Bringing You Up-to-Date on My Sketches

It's so embarrassing to admit that my weekly, routine sketching has completely fallen apart! The last time I did one of my weekly sketches was last September. Sad, isn't it? Now that I truly realize the importance of sketching, which is to be able to effectively portray and share my ideas with/to others, I am more than ready to pick back up on my weekly sketching. I've been very busy lately, so I'm going to start slow; one sketch a week should do it.
I did a little sketching last week; I was basically "persuaded" into doing it, so I'm not even going to count it as a weekly sketch. One of my friends asked me to sketch a jumpsuit for her, and being the over-achiever that I am, I sketched two just in case she didn't like one. Before I started sketching, I asked her to describe her style for me, and I also did some research on what types of clothing would flatter her body type. I decided a while ago to only sketch/make clothes that I would wear, but since I don't really like jumpsuits, this was sort of a challenge. While keeping her opinion in mind, I tried to make jumpsuits that I would wear too, and here is what I came up with:

(Outfit 1 features: spiky collar, attached black button-down sleeveless top, green skinny belt

Outfit 2 features: low-cut, cut-outs)

The outfit on the right is both my friend's style and flattering for her body type; the outfit on the left is more my style.

Here are some pictures (that I should have uploaded months ago) of my weekly sketches:

I also made a YouTube video for the "Project Runway" sketch above.

Now that I caught you-all back up on my sketches, hopefully I'll have at least one new sketch to show you every week.

Well, we can only hope.

-Diane <3

Sketches: Week of 7.3.11 - 7.9.11

Work has really been taking all my time. I had more time left over in the day when school was in! I'm out for about 12 hours when I work with my dad, and that has really been affecting my sketches and blogging. There are only a few more weeks of Summer Vacation left (it's going by so fast!), so when school starts back up everything should go back to normal. I only got one sketch done this week.

Remember these shorts I was gushing over? If I had them, this is one way I'd wear them:

white button-down, short layered necklaces, floral print shorts, tan oxfords

Sketches: Week of 6.26.11 - 7.2.11

My summer job is assisting my dad in construction work. When I work with him, sometimes I wear a construction vest that's very similar to the one the man is wearing in the picture above. Being at a construction site and wearing that vest all day really sparked my imagination, and that's basically how this constuction vest-design dress came about.

 fit-and-flare construction vest-design dress, thin brown belt, brown combat boots

I told you-all that I was going to re-do my sketch of my "Fashion print dress" so it would look more like how I really wanted it. Well, this is it! I think it's better than before, but it would be much better if I was actually good at drawing. lol

strapless sweetheart "fashion" print dress, pumps

 tribal print crop top, tan cross body bag, skinny jeans, sandals

Sketches: Week of 6.19.11 - 6.25.11

My summer job unexpectedly started back up this week (I work with my dad. He does construction. Yeah, it's definitely not the kind of job for me!), so I have a lot less time in my hands. I didn't manage my time wisely, so I only got one sketch done this week. But I promise, next week I won't procrastinate, and all three sketches will be finished on time.

striped 3/4 sleeve top, tan cross-body bag, floral print shorts, mannish flats

 

Sketches: Week of 6.12.11 - 6.18.11

I told you-all before that I was only going to upload the sketches I like, out of the 3 I do every week. I didn't really like my sketches for this week, except for one that was pretty decent.

red leather jacket, black strapless sweetheart "Fashion" print dress, combat boots

I want to make a dress like this one day. Except the words would be in white block font, it would be longer, it would look more formal instead of casual, and it would flare out with layers underneath to make it look more "puffy". Kinda like a prom dress.

