Wedding Dress for Life

Experiencing Becca Keene, current and future costume designer in her third year at London College of fashion, graduating this summer with a BA in costume for performance. The dress was created for her final hand in and for Earth day. The colourful, lining earth day inspired, is designed Lucy Orta. The purpose of this garment is to live and be used forever. Sustainability is really important for this designer and this piece is no exception.

"A sustainable, slow fashion alternative to bridal wear currently on the market. On the wedding day it's a reversed tuxedo jacket, with tulle sections as a wedding dress. Then after the wedding it can be turned around, the tulle sections hidden and shortened using poppers to suit the seasons." Becca Keene

This experience was unanticipated as I have known Becca since I was in year 4 and she was in year 5, going on 11 years and I'm in my second year at JCA whilst she's designing for her final year at LCF. Since leaving Primary school we hadn't spoken until now. I was sent this opportunity by a friend and decided I'd take it..

...She said yes and here we are for the first fitting.

It was really interesting being the model and operating from that perspective rather than being the designer. It definitely gave me insight on how people feel in that position and what to communicate to the models to make sure they are comfortable. Before I got there Becca had told me exactly what was happening and that I should bring a sports bra and shorts for the fitting so that I felt comfortable when she was rearranging/taking on and off the toile. She told me that a lot of her lecturers would be around and that it's possible three will be in the fitting with us also adjusting the toile. As well as explaining that her friend would be taking photos to document the process. As a result of this, I felt comfortable with what was happening and there were no surprises.The fitting took place behind a screen so that the rest of her class weren't involved, allowing the fitting to feel private which is something I will consider when I am next fitting a model.

It was really interesting sitting in the LCF Lime Grove Makeup and Hair studio. There was a Prosthetics class in session on the other side and to hear them talk so in depth about the specific chemicals and which brush to use felt so alien to me. Probably how a consumer would feel if they saw us Pattern Cutting. Olivia Richardson was the Hair and Make-up Artist.

The way she did the makeup was incredibly detailed and took time doing the base and focusing on specific areas, unlike how I do it myself. She meticulously checked how it was looking at every step. One tip I picked up that Make-up artists are told to do is place their hand lightly on your face before they apply the brush to your eyelid so that it doesn't startle the model.

On the two shoot days I met Lucas Dove the videographer who was really detail orientated, whilst he and Becca communicated a lot on what she wanted and what he thought looked good and it was interesting to watch the relationship of the designer and videographer working together to direct me in what I should be doing and making me feel comfortable whilst doing it. I personally think it really matters who you have on a shoot because it makes a massive difference to the energy of the day and how everyone operates.

I have definitely picked up tips and it was a really good experience to learn from the model point of view.