One feature of cities I visit that I always seek are public gardens and parks. The greener the city, the better - I enjoy the balance between architecture and the business of the city and nature and the calmness one can find. As our cities change and expand, I think it is important to keep greenery in mind.

So, you can only imagine how excited I was to find out about High Line. This New York City's public park is just plain cool. Converted train tracks above the city, in Manhattan's West Side. And it has it all. There are flowers, trees, and bushes. There are benches, lounge chairs, and outdoor sofas. There are statues, graffiti, local artists. There are open areas; there are intimate corners. And of course, there is food. 

The last two trips to New York City meant that I had to reserve time to stroll through this park. It is well designed and found a lovely combo of colors, textures, and patterns. When I looked up, I saw the bustle of the city. When I looked down, I saw the variety of nature. 

Will you head out there? 

Color! Color! Color! That is one of my favorite aspects of nature - I am always fascinated by vibrant colors and by how they are combined in flowers. My own garden is often an inspiration for a color combination in a garment. Here is a photo of a clematis in my backyard: dark green in the leaves, intense purple in the blooms, light yellow in the bloom's center ... It indeed brought a lot of interest into my backyard!

After a quick trip to the fabric store, I found a lovely light pink/dark purple fabric that resembled the flower. I designed a simple sheath pullover dress: a great option for a summer day. 

I inserted dark green sleeves with a pleat to add volume to the shoulders. I made the sleeves out of a shirt I inherited (never throw away a lovely garment, it will come in handy one day!). To the back of the dress I added an oval insert - I wanted the dress to be simple in the front but to have an interesting design elements in the back. The oval is meant to imitate the shape of a tank top; it adds a 'sporty' touch to the dress.  

Isn't it lovely when what is around us, such as the vibrant colors of nature, can inspire a project? 

Puppy ready to discover the world. Prague, June 2014. 

Many fashion designers use a board of visuals to communicate the mood of their collection. This board is, thus, called a moodboard. A single look at a moodboard should give the viewer an idea of the customer, the collection's style, and color scheme. 

Every time I complete a collection of my Fashion Design class at the Academy of Art University, I also create a moodboard. Here are three examples. Can you see my customer? Do you sense the style I am working with? Are the colors clear and do they work well together? 

The first moodboard is one of my favorites: simple, clean, and modern. The collection's inspiration was futuristic architecture. The customer? A sharp and witty woman, a decision-maker with an edge. The clothes were asymmetrical with folds and zippers to imitate the layers and shapes I found in my research.

Charlotte Perriand, one of my favorite interior designers, inspired the second collection and moodboard. Her work is modern and uses many a straight line. Upon researching of Perriand's life, I discovered a bright woman with a real gumption for life. To marry the inspiration of her modernist furniture and her fun loving attitude, the collection's clothes were more relaxed but explored interesting combinations of fabrics (e.g., tweed and leather, jersey and denim).

I trip to Kenya inspired my third moodboard. I looked into African tribal wear and worked to take the workmanship and tradition to a customer living in a city in the US. I worked with layers and rich colors to honor the inspiration.  

Moodboard is sometimes my best friend - I create it as I begin to work on a collection and then it stays with me. Moodboard is sometimes my worst enemy - I create it and then keep tweaking as it just does not feel right. In the end, however, I value it as a great tool to communicate my ideas and fashion design work.
 

Tory Burch, New York City, 2013. 

Isn't it great to live in a place where you can keep discovering new treasures? One of these treasures was, a few weeks ago, a trip to Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Garden in Washington D.C. I visited the estate with a friend and after a nice lunch at the local cafe, we wandered through the extensive property and its gardens.

While I enjoyed the collection of Russian imperial and French decorative arts displayed in the former home of Marjorie Merriweather Post, the time spent walking through the landscaped gardens and natural woodlands just made my day. The property is large so give yourself plenty of time to stroll and soak up the colors and shapes of the tress and plants. Really, there is something for everybody. Rose admirers may enjoy a meticulously executed flower beds with a variety of roses; others may cherish a moment of being surrounded by tall trees. My favorite, however, was the Japanese-style garden. 

It seems May and early June in Washington D.C. bring out the best in flowers and trees commonly planted in a traditional Japanese setting. The colors! My eyes could not get enough of the rich reds, pastel greens, bright yellows ... See for yourself in the pictures below. Ponds, bridges, and sculptures added to the loveliness of this special section of Hillwood. 

I am hoping to visit soon to see the changing beauty of this estate.  

Old wheel. Great Falls State Park, Maryland, 2012. 

The break between my fashion design classes means a bit of free time and free time means that I get to sew, sew, sew ... Here are three of my latest projects: skirts which explore volume, gathers, and pleats. 

Exploring volume 

My friend ordered a circle skirt. I came up with an 8-panel design in rose print pattern. The skirt hangs in a triangular manner adding a pleasant amount of volume around the knees. The folds add a great visual interest while in motion. It will be great with a basic t-shirt or a lovely blouse. 

Exploring gathers 

Animal print is one of my favorite prints to work with. While it is interesting on its own, I am intrigued to see how it gets altered through gathers and pleats. This skirt, the latest addition to my wardrobe, has a large pleat in the front in the middle giving it a nice vertical feel. Small gathers on both sides of the front pleat add a more gentle feel. I plan to wear it with bright tops; a neon pink t-shirt comes to mind. 