I think I might have to re-sketch it the way I'd really want it to be! lol

Sketches: Week of 6.5.11 - 6.11.11

These sketches aren't my favorite. I think it's because it's been so long since I last did my 3 weekly sketches because I was working on Avant-Garde Africa for forever! I think they'll be back to normal next week. But anyways, Enjoy! :)

 leather jacket, combat boots, polka dot dress, layered necklaces

 leather jacket, striped top, cropped pants, cross body bag, pointed-toe flats

long-sleeve minidress, short layered necklaces, cross body bag, combat boots

My recent Polyvore sets...

Diane O. Inspired by Diane O.

Diane O. Inspired (2) by Diane O.

We recently exceeded 900 views! Hurray! lol

And I highly recommend that you check out my Tumblr. Out of all the websites/pages/profiles/accounts I have, that's the one I'm on the most.

& as always, Thanks you guys for being so awesome!

Until my next post,

-Diane <3

Avant-Garde Africa: The Finished Collection!

After more than a month of hard work, the collection is finally finished. This was my first time ever designing a collection. It was a lot more work than I thought it would be. I'm just glad it's finished. I hope you-all like it!

Thanks for viewing, and welcome to Avant-Garde Africa! 

A Glance at Avant-Garde Africa by Diane O.

Avant-Garde Africa: The Collection

 khaki button-down top, African print bandeau, khaki cargo shorts,

brown knee-length boots with buckles, thin belt

This Sketch Was Inspired By: safari rangers

 African print bandeau top, African print slouchy trousers, sandals, boyfriend blazer

I wish I was good at drawing because this sketch would've turned out much better. The outfit in the Polyvore set is basically what I was trying to portray in my sketch.

 white tee, African print maxi skirt with slit and tie-waist, sandals

 African print bra top, cuffed African print high-waisted shorts, thin belt, nude strappy wedges

This Sketch Was Inspired By: Freida Pinto on the cover of Glamour Magazine - May 2011

 tank top, African print skirt, sandals

 African print one-shoulder dress (strong, ruched shoulder), nude pumps

 African print blazer, white tee, skinny jeans, black pumps

 yellow blazer, ruby tee, green shorts, black sandals

This Sketch Was Inspired By: The Cameroonian Flag

Color-Blocking! I chose ruby instead of red for the top. I wanted to prevent that horrible red and green combination.

African print bodycon dress, African print clutch, nude pumps

 African print romper, thin brown belt, sandals, fedora

Since I only designed 10 outfits instead of 20, I also created 5 outfits on Polyvore to go with my Avant-Garde Africa collection...

Avant-Garde Africa (Outfit 1) by Diane O.

Avant-Garde Africa (Outfit 2) by Diane O.

Avant-Garde Africa (Outfit 3) by Diane O.

Avant-Garde Africa (Outfit 4) by Diane O.

Avant-Garde Africa (Outfit 5) by Diane O.

(go to http://www.polyvore.com/avant-garde_africa/collection?id=938316 to view all my Avant-Garde Africa-related Polyvore sets)

And I put together an African-inspired outfit for myself.

 Guess what I found hiding out in the garage? This cute African print skirt! I wanted a picture of me wearing an African-inspired outfit for this post. It wasn't that hard for me to find something to wear because both of my parents are African (Cameroonian), so we have more than enough African clothes in our house. I love this skirt because it fits like a glove, and it is from Africa, so it automatically goes perfectly with this collection!

black tee, orange necklace, African print skirt, black sling-back heels

Thank you for viewing my collection. I hope you liked it!

Sketches: Week of 4.10.11 - 4.16.11

I know I said before that I wasn't going to stop my weekly sketching while I worked on my Avant-Garde Africa collection, but I just don't have enough time for both. So, sorry you-all, but this is going to be my last post of sketches for a while. I just need to make more time to work on my Avant-Garde Africa sketches. But I'll still be regularly posting on here, and when the collection is finished, my sketches will be back in full force!

I don't know why the shorts look orange in these pictures, but they're actually red!

I know the picture above is a bit over-due, (this sketch was done on 3.13.11) but I wanted to show you-all a picture of the real outfit & a picture of my sketch, together.