Designing your own clothing may look like a really difficult thing when you have zero sewing skills. But it actually isn't. As you already might know, I'm a design enthusiast, and I do design a lot of things. I'm always drawing, creating, even doing my own prototypes of circle skirts, jewelry, etc. But one thing I'm unable to do is sewing. I'm a total dummy on sewing, and I will always fail sewing my own dresses and a bit more complicated than circle skirts designs. But I still wanted to create and wear my designs... And then light came: Why not hiring a seamstress who I could take the fabric I wanted to, explain my idea to her and who could give me some advise on how would be the best way on getting my new, unique piece to be made?

At first I thought it would be one of the most difficult tasks to do in this world. A seamstress? It would be absolutely impossible to find one, and also a very expensive thing. But anything beyond it! At least in Valencia (and I presume, most medium-sized cities and towns on this world) there're plenty of both professional and amateur seamstresses who do not only sew dresses and blouses, but will also help you fixing an unexpected hole on your favorite jeans, will shorten your pants' or party dresses hems. Finding María José was pretty easy just doing some research on the Internet and asking friends and relatives, and her workshop is just a few bus stops near home. We brought to her a few fabrics (this red Toile de Jouy fabric is actually from this fabric haul I did a long, long time ago...) and just explained to her with words and a few drawings what we had in mind for our brand new, unique clothing designs. 

Apart from this super cute, vintage inspired A-line pleated Toile de Jouy dress, she also sewn a felted winter skirt which I hope I can show as soon as I start shooting winter outfits!

Have you ever brought something to a seamstress to be fixed? Do you also design clothing but do not sew them?

(Image credit to MarieFranceAsia)

Cocktail dresses. As regular clothing, cocktail and dresses for important events are meant to be flattering and fit your body the best possible. Did you know that depending on your body shape, there will be some dress shapes that will fit you better than others? There are plenty of dresses and different styles out there that will make you look amazing whatever your body shape is, but... Do you know all of them, and how you can make the best of yourself wearing a cocktail dress? In collaboration with Sherry London, I'll show you how!

I would suggest, finding the color you like the most for your party dress first (my favorite color ever for a night out is white, because is the color that reflects most the lights of a nightclub) and then start looking for its shape and details, like wearing straps or not, round or V-neck...

V-neck stripped cocktail dress & A-line dress with embellished neck gown

Few days left of summer. As every holiday, I can't even image there's only 14 days left of Summer holidays (or even less, I didn't want to make count of them!) and then I will return to Architecture School for this 4th Year which will be absolute madness. I would lie if I didn't tell you I don't want to return to classes, see my friends, come back to a normal routine with a schedule and things to do. But still, being downtown feels great: the temperature is great, I can go to the swimming-pool if I want to, I'm able to stay until late (like really, really late) and places to shot outfit pictures are different than in the city.

As our flight from Manchester landed in Valencia, I spent last weekend there and then, this is what I wore coming back -again- to the beach house to spend our last holiday weeks. I must say, I'm a huge fan of wearing turbans, but I must confess as well that I rarely wear them because I find them too dressy for an everyday routine. But with today's outfit, I just felt that I needed to wear a turban matching my black sandals as the rest of the outfit was a bit chaotic with this Ted Baker tropical T-shirt, Bimba & Lola neon bag and this white pants. Maybe not in my regular, monochromatic dressing style, but I think it still looks nice enough.

And as summer is little by little slipping away, I'm working like a crazy thing on my personal online portfolio (it's absolute madness fixing things, uploading things, make it look neat and professional... But I'm sure it will be worth it!) which will showcase both my class projects on a more Architectonic aspect, away from fashion blogging, but also fashion illustration (which you've seen some already around here), some branding personal projects I've been working at and print design as well. I'm really excited to be sharing it will all of you soon!

What are you planning then for this last days of Summer holidays?

Liverpool. Coming back to last week's trip to UK with some friends. As you might already know, we were based in Manchester for the whole week, so in our fourth day we decided it would be a nice idea to take 1 day-off on our travel routine and get to Liverpool, do some quick sightseeing, take some pictures and come back to Manchester on early evening.

I won't lie to you and said I wasn't really afraid we got lost around England or something. Once I get out of home and my comfort zone, I turn the most crazy, controller gal in the whole world. I must have my route, my maps and everything under control so everyone can get safe and sound back home.

So, the first thing to do was getting a Liverpool map. I downloaded this map from a Liverpool tourism page and kept it on my smartphone, which was really easy because I didn't carry extra folded papers and things with me. The second thing was getting our train tickets, which was way easier than I though. For less than 9£ we departed from Manchester Picadilly Station at 9:30am, arrived on about an hour to Liverpool Lime Street Station, and got back to Manchester the same evening at 9:30pm.

The image above and the image below were taken at Crosby Beach's "Another Place" installation which consist on iron human statues facing the sea scattered around 3.2km of beach. My dear best friend was really excited to visit the place as it is really near Liverpool, and although the weather wasn't as good as it should have been, we decided to go. And it was really worth the visit, and it's really easy to get there from Liverpool! It only took us about 20-25 minute train trip from Liverpool Central Station taking the red line train to "Southport" and stopping at "Blundellsands & Crosby" which is the nearest train station. Then take Blundellsands Road West all straight. (Believe in me because the indications in Google Maps will lead you further! I found this as the easiest way to get to Crosby Beach).

Of course, if there's something Liverpool is known as, is for being the place where The Beatles assembled. And The Cavern Club is one iconic place to visit, have a beer and listen to nice music and Beatles' covers performed live. It appears on the map I listed above, so you'll have no problem finding it because it's downtown Liverpool and a few steps closer to the rail stations and Lime Street Station as well.

Other places to visit and which may be enough for a 1 day trip to Liverpool may be, Lime Street Station itself (the old building above it which is now a hotel. It's antique and beautiful!), The Docks (with Tate Modern Liverpool, The Beatles Museum and Liverpool Museum on them) and all the commercial area near these.

And you? Have you ever been to Liverpool?