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