Saturday, August 14, 2010

National Costume for Australia

Many of you have probably already seen this year's Miss Universe national costume for Australia, for those of you who haven't check it out here - http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/aussie-cossie-a-national-joke/story-e6frf96f-1225898177218

As part of a design project, I have attempted to design my own national costume for Australia which features hand painted silk, indigenous fabric and embellishment. Here are some photos - I would love any comments and feedback I can get!!




Thanks

61 comments:

  1. What a beautiful gown!
    A true credit to you!
    I really love the detail on the bodice.
    The silks are gorgeous.
    I want to have a closer look at the embellishments on the leaves.
    This is a fine piece of work and I am truly proud of you!
    Susan

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  2. I think it looks amazing.
    I especially like the angles of the bodice and the colours.
    Best of Luck with it all.
    Shani.

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  3. Great looking gown, love the earthy colours and the bodice looks great,certainly depicts Australia.

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  4. That is an amazing piece of work, and i think it really depicts Australia

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  5. It is a spectacular work of art. Such an original idea and has been carried out amazingly. She looks beautiful

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  6. The colours have been chosen very well, and they depict the essance of Australia. It is an amazing dress

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  7. AWESOOOOOOOOOOMMMEEEEEEEE

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  8. Absolutely fantastic! I think choosing to set the scene at the beach was a great idea also. Your efforts to have constructed this work of art are amazing!

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  9. well done, this dress is superb. Straight away I can see Australia looking from top to bottom. Great choice of colour and silk.

    Like previous comments, it was a great idea to take the photo of the beach, obviously this is what you love about Australia and just highlights your dress in so many ways.

    Great job, hope you do well

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  10. This looks amazing

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  11. it is quite remarkable and very lovely.

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  12. I like the way the Australian bush is represented in the skirt.

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  13. Wow, this creation says "this is Australia"! Just exquisite work in the details and construction of the skirt and overall effect is just- Wow.

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  14. Love this dress - a thousand times better than Miss Universe's attempt at depicting Australia! I think the work that has gone into the skirt is just amazing. Well done,

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  15. Is the top meant to depict the Sydney Opera House or is that purely coincidental? It's a clever and creative touch.

    I like how you have incorporated aboriginal designs in to the fabric as well. Our heritage is important and should never be overlooked.

    All the colours complement one another and you have chosen a great setting to have the photographs taken.

    Well done! This is a beautifully designed gown modelled by a healthy looking young woman with beautiful curves.

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  16. Beautiful - I especially love the colours & texture of the skirt which have the feel of the beach. Very elegant. Definitely better than the official Miss Universe one.
    Suzy

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  17. You've done a great job. The white collar reminds me of the Sydney Opera House and the colours are very Australian. Well done.
    Marilyn

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  18. Fantastic costume, as a male I probably don't see the detail, but very much Australian with the colours and themes involved. Obviously a hugh amount of work has been put into the design and making of the costume, so well done.

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  19. Peter said

    for a man with no clothes sense, that looks great

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  20. At last a national dress that not only reflects Australia but is elegant and timeless. Well done on a beuatiful job

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  21. Congratulations - a job well done. The amount of thought and work that has gone into this dress is quite amazing. I would be a very proud Australian if this dress were representing our country internationally. Great Work!

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  22. This is really amazing! The colours and texture of the skirt are truly Australian and perfect. I like the detail on the bodice, however, the model looks a little uncomfortable with the opera house projections in her face. Perhaps smoothing the curve of them or making them less square/rigid would help? I love the idea of this dress and feel that it is far more "classy Australian" than the other dress Miss Universe wore!

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  23. What a beautiful dress. It is so Australian. Well done

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  24. Love the structural detail

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  25. Wow love it. It is unmistakabley Australia, without wildly screamiing Australia. I think the next Miss Universe should see how it is done with class not crass. Cathy

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  26. This is an excellent example of a young designer capturing the essence of Australia through fashion. Top marks for both clarity of idea and excellence in execution. Clear, clean lines of the bodice with Opera House motif juxtaposed against organic and rhythmic silk as it falls from the skirt like the lines on the stringy bark gum. Its great to see the results of your labors after our brief discussion of the genesis of your idea several months ago. Well done Lauren!

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  27. Looks AMAZING! I'm so proud of you! I love the colours of the skirts, and the contrast between the stiff Opera House sleeve and the more delicate look of the leaves in the skirt. And the tulle looks really good, especially in the picture it seems to blend in with the sand, and acts as a connection between the dress and the beach so it's like one with the environment :)
    If you don't get 100% the markers are insane!
    Steph :)

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  28. As I look at the pictures all I can hear in my mind is the echoes of that timeless poem of Dorothea Mackellar, I love a Sunburnt Country. The attention to detail, the passion and obvious love of country that has been expressed all elevate this from the mundane to the divine -- an exquisite work of art. It would be a standout gown at any fashion show and deserves the highest praise. Well done Lauren.

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  29. What a striking gown!! I love the bodice with the Sydney Opera House theme and the skirt just is soft and flowing, the colours really capture the theme! Well Done!
    Amanda

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  30. A gown that is elegant, not over stated and very pleasing to the eye. Wonderful colour tone combinations. Would be interesting to see close up to take in the material texture and how this all comes together. Well done!

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  31. A gown that truly combines the earth, sea, land and culture of Australia in a simple but elegant way. The colours truly depict this wonderful country we live in and all that we have to offer. Lauren you have captured all the elements here, the harshness of the country, the softness of the sand, the beauty of the sea and our striking Opera House. Wishing you well.

