DIOR COUTURE BEAUTY

Christian Dior Couture SS'17 / via fasionista.com

Christian Dior Couture SS'17 / via vogue.co.uk

Some quick beauty sketches from last week's Christian Dior Haute Couture show for Spring/Summer 2017. I had intended to get these up last week, but I was away and forgot to take the connection for my laptop so I was unable to finish them off until now! Whoops.
While Maria Grazia Chiuri's first Couture show for Dior was a little reminiscent of her ethereal work for Valentino, it was undoubtedly beautiful, feminine, and fantastically whimsical!
The stars! The florals! The incredible head pieces!
As soon as I saw it I was transported to the pages of a fairytale; a Midsummer Night's Dream or a Secret Garden.
Given my latest project, it was a given that I would have to capture some of it, albeit it quickly.

Stay tuned for another illustration based around one of Paris's biggest shows.
This one, however, is going into the storybook series and gracing a fictional femme...
 

L'ORÉAL

Happy New Year!
I'm back at my desk and kicking off the 2017 posts with some recent work for L'Oréal Paris and their 'Root Cover-Up' product using pencil and ink to create a glorious mane of flipped over curls with just a hint of grey.
I thought it'd be fun to show this one as an animated gif. Greys - no greys! Magic!

CINDERELLA

The latest in my fairy tale series, and perhaps one of the most widely treasured - 'Cinderella'!

For so many of us, 'Cinderella' (told by the Brothers Grimm and, perhaps most famously, Charles Perrault) is synonymous with Walt Disney's classic animated film. Along with 'Snow White' it was one of the studio's very first in a long line of fairy tales.
We're so familiar with that 'Bibbity Bobbity Boo' scene, the stunning score, and that beautiful scenery (envisioned by the wonderful concept art of Mary Blair).

While Disney's version is so vivid in our memories, I wanted to focus less on the ball and the Prince, and more on Cinderella herself.
Of course those shoes makes a precious cameo, but it's all about that glorious gown and the transformation from rags to ravishing beauty. The birds and mice are getting her dressed and she's just about to throw that god-damned broom away.
In true fashionista style, our Cinderella proves that sometimes all it takes to improve your day is a killer pair of heels and a beautiful dress! Sure, you might have to sweep a few floors, but you'll feel pretty darn good doing it.

'Cinderella' is available now in a limited edition of 40 A3 prints, and 15 A2 prints, in my store here:
www.birdyandme.bigcartel.com
I hope I've done her justice!

View some of Disney's original 'Cinderella' concept art by Mary Blair (because I love it so much!) and a gif of THAT transformation below.

Artwork by Mary Blair for Walt Disney

Artwork by Mary Blair for Walt Disney

PÉRSONA COSMETICS

Image via Simply Sona / Pérsona Cosmetics

Image via Simply Sona / Pérsona Cosmetics

Image via Simply Sona / Pérsona Cosmetics

Earlier this year I worked on a beautiful project with make-up artist, beauty blogger and all-round cosmetics aficionado, Sona Gasparian, on an illustration for the packaging of the very first product in her JUST LAUNCHED cosmetics line, Pérsona.
Readers, and beauty enthusiasts alike, may recognise Sona from her insanely popular make-up tutorials on YouTube and her website Simply Sona.
It is always best to read about any Creative's passion project in their own words, so I highly encourage you to visit Sona's post about Pérsona here: www.simplysona.com

Taking inspiration from the city of Paris, the illustration for this product had to convey the idea of its namesake 'Identity Palette' and the way that we can transform our look through make-up, especially when adapting to new surroundings. For this eye-shadow palette and its warmly smoky, metallic hues, the brief was to create a mysteriously alluring French beauty. In true Gallic fashion, our girl has a look that is both effortless and natural, yet striking and seductive at the same time.

Needless to say that it was such a lovely job to work on, and I send Sona so many congratulations on such a huge achievement and I'm excited to see what comes next!

These gorgeous eye shadow palettes can be purchase via the Pérsona website here: www.personacosmetics.co

HYFASHION AT GRAND HYATT MELBOURNE

HyFashion Stationery Suite, photographed by Gemma Watts

Brooke Meredith in Con Ilio for the Grand Hyatt Melbourne, photographed by Neiyo Sun

Brooke Meredith in Con Ilio for the Grand Hyatt Melbourne, photographed by Neiyo Sun

Designer, Con Ilio, and Brooke Meredith in Con Ilio for the Grand Hyatt Melbourne, photographed by Neiyo Sun

I recently had the honour of working with the incredibly luxurious Grand Hyatt Melbourne on their Spring fashion campaign, HYFASHION, in collaboration with Australian designer, Con Ilio;
celebrating the iconic beauty of the 'Paris' end of Collins St, Melbourne's premiere shopping precinct, and home of the hotel.
Incorporating the stunning pink 'Charlotte' gown with its hand embroidery and signature camouflage print designed by Con himself, we wanted to create the image of a bold and confident woman; the personification of Melbourne's celebrated fashion and design scene.
As a huge fan and admirer of Haute Couture, working with a designer championing the very specific and intricate methods of creating such gowns was a dream.

During the course of the promotion, guests can book a very special 'HY FASHION' package which includes, with a luxury stay at this beautiful hotel, an exclusive stationery suite (designed by me), High Tea for two in Collins Kitchen, and a one-on-one consultation with Con Ilio.

To book a stay at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne visit the website HERE.

