Jewellery and Career is a Charming Combination

Hello my petals. This week is one which is very much overlooked, one which offers education, visual inspiration and very pretty things! Yes it's London Jewellery week! No it's not as well publicized as London fashion week but jewellery is on the rise so when it is as big as fashion week you can say .... "Oooh I heard about that years ago from Francesca Smith ... the jewellery designer." I will hopefully be visiting a couple of the events on the line up. Therefore hopefully have some coverage, which I will then post on here! If I have given you a thirst to learn more visit the website but be quick it has already started and finishes on Sunday.

http://www.londonjewelleryweek.co.uk/

On a different note, I have just secured a second placement for this summer. A very exciting one at that! Yes it's me, me, me time! I will be working in the design department of DCK Concessions, a company which designs, makes and supplies jewellery and accessories to high street stores. Stores such as Dorothy Perkins, Wallis (who I work for ... who are bloody brilliant!), Evans, Matalan and Macy's. But they also design the Freedom range in Topshop and the Diva range in Miss Selfridge! In other words .... Francesca can not flipping wait! Check out their website, or just look at their work next time your out spending that well earned wonga!

http://www.dckconcessions.com/dck_home.php

Patience and Groping.

Hello Friends, family, lovers and stalkers! Yes it has been a while since we last made contact (not in a UFO sense). So first things first, I Francesca Smith am .... ahem ... Sorry. For this long drawn out period of will she won't she ever release her new pieces. Well studying at London College of Fashion has been a lot more, scratch that, astronomically busier this term than I had anticipated. Don't take this apology for granted! It doesn't happen that often.
So to make up for the neglect of this most precious of blogs (yes I'm narcissistic towards my work) and this prolonged wait for Francesca Smith's new 'line', here is a supremely sneaky peak at the new style of 'RW'.
This was a comission which I took great pride in making and hope the buyer is enjoying these bad boys. Introducing 'Admiral'. A pair of clip on earings made from vintage 1940's buttons and silk effect cord.


Also during a very brief moment of free time I did the ultimate internet sin. I Googled myself. Yes, yes I did it, but with a lovely search result. 'Remember This Name and Hold This Space' is number 2 on Google blog search, when I type in 'Francesca Smith' the name my parents blessed me with (thank you Mum and Dad).


Finally on my last but beautiful note. On a recent project review with Rob Phillips, creative director of London College of Fashion I was given a great gift of knowledge in the form of Hussein Chalayan . Yes a most magnificent fashion designer, his ideas are most definitely out of the box and his designs blow the dust out of your fashion thirsty minds. It was not clear to my visually impaired eyes until Rob kindly pointed it out, but groping is taken to an all new level by Chalayan. Enjoy.

Also please enjoy this extraordinary video (Spring / Summer 2007).

http://www.husseinchalayan.com/#/videos.2007.2007_s_s_one_hundred_and_eleven/

Growth and Acid Trips

Entry number 20! That is also my age and it is the 20th tomorrow! This is beginning to become very mildly coincidental. So I should really save this for tomorrow to add to the effect, but I'm a creative mind. Impatience is the primary characteristic of my species.
So obviously I have been rather busy hence the lack of blogging, but all with good cause! I've already had two comissions before even releasing my new line and been busy getting ready to go back to LCF (Oh how I have missed her this past month!). Also due to popular demand I have started to put together a small catalog of my 'RW By Francesca Smith' lines. Oh oo also I now have business cards, admittedly they're not the correct dimensions, but hey their homemade! The intent is there.


Anyway back to the new line, it's coming along nicely. I am trying to fit in the hours in between work, university, internship applications, as well as social and domestic bliss. But it's getting there! 6 and a 1/2 pieces so far, so half way there! I will set a launch date when I have some idea of when it will be and I will also attempt to upload the catalog as a PDF (attempt being the operative word) it not as images. But here's a bit of a sneaky preview as I know I have creative minded friends (remember they are impatient).


Finally just to leave you on a fashion high and to tide you over until launch day, hello Blumarine! Acid candy, is what I say and oh my lord is it tasty!