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  32. A gorgeous gown that is truly indicative of Australia. Love it especially because it incorporates the old Australia and pays respect to the original 'landowners' of this country but the use of the opera house also embraces the modern Australian icon (Sydney in particular :))

    Great work! Good luck!!

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  33. Murray Willis Australia's Number One Opal dealer.August 18, 2010 at 3:18 PM

    Murray Willis Australia's Number one Opal Dealer says.

    Please come to Australia and share your most obvious talents with us.

    The opals look great on your dress and show another way Australia's National Gemstone can be used.

    I congratulate Lauren on her brilliant idea and for her outstanding design.

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  34. Lauren what an amazing gown. It says Australia through and through from the gorgeous earthy colours of our sunburnt country, its striking bodice right down to the exquisite opal embellishments. Well done we are very proud of you. Heather, AOM

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  35. Firstly, I have to say that the national dress they've chosen for Miss Universe is truly horrific-Australia will certainly not win that section.
    Secondly, Lauren you dress is simply amazing. The effort you have gone to in painting your own silk fabric will definitely get you extra marks and adds lovely texture to the fabric. The detail on the skirt is a little hard to view, but from what I can see it looks fabulous. I love bodice and how it resembles the opera house (I hope I'm not wrong there), but perhaps a bit more embellishing would have enhanced the bodice a little more.
    Goodluck, hope your dress makes it the exhibition!

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  36. What a wonderful creation! It would be superb as the final gown for an Aussie designer's collection in the Paris fashion shows. Well done Lauren!

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  37. What a beautiful creation. I love it.

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  38. This dress is so reflective of the Australian landscape. I would love to be able to see it close up to look at the detail. When I look at it I think of May Gibbs and her beautiful illustrations. Well done - you have done an amazing job. It is a credit to you!

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  39. Looks fabulous. Very stunning. All the best of luck. :)

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  40. The colours in the skirt are perfect. A true reflection of the Australian environment.

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  41. A unique and memorable creation. Congratulations-from the bodice to the hem, your fabulous dress reflects Australia, its icons and its beauty. Love the texture and fluidity of the skirt and having the photos taken on the beach was magic! Well done. I anticipate a bright future ahead.
    Di

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  42. this is a truly amazing design which takes so many parts of australia into account. The colours are stunning. Well done!

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  43. This is a stunning gown, one of which I know you have worked very hard in constructing and conceptualising. It is such a fantastic representation of not only your talent but your dedication to your work. Furthermore, this dress embodies the essence of Australia, in terms of the built and human environments. In this way, you have captured the heart of the brief! This is outstanding, fantastic, brilliant, fabulous!

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  44. It is hard to compete with what has already been said. Absolutely amazing - Jen Hawkins would look stunning in this Australian inspired outfit.

    Blown away by your hidden talent.

    Can't wait to see your collection.

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  45. I think the photos of Lauren and the dress she made representing Australia are really beautiful. The colours of the hand painted silk which was used to make the petals and the work on them representing Australia is amazing. Also the work on the bodice of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House add interest to the design.

    Congratulations on your efforts and the thought that went into designing the dress.

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  46. amazing lauren, wow!

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  47. congratulations on capturing the true australian essence in your gorgeous gown.

    horvats.
    xxo.

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  48. 1) The dress is amazing! the skirt is fabulous and i love the detailing a the top (resembling the sydney opera house)
    2) I think the first picture with the angle pointing down is awesome. I Like the second one i think one from the other side showing your neck would also be a good idea!
    WELL DONE!

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  49. the dress looks really unique, but looks a bit impractical to represent australia- looks more like a winter dress- maybe some lighter materials/fabrics?

    really interesting stimulus tho...creating your own national dress was a great idea

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  50. Lauren you obviously have put major time and thought in to your gown and how to best represent all the elements and cultures of our country -- you have done well to capture and bring together the colours and feel of earth/land, sea and, obviously, our icon. Perhaps the representation of the Opera House could have been a little softer to follow the overall theme, however, it does sit well and makes quite a statement.

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  51. Congratulations of your effort. A gown anyone would be proud to wear. I appreciate the coming together of the fabric combinations. Would love to be able to see close up more detail though.

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  52. Lauren imnpressed that you say you have included Indigenous fabric and embellishment, it's a shame we cannot see this from the photos.

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  53. I love the Opera House sails being a feature! The whole garment looks fabulous...

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  54. Lauren love the softness of the skirt, the combination of the fabrics, against the starkness of the top. Well done.

    I note comments of person two above - perhaps if they had taken the trouble to open picture and look they would have more of an appreciation of the fabrics used!

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  55. I'm loving the sails of the opera house and the rich earthy tones of the skirt. A small suggestion would be more of the element of blue, which could be included in the bodice, reminiscent of how the opera house 'floats' on its bed of water.
    Otherwise an extremely well thought costume made from the heart instead of the despicable mish-mash of what is currently being called our National Costume! How awful!

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  56. This piece captures all the diversity and colours of the Australian landscape. I love the contrast of the delicate silk against the rough edges...perfectly Australian.
    Well done.

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  57. You have incorporated many design elements in a refreshing way. The colours and textural effects in the skirt are apt. The structural detail on the shoulder piece is impressive. Congratulations on a fine project!

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  58. Lauren, very exciting to see someone with talent and put it to good use, truly representational of Australia's wonderful colour palette. Well done.
    Maybe those concerned should enlist your help when designing the uniforms for athletes when they represent our country, the uniforms for the Commonwealth Games in India are souless.

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  59. This is gorgeous Lauren - we're so proud of you; all of the work you've put in has really payed off! You look lovely as well :) Love Di, Laura and Claire

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  60. what pattern pieces did you use?

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