I've spent the entire month of July at the Parsons Paris Summer Intensive. It was truly an experience of a lifetime. It was a pre-college course studying Fashion Design Concept and Fashion Illustration. I can't even explain how much I learned and what I accomplished in 4 weeks. My fashion concept teacher was the "renowned" Julian Guthrie- fashion professor extraordinaire. He has designed for brands such as Calvin Klein and J.Crew just to name a few! In his class we experimented with half scale and full scale dress forms with muslin and various papers stimulating our creativity. It taught us ideas on draping and how to take an obsolete square of fabric and create something original to base a collection off of.
Our homework consisted of drawing 15 croquis (fashion figures) every day; pretty much designing 15 outfits for a collection a night. It was very intense and initially was overwhelming, but I soon got into the swing of things and it became a daily routine that I wish to continue back home as well. Julian's class stimulated some creativity inside me that I didn't even know existed.
The marvelous and magnificent Kichi Ogawa, my Fashion Illustration teacher, was the Fashion Illustrator for Henri Bendel's Advertising Campaigns. His teaching skills were astounding. I learned so much, and my drawing ability improved in such a short amount of time. I didn't know you can actually "teach" someone how to draw but he really did.
Not only was this a Fashion Course, but outside of the classroom you were surrounded by fashion as well. We had field trips every friday to museums around Paris such as Les Arts Dectorifs, Madame Gres Exhibit, Fragonard Perfume Factory, & La Maison Rouge. On weekends, we took excursions to famous Paris landmarks such as Chartres Cathedral, Bastille Day Picnic, and I even saw Le Tour De France. Not to mention daily trips after school to Galleries Lafayette and Printemps where I spent most of my time LOL. I ate at Cojean every other day and couldn't get enough of it. I even saw top model Magdalena Frackowiak there! She was standing in line in front of me at the check out and I was like "OMG Magdalena I'm your biggest fan!" She blushed as she said she just came from the Dior show. How awesome is that?! Only in Paris!
Paris inspires in so many ways, and I've never felt more right. Words really can't describe the feeling I get there, its just a perfect place for me. I met some amazing girls who are friends for life! We shared a bond and memories that will stick with me forever. I learned so much about myself, life, friends, and of course.... fashion!
Ta-taa for now,
Arianna
Sounds like you had an amazing trip! I can't wait to see what fashion finds you brought home with you. I'd love to see some of the croquis you came up with as well...15 a night seems pretty intense...with your style though, I'm sure they look AH-MAZING! I just got back from Paris myself. Check out my latest giveaway at:
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Wow that sounds amazing! I've been contemplating on paying for myself to do the pre-college summer experience at Parsons Paris. I might just do that for sure now. Thanks for the review!!
ReplyDeletexox ♡, Rosa T.
That sounds like an amazing experience, and at such a young age too :) Go after your dreams, and all the best!! xx
ReplyDeleteHello! I just read about your experience at Parsons in paris, and it sounds pretty amazing! I just registered for it, and I'd love to get more insight into how it is. If you want to, you can email me at bougeotte@live.com or give me your email, I have so many questions about it!
ReplyDeleteLove, Bougeotte {Victoria}.
http://www.mybougeotte.com