Delicious rings. Never mind the toxic plastic I'd eat them anyway.

But wait one moment! Is this an earcuff by the marines? Yes? I believe we have something in common here! I want one!!!!


German Vogue agrees too.

Patience and Previews!

Merry Easter everybody! Yes, I haven't made a peep in a while, but it is all in good cause! I have been working ever so hard on my new 'Ready to Wear' (Now creatively named 'RW') over the last few weeks. The aim is to create 12 - 15 new pieces, all of which are made from components of discarded jewellery as well as the brand new. I can't preview my work just yet as I haven't whipped out my trusty Cannon camera and become trigger happy! But soon my petals soon, patience is key and a most attractive of virtues. So to tide you all over and to give you an idea of the scale of which this new project has become here is a lovely view of my microcosm of a workshop.


Now on another note here are a few photographs from a shoot I helped my very best friend Sophie Caplan out with. Her design being based on horses and riding she asked for a small contribution from 'Hunter' boots in return for some photographs of the finished article and the full look. I love working with this very talented young lady and hope to one day collaborate with her as I keep saying (Hint, Hint.)

Hold On!

I am an avid lover of the clutch bag on a evening or night out, cute, handy and easy access when reaching for your ID or that hard earned cash then exchanged for that long awaited cocktail. But while trawling through the internet I found the mother of all clutch bags. Several which have solved the most flawed of aspects, holding the dam thing! Good Lord it does become an indurance test! But say hello to gorgeous inivations of holding this must have accessorie created by brilliant minds.

Roberto Cavalli

Alexander Mcqueen

Alexander Mcqueen

And staying on the note of Mcqueen, I adore this sinister yet glamorous knuckle duster. A desire shared by a fellow knuckle duster designer.


Lulu Guiness (Admittedly it hasn't got a ergonomic handle, but it is yummy!)

On another and exciting note I read the most fabulous article informing me that one of my new favourite designers Henry Holland, designer of House of Holland has designed a ready to wear range for Debenhams and my gosh it is devine! When it comes to the Spring/Summer season colour is my lover, and I often look like a rainbow nightmare and this new (very affordable) range has got my blood pumping! Don't believe me then take a eye full of this.

But a word of warning! Do not get there before me otherwise I will wage retail war on you!

Empire of the Sun and 'Cell'

No not the band, it's the gorgeous sunshine reining over London and Kent today! Yes, noted it is still just cold enough to have to wear that now stale smelling coat, but it is most certainly enough to get me thinking about the coming Spring/Summer season especially with the ripe smell of spring oozing from the daffodils in my living room. Begin rediscovering the nearly forgotten treasures of summertime warmth like the sandals you lived in, the sunglasses and the garments which scream summer lust!

I know, I know it has been a long time since I've blogged my faithful friends and followers but I have been locked away enthusiastically working away at my latest project. Well hand in was yesterday and as I promised here is a premier preview of my final piece. It was a long slog, with tears, mishaps, and a dumper truck full of stress, but I can safely say it was worth it. I've learnt alot through personal errors and classes and have grown a little bit more as a jewellery designer.
So I will let the suspense end, presenting 'Cell' by Francesca Smith.

Delayed Fashion?

I realise that I didn't keep 100% up to date with London Fashion Week, but between University work, Employment and my Internet provider cutting me off, it has obviously been exceptionally difficult to fill you all in on my opinionated musings and reviews. But I'm going to round up London Fashion Week quickly in keeping with the pace of fashion itself. So the obvious note I'm going to end on is my new lustful crush, Burberry! Oh how I was thrilled, the classic earthy colours with one or two of their infamous macs, but now with the added eutopia that is electric blue, fur and the future winter must have aviator jackets. All in all it was an impressive collection and an exciting new era in Burberry design. But I cannot help but wonder is Burberry running the risk of loosing their identity, lets see how this old age pentioner matures into a new youth.












So what are the looks and must haves for next winter? Three simple components, fur, saucy dresses and aviator jackets, concluding in my thorough excitement for next season!