Exploring pleats 

Brown rarely makes it into my wardrobe - I gravitate toward black or vibrant colors. However, I came across this lovely imitation leather and could not resist. It is sturdy and holds shape well. To make it hang straight down, I inserted a pleat in the front (a reverse of the one used in the animal print skirt). Tiny pleats on the sides are visually interesting without adding bulk. This skirt has side pockets. It will work year around and will work well with tank tops for the summer and knits for the cooler temperatures.  

 

Elsa Schiaparelli (on the right), London, 1935.

The Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City showcases the career of Charles James (1906-1978), in its annual fashion exhibition called "Charles James: Beyond Fashion". I took a quick trip to the city over the weekend and visited the show. And wow, what a treat!

I studied Charles James' work at school but this show takes the exploration of his couture work to the next level. In the first exhibition room, select gowns, for which James is most known, are accompanied by a computer screen. The screen tells the story of the dress and plays an animation of each and every pattern piece that makes the gown. James, who often perceived himself a sculptor of fashion, was a master technician. He understood the fabric and manipulated it in amazing ways. A camera beam, linked to the information on the computer screen, highlights these sculptural elements and fabric treatments directly on the displayed item. 

The second room highlights James' earlier work, in particular, his masterfully constructed coats. Quotes by the designer surround the display and give an insightful look into his life and fashion philosophy. "Brancusi has his medium; Picasso, Faulkner, Shostakovich, theirs. Mine happens to be cloth." is one of them. Again, screens accompany the garments on display and complete the visual story presented to the museum's visitor. Pattern pieces and 3D models come alive and shed light on James' unparalleled technical skills. 

If you find your way to New York City, check out the show. It is a delight!

Lake Elementaita, Kenya, 2013. 

In 2012, after a 5-year break from college, I decided to go back to school and study at the Academy of Arts University majoring in Fashion Design. Its online program is challenging, practical, and inspiring. I face a steep learning curve and hard work—a curriculum that challenges my problem-solving and creative nature with vigorous regularity; it is a great opportunity for me. 

I am scheduled to present to a committee of teachers to show my progress and to get approval for my thesis project. In preparation for this end-of-June review, I reviewed all of my work to date. As my fashion point of view evolves, I find great joy in researching the different inspiration that goes into each collection. 

Here are three examples of collections I completed in the last four semesters. 

A trip to Kenya, in particular to a local elementary school, inspired a collection that focused on a limited color scheme (since the uniforms worn by the children are primarily blue/grey/white). I reviewed what a typical uniform is composed of what its elements are (collar shirt, jacket, pants, skirt). Having to consider my target customer, I arrived at a collection of minimalist 'modern' uniforms for a professional woman in her late 20s to early 30s. 

While travel is one of my favorite inspirations, for the next collection I researched paintings by Jan Vermeer. In particular, I focused on how he portrays 17th century women in their daily lives. The intricate dresses, oversized sleeves, and layered skirts were tons of fun to review! Again, I took the inspiration into the 21th century by transforming it into a modern collection - a collection that could find its place in my closet. 

Finally, looking into another type of uniform, I designed a collection based on women in aviation. Starting with Amelia Earhart's outfits and current pilots, I studied bomber jackets, pants cut to allow for free movement, and garments with pockets. 

Fashion design is involves extensive research and I realize that my understanding of inspiration is essential to creating innovative and intriguing garments. A variety of interests feeds into design and I am excited about the new topics and inspirations for my work. 

Eunice Lee, the UNIS designer, with her collection. New York City, 2010.  

I like travel and food. And I find that local travel and local food are well worth looking into. One of these local treasures is Maryland's Cumberland. Oftentimes the starting point for bikers and hikers of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, visiting this city makes for a nice day trip. 

The mountainous landscape offers breath-taking views. You will be surrounded by greenery, rolling meadows, valleys, and heavily forested areas. A great variety for the eye! And let's not forget about spotting herds of cows, wild animals, and birds flying high up in the skies. 

Once you have taken in the natural sights, make a point of walking through the city's local farmer's market. The farmers are passionate about their land, their fruits and vegetables, and their homemade treats. And everything is so yummy! Just a couple of days ago, my husband reminded me that we are running out of the blueberry jam from the Walnut Ridge Farm I purchased some time ago.  

A local bumper sticker may remind you that "I farm. You eat." Upon walking through the market, you will be surrounded by people who put time and hard work into their extensive gardens. Get chatting with locals about their secret recipe for a peach pie or zucchini bread ... You will not leave empty handed. 

Negril, Jamaica. 2014.

Do you like photography? I would recommend you check out an extensive overview of Gary Winogrand's work at the National Gallery of Art. The exhibit closes soon, on June 6, so rush over there!

I stumbled upon this exhibition and was quite caught up in the black-and-white photographs of rural and city landscapes. Winogrand (1928-1984) explored both the vastness and space of the open space in suburbia (think Albuquerque neighborhoods of New Mexico) and the closed up space and intensity of big cities (New York city street comes to mind). 

It is a deeply personal experience to see a photograph - it evokes emotions and thoughts that are pertinent to you as the viewer. What I saw at the exhibition may be different from what you experience. I encountered a deep interest in the human condition within the various landscapes we inhabit. When I looked at Winogrand's work, I saw silence and noise, care and lack of interest, excitement and boredom ...

Art is to provoke us and to broaden our own experience. When I walked out of the Gallery, back into the street of Washington D.C., I looked at the city with a new point of view. See what happens when you go see this exhibition.