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Romantique Couture
1 Atkinson Court
Fell Foot
Newby Bridge
Ulverston
Cumbria
United Kingdom
LA12 8NW
T: 015395 30648
M: 07812 210880
Email: angy@
angymorton.com
The trials and tribulations of a fashion designer in the Lake District!
ARCHIVE: my previous entries:
AUGUST 2010 House of Fraser - BUTiQ: ready-to-wear with a difference - Ladies, Gents, Fashion Designers ..., Worst Nightmare
JUNE - JULY 2010 Fashion Mavericks - Pyromania - Catwalk Curves - Victorian Wedding Dress - Quest for an Orchid
MAY - JUNE 2010 London Calling - Little Black Dress - Dress Sizes - Holiday Hangover - Pam Carter - Skye - Mackintosh
APRIL 2010 Spring is here - Howay the Lads! - Kirkby Stephen - April Fools - BUTiQ - Leeds Catwalk pics
FEBRUARY - MARCH 2010 Stadium of Light - Leeds United Wedding Show - Spring - London Fashion Week Catwalk Show
JANUARY 2010 Life is a Roller Coaster / Alexander McQueen - Tyne Tees TV Interview - LFW - New Year 2010
DECEMBER 2009 White Christmas - Liverpool Debacle - Stolen Dreams Facts - Haverthwaite - Miss Sundlerland - Show Pics & Clips
NOVEMBER 2009 Lavish & Luxe - The Big Flood - Stolen Dreams - Censored Dreams
Bottom of Page for more Archive Pages
USEFUL LINKS:
CLICK for: LFW FASHION MAVERICKS video clips on YouTube
CLICK for: JALOUSE LFW CLOSING SHOW video clips on YouTube
CLICK for: LAVISH & LUXE: STOLEN DREAMS video clips on YouTube
CLICK for: STOLEN DREAMS LAUNCH video clips on YouTube
CLICK for: SPECTRUM IN FOUR SEASONS catwalk pictures
CLICK for: SPECTRUM IN FOUR SEASONS video clips on YouTube
CLICK for: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION Cumbria Life - 5.2mb PDF
CLICK for: MySpace
CLICK for: Fashion Industry Network
EVENTS DIARY 2010:
4 NOVEMBER 2010: AM Models Charity Fashion Event: As You Like It, Jesmond (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)
In support of the TOMA Teenage Cancer Fund.
LONDON FASHION WEEK - FASHION MAVERICKS
Strand Palace Hotel, 372 Strand, London WC2R 0JJ (near Somerset House)
Nearest underground: Charing Cross, Temple or Covent Garden
17 SEPTEMBER 2010 (FRIDAY) - EXHIBITION from 13:00-19:00 (no invitation required)
18 SEPTEMBER 2010 (SATURDAY) - CATWALK SHOW at 16:30 - INVITATION ONLY
See below for invitations
Click here for full Fashion Mavericks Catwalk Schedule (144KB PDF)
London Fashion Tweet: Fashion Mavericks Event Schedule
Fashion Mavericks website
Angy Morton
For all press enquiries or invitations please contact
press@angymorton.com
17-18 SEPTEMBER 2010: Fashion Mavericks at London Fashion Week:
22 SEPTEMBER 2010: London Fashion Week "Fashion for a Cause" - Celebrity Charity Event (Invitation only)
Movida, 8 Argyll Street, London, W1F 7TF - 21:30 - Late; The Sundown in Sudan Project - proceeds to the World Food Programme
They always tell you that things come in threes - well, the third, after the exhibition and catwalk days, was an invitation to the Sundown in Sudan Project: Fashion for a Cause at Movida on the 22nd. The intention was to have models dressed in couture gowns which would be auctioned to raise funds for the floods in Pakistan. I barely had 24 hours at home before I was packing the dresses and heading back to London again. We had worked out that the train was the best solution as we only had a hndful of dresses to take with us. However, after 6 hours on trainline.com trying to book tickets it was turning into a nightmare .. software problems, misleading advice ... never again! The trainline.com online help service advised we should try in the morning at the station and assured us that the price would be exactly the same - no extra charges. As if...at the station the ticket officer seemed bored out of his wits and didn’t care an ounce if we did or didn’t get on the train. Give me a break. One word I have for them all - hopeless. Mike paid the price he should have paid a day before on the internet only to be shouted back minutes later by the ticket officer and told that the price was wrong and we should fork out double. What happened to customer service I hear you ask? I’m telling you - nothing, because it doesn’t exist. Well, it was their loss in the end ... as if they care. As much as I am very concerned about my carbon footprint, and the environment, I am a very small operation struggling to make a living, I had to be in London that afternoon, but there was no way I could afford the price I was now being quoted.
I would have been happy if my corset and black and white dress had been appreciated by one person at least. But I was wrong to be such a pessimist, for I received a lot of admiring looks and people were whispering and asking who I was. My dress definitely had an effect. The loo is the place to meet new faces, sounds very George Michael doesn’t it? But if you are a girl you will know what I’m talking about. Girls were asking where did I get the outfit , so more business cards were pulled out of the bag.
