/pages/Francesca-Smith/118198808233026

Please 'LIKE' it while your there! Also keep an eye out for my new collection, which I am currently working on.

Have a fabulous summer all.

Wednesday 30 March 2011

'Lola'

Put the phone down and stop dialing '999', I am alive I assure you. Although after these past couple of months I feel more like a zombie than a human being. So what have I been up to I hear you cry!? Well in between the struggles of family life and working part time I have been striking it lucky and working my body and mind to the point of destruction at the fabulous world of London College of Fashion.
So let me start with my first slice of exciting news, well not so much news anymore, more like ancient history in the fashion world. After entering a competition by the fabulously affordable 'Look' magazine, I was lucky enough to win tickets to fashion weeks 'The Look Show' set up by the magazine. Now if you knew me you would know I'm not much of a winner, in my life I have only won £10 on the lottery and a pass the passel game when was 5 years old. So when I found out I won a pair of tickets out of 50 available tickets ..... and wait for it ....... over 40,000 applicants, I must say this was a win! How was it? It was brilliant! A beautiful taster of what fashion week can be, without having to be Miss IT girl. Admittedly it was little sad to watch B - Z list celebrities soak up any drop of attention they could get, but free champagne and a jam packed goody bag worth at least £100 was a cherry on top of a splendid high-street cake.







I appologise for the somewhat blurry photography but an SLR is still not quite in my budget, one day, one day.
So this can't be the only reason you have been a missing person for so long, I hear you ask?! Well no, this term at LCF we were given an exciting brief to use a 'Fashion Tribe' as inspiration to create innovative new designs for the traditional use of chains and clasps within fashion jewellery. I chose to look at the oh so glamorous 'Pin-up' tribe. This was a very time consuming project and one of importance as it counts as a third of my 2nd year grade. I haven't recieved my feedback as of yet but I would like to introduce 'Lola' and you can give me your own feedback!





If you have reached this far in reading this post, congratulations and thank you! Just one final note, before I hibernate for the next couple of days to recuperate! If you haven't already noticed the blog now has a new look to match my website, which has also had a tip and tuck, please pay it a visit and keep your eye out for new pieces going on sale ...

www.francescasmithbydesign.co.uk


Friday 10 December 2010

Environmental Sustainability

So yes the gap between this post and the last has been rather wide, BUT as it's almost Christmas I of course had a project deadline at LCF, and the cherry on top, an essay on identity and social gender roles in culture! Fun! But this is my first official day of, hooorah!
Firstly here's a quick note on my project, which i completed this term. I had a brief set, to undertake research on sustainable materials, industry practices and the environmental impact the jewellery and fashion industry has on the world. So after much research and aloooooot of hard work I developed a piece made of entirely sustainable materials (second hand clothing, plywood and brass). Also as fast fashion and constant changes in trend are the main issues in industry and the cause of our throw away society, it is a piece which can be changed at your will!
So here I introduce 'Environmental Sustainability' By Francesca Smith...







Also just to big myself up just a little more I was given a 1st for it. Maybe this sustainability lark is worth carrying on with!

On another note I was lucky enough to have been given an invite to a Kenzo cocktail party, which I recently attended. Kenzo are currently celebrating their 40th anniversary and with it the release of their new and oh so beautiful book. I have to say this book is so visually overwhelming! Complete with designer illustrations, catwalk photography and even pop-up pages it's worth a look. But one huge draw back is that it costs a real pretty penny, so maybe wait till your library stocks it!




Finally it's only 2 weeks until Christmas. So as your frantically looking for that perfect gift, keep your friendly neighborhood jeweller in mind .... i.e. ME!
Ready to wear pieces are available at the website,

www.francescasmithbydesign.co.uk


HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!



Friday 5 November 2010

Sparkle and Bang

Hello all, yes, yes it was been a while but it's been difficult to find a spare moment in between self-employment, part-time employment and university. But I am here and ready to wow!

As usual I'm going to start on a 'ME' note, I know their your favourite and soon my head will grow too enormous for my tiny workshop but hey when and where else can a girl boast about her efforts.
So last month I was asked to present my pieces at the business launch for 'Skin & Tonic' a beauty therapy company, which I must say are very good as I have made a couple of visits. Me? Vain? No! Just like to stay acceptable to the eyes. Google the company they're great!
Here's a photograph of my mini set up at the event, and just to let you know if you need an added touch to an event? Just ask me! .... please!


Finally here is some light hearted fashion viewing, my current likes and loves, ENJOY!!

Chanel

Katherine Alexander

Cavalli (Guess what it is! .......no?......a bracelet!)

Francesca Smith

Oh wait that's me, and for you my faithful readers and followers an exclusive preview of my 9 new pieces coming out very soon for Christmas!

Have a wonderful Bonfire night!!





Wednesday 22 September 2010

Macs on Mac

So I havn't covered fashion week as much as I wanted! But before you start pointing the finger of SHAME, remember I'm a university student with summer work, a part time job and a business ... so busy (the definition of myself)! But before I ventured off to the lovely world of part time employment last night, I managed to catch the live broadcast of Burberry Prorsum on my trusty MacBook. Then again there was no way I was going to miss it, after all Burberry has become my new love. So how can I round up Burberry's Prorsum Spring / Summer 2011 catwalk show ...... erm .... AMAZING!
It just oozed sophisticated youth, with the classic Burberry Macs and neutral colours but now with even more bold flashes of colour drawing your unwitting eyes into outfits of pure inivation! So it's fair to say I loved it. I particularly liked the Alexander Mcqueen-esk influence with the lizard and animal prints. I do want every piece but none more so than in the finally leather jacket encrusted with studs, incredible!


Watch the show at, http://uk.burberry.com/