I'm growing up...

It's been a very long time since i've wrote a post!

To be honest, I wanted to start a new blog but i couldn't find the delete button... Plus, i recently wrote a post about my life story, which was a big hit, the biggest i've had! Over 800 views actually, and that may not be a lot to some people, but it is to me. I received so many pleasant messages from people thanking me for helping them and opening there eyes to the world. I guess i had shown a lot of people how to think positively, it was really nice to know that i had helped and it made me feel happy that i was inspiring people :)

So, i thought i could just start again from here instead of deleting my whole blog! 

I'm not entirely sure what has brought this on... I did have my hair cut quite short today.... New look, new me! You know what they say.

The truth is, i feel like i need to take my own advice when it comes to thinking positively, it's easy to help others but when it comes to yourself, taking your own advice is harder than it seems sometimes. Some of you may know that i have been at University studying fashion and design, that's all over and i'm graduating on the 25th November, ITS SO EXCITING!!!!! 

I know i'm not alone when i say, i feel completely lost! What do i do now? Whats next? Please let me know if you're in the same boat!

It seems so hard to find a job in the fashion industry, i just want to be a fashion designer in London or New York already but i just have to remind myself that you've got to start somewhere, whether it's just somewhere small, somewhere that i can work my way up!

Im just wondering if there's anyone out there with any advice?
It's daunting! Exciting too though, without a doubt. I just have to have faith in myself right?
There's something out there for everyone.

I feel under a lot of pressure to be successful, i'm being pushed to do well and to make something of myself by my family and friends and thats because they have faith in me. Its nice to know that i've got that support and maybe that push is what i need, as stressful as it can be sometimes.

If you follow me on Instagram, (daryl_ivyana) you will see that i've started doodling designs again! :) Practise makes perfect!

Let me introduce you to my new collection, Bouquet

Hello everyone, I hope we are happy and well?

As some of you may know, i'm in my third year at University at the moment studying fashion and design, with two weeks left to go! Scary. I mean, all i've ever known is being in education and now i'm about to go out into the big wide world! It's really exciting but so daunting at the same time. I have set myself big goals though, i don't want to be one of those to leave university and not do anything with their degree,  it's taken me 4-5 years to finish this degree as i had to take a year out and re-sit a year due to family circumstances, so i'm going to try my very best to get a job in the fashion industry, possibly an internship! Fingers crossed.

I'm here today to write a blog post for my business studies! And as i already have a blog, i thought i would write an updated post about my collection. Which finally has a name by the way... 'Bouquet' What do you think? It took me ages to come up with it as i wanted something that really connected with my collection. I sat here wondering if i could adapt it. For example, i was going to call it 'Day-Glo Bouquet' but i thought that was too much. In the end i thought i would just keep it nice and simple!

I've made a lot of progress this last week or two!  I've almost finished sewing my collection together and i'm hoping to have it finished by this coming week. (I'll be sure to post finished pictures!) Today, i've sat here and done all my design boards, i've constantly gone back and forth making improvements and although my illustration skills are not the best, i'm really pleased with how my boards are looking.

Mood Board

Final Line-Up Board

For my collection, i first began by looking into the 1960's! It's an area i've always been interested in. Straight away i knew i wanted to do shift dresses, further research took me into playsuits! So i decided i would do two of each. However, i wanted to put a twist on my designs. Doing my trend research i came across a trend forecast called 'Soft Pop' which was really colourful and bright and it really had caught my attention, at this piont i had a lot of idea's flowing through my head but i still wasn't 100% sure. Until i came across a designer called 'Kate Spade' who was a really big inspiration. One of her collections involved block colours with floral prints and florescent colours and i decided i wanted to do something a long those lines. Taking into consideration the rest of my inspiration, i decided i would try and create floral panels onto these simple silhouettes. As you can see from my designs above, i thought i'd go that step further and add in some bright colours.

These are pictures of my collection in progress, none of them are completely finished in any of these pictures, but definitely are not far off. Hopefully when i write my next post, i'll be able to show you pictures of the finished product!

Until then.

Take care Readers!

Daryl Ivyana Richardson x

New Logo!

Hello everyone! Hope you are all well and staying positive? :-)

Today, i received my new art work for my Brand - Ivyana
Im absolutely in love with it!

Really big Thankyou to my lovely friend! 

Credit: Rachel Louise Carter

It's going to be one HARD year!

OK, so i finally made it into my third year at University - Yay!! It's about time really, as i put myself behind two years, Oops! But taking a year out was the best decision i ever made, because i wouldn't be as happy and determined as i am now!

Everyday without a doubt, i sit here and think about all the work i have to, but then again i instantly turn that horrible scary thought into a positive, because ITS MY LAST YEAR! I mean, i only have to do this for one more year, i've been doing this for the past 6 years! it's felt like my entire life, so... what's one more year of working stupidly hard, being stressed and doing all nighters going to do? (Hopefully, get me a damn good grade and a degree so i can get an awesome job in the fashion industry!!) After that, that's when my life really begins, the world is going to be my oyster! That's what scares me! But for now, i need to decide on what im going to do for my dissertation! I haven't even started it yet and im already hating the word! I have a few idea's for inspiration however if anyone has any tips on how to get started or what helped you decide on what to write about, then any advice would be much appreciated!

xxx