Sadly for Jude, the event organiser, things didn’t go as smoothly as he had hoped. The ‘high profile’ invites such as Amber Rose and Paloma Faith, never showed up due to another high profile LFW party and so the charity auction was cancelled. It was still an experience I would't have missed though, and hopefully there will be an opportunity to do something together in the future.
We took the night bus back to Heathrow, where we had left the car, then drove back home through the wee hours, absolutely shattered, full of chocolate and coffee...only to discover to my desperation that my precious sewing kit was still sitting nice and comfy on a desk in Movida. Phew, they promised they will send it by post ... I would like to say thank you to Martina & the team @ Movida who let us use their office for storing the dresses and our rubbish, and for looking after us ))
All photographs copyright Rob Sheppard
Hair by Michael Haase, Unite Europtherapy
Make-up by Juliet Osodi, Beauty Base London
Samples of Football fanwear for
West Ham United and Leeds United;
jackets and tops
Fashion Mavericks,
18 September, 2010
Photographs © Rob Sheppard
Hair by Michael Haase
Make-up by Juliet Osodi
All photographs copyright Rob Sheppard
Hair by Michael Haase, Unite Europtherapy
Make-up by Juliet Osodi, Beauty Base London
Please see Rob's excellent runway fashion website CATWALK CAPTURE for further images from the show
18 September, 2010
You Tube Clip - 5
'Florence No.2 and 'Pahoehoe' (Pyromania Collection)'
by Angy Morton
18 September, 2010
You Tube Clip - 1
'Meltwater' and 'Harvest Moon'
by Angy Morton
18 September, 2010
You Tube Clip - 6
'Fuji' (Pyromania Collection)
by Angy Morton
18 September, 2010
You Tube Clip - 2
'Scirocco' and 'Aurora Borealis'
by Angy Morton
18 September, 2010
You Tube Clip - 6
'Firestorm' (Pyromania Collection)'
by Angy Morton
18 September, 2010
You Tube Clip - 5
'Ijen' (Pyromania Collection)
by Angy Morton
18 September, 2010
You Tube Clip - 8
'Pacaya' (Pyromania Collection)
by Angy Morton
18 September, 2010
You Tube Clip - 7
'Flashover' (Pyromania Collection)
by Angy Morton
18 September, 2010
You Tube Clip - 10
Sample Jacket created for West Ham United FC
by Angy Morton
18 September, 2010
You Tube Clip - 9
'Krakatau' (Pyromania Collection)
by Angy Morton
Here is my London Fashion Week report ... as promised
Stressed and anxious we arrived in London a day before the exhibition itself. The journey was a big difference this time as we had hired a Transit van for all the dresses and mannequins. Now I understand how the 'white van man' can get away with speeding, overtaking and all that, not because we did it, but because I could see everything so much more clearly from my higher position in the cab. Even the landscape was different as I coulod see over the hedges!
I’m often bored out of my brain in the passenger seat, going to various shows and exhibitions, especially on the motorway, so this time round armed with a sewing bag and an unfinished dress I set to work, and in no time there were scissors pins and needles everywhere. You should have seen the truck driver’s faces. Some smiled, the Eddie Stobart lot )), some raised their eye brows and some were driving in the passenger seats. I suppose it’s not every day you see a lady fiercely trying to finish a dress on the motorway :-)) Actually, it’s still in bits...I need 30 hours in a day rather then 24!
Day one, the exhibition day was AMAZING. Had soooo many people interested in my designs, it was 'Bubbles', on one of my mannequins, that attracted the attention. Considering Fashion Mavericks was my first real London exposure I was very pleased with the response and interest, both from press and other people from the fashion industry.
There were four designers exhibiting on the catwalk on the first day, and four including myself with static exhibits ... plus some interesting accessory designers, including shoes, sunglasses and hats. On day two we switched round. It was a great opportunity to network and also to meet other creative people, that have been given the opportunity to participate thanks to Fashion Mavericks.
The catwalk on day two was a bit hair raising ... annnnd 45 minutes late ... but the outcome was fantastic as you can see in the pics and clips. Michael Haase, the hairstyle designer and his team were fantastic, very quick to understand the look I was seeking, and also very supportive and a pleasure to work with. Michael had just arrived from New York fashion week
The makeup team were professional as well...they came up with fab designs. My only complaint was with the chaos dressing the models and the fact that the dressers weren’t always listening to what I had to say. But hey, nobody’s perfect.
Finally, I would like to thank all of you who came along and offered your support. I'm sorry, not everybody could make it, and I'm also sorry if I didn't catch up with you after the event. I was so emotional I can't remember who I did or didn't speak to!
THANKYOU AGAIN GUYS.
Click above for a last word
on Fashion Mavericks by
Michael M Haase -
Interview with Jacqueline,
Fashion Mavericks
Just back from a hectic three days in London and a fab catwalk and show. Completely blown away by it all so apologies for keeping this brief. Looks like I may be heading back down there on wednesday, so the full report will have to wait. Meanwhile, a massive thank you to Jacqueline and her wonderful team