THUMBELINA

I can't describe how inspired I was by last week's visit to the Viktor & Rolf exhibit at the NGV in Melbourne.
One gown in particular struck a huge cord with me, along with this quote the boys had left on the wall at the exit;
"We design clothes that look like they were made by the birds in Cinderella."
UM, YES!
I feel like this idea encapsulates everything that is so whimsical and beautiful about fashion - and, in particular, Haute Couture.
These gowns are less about wearability and so much more about the fantasy of a character or mood, lending themselves so beautifully to that sort of suspension of disbelief we adopt when we read our favourite fairy tales. Which is exactly what I'm trying to achieve with this series of work.

Currently working my way through my favourite childhood stories, that quote paired with the stunning ribbon gown from
Viktor & Rolf's 2005 'Flowerbomb' collection really resonated when it came to my next effort - 'Thumbelina.'
It's probably quite clear to everyone how much the story and concept of 'Thumbelina' influences my work - just in my approach to scale, alone!
So, when tackling my illustrated version of this little lady I wanted to bring her into the world of fashion and have her 'mother' be a Parisien dressmaker; one who would create a gown for her from scraps of fabric and off-cuts from the floor.
Of course this particular gown was unbelievably fitting to my idea and as soon as I saw it in the exhibition I knew it was The One.
The mouse is also a nod to one of my childhood heroes, Beatrix Potter. After all, the mice in the building would no doubt help Thumbelina's mother stitch this beautiful gown!

I think this has to be my new favourite of the series <3

See more 'Thumbelina' inspiration below:

Lily Cole by Tim Walker for VOGUE Italia, 2005

Andressa Fontana by Amanda Pratt for Karen, Issue 12

The Tailor Mouse by Beatrix Potter

Viktor & Rolf, Spring/Summer 2005

I'M DREAMIN' OF A FLORAL CHRISTMAS

As someone who personally wishes it could be Christmas all year long, even I am well aware that it seems pretty soon to be flogging Christmas cards before October is even through.

However there are only 8 WEEKS until Christmas!
Which means NOW is the time to start getting organised - especially for those of us who love to send our festive cheer via good old snail mail - as postal services will only slow down from here on in (in fact, my Christmas delivery cut-off times are now listed in my store.)

I had a play with my illustration of 'The Florist' to come up with this little lady because this year "I'm Dreamin' of a Floral Christmas" just like the ones Bing Crosby used to know. But, you know, with more flowers...

These cards are SUPER limited, only 100 produced in total, and will come FREE with every print order in my store while stock lasts.
There are also a very few sets of 3 available to purchase on their own.

Visit my store here: www.birdyandme.bigcartel.com

DIOR'S 'PALMYRE' DRESS

Christian Dior's 'Palmyre' gown / Image via Palais Galliera

I recently had the pleasure of illustrating the cover of a screenplay for an in-development film!
While I can't reveal too much about the film itself just yet, I can share with you the illustration, and fawn over its subject a little bit.
Fashion enthusiasts might recognise this beautiful vintage Dior gown from 1952 - Christian Dior's famous 'Palmyre' design.
The film centers around many such precious gowns, and I've got my fingers crossed that we will see it on our screens in the not-too-distant future.
For a film-obsessed gal like me, this is probably one of the most interesting and exciting commissions I've had to date.
(To learn a little more about the process of script to screen, and also get a little couture illustration in on the side, is my idea of the perfect project!)
I hope you enjoy this peek at the process of draft to final...we wanted to keep the figure quite simplistic so as to draw all of the attention to that glorious gown!

ALICE IN GUCCI-LAND

Gucci Pre-Fall 2016

Viktor & Rolf, Photographed by Annie Leibovitz for Vogue US, 2003

Photographed by Margaret Zhang for Seduce

Photographed by Alexandra Sophie for Vogue China, 2016

Given my love of Lewis Carroll's Alice, there was no question I would have to continue the series with her adventures 'Through the Looking Glass.'
The chief inspiration behind this piece was this incredible Gucci gown.
As soon as I saw it I immediately pictured it on our Queen of Curiosity. I mean, if ever a dress was made for its subject...

Taking place after she fell down the rabbit hole, 'Through the Looking Glass' sees Alice pulled into the 'other' room, where everything is back-to-front and the inhabitants have a flair for poetry!
While Wonderland was all about flamingos, rabbits and mad tea parties, the looking glass takes us into a giant game of chess and Alice's determination to become a Queen.
Those familiar with the tale, will also remember that the Tweedles first appear in 'Through the Looking Glass', and not 'Wonderland' as is commonly believed, so I had to include them in my version.

If you've not read the book, you can A) DO IT! NOW! or B) catch one of the many film adaptations, including this one from the BBC starring Kate Beckinsale and a whole lot of mad British fashions (take particular note of the supermodel flower bed.)
I also hope you enjoy some of these looking glass inspired images!

'The Looking Glass' is available to order now in my shop in both A3 + A2 sizes here: www.birdyandme.bigcartel.com
(Limited to a quantity of 40 + 15 respectively.)

THE LONDON LOOK

Kate Moss photographed by Craig McDean for Rimmel London

I recently worked on a self-initiated beauty project in cahoots with Coty PR to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Rimmel London's partnership with the iconic Kate Moss - my absolute favourite of all the Supers!
The side aim of this project was also to teach myself how to create an animated gif in Photoshop, a skill that will come in extremely handy for a gif-hound like me. (Not so great, perhaps, for the people on the receiving end of my phone texts - sorry in advance, friends!)
The 6 shade collection of reds and nudes, designed by Kate herself, was the perfect subject matter as I was able to incorporate each beautiful lip colour into a separate frame.
Unfortunately, the nudes seem to have been a little lost in translation when exporting the file, however I've heard it's pretty tough to get a perfect colour transition in an animated gif...
I was happy with my first attempt, regardless! I hope you guys like.

Illustration is based on an amalgamation of multiple Rimmel campaigns photographed by Craig McDean, Solve Sundsbo and Inez and Vinoodh over the last 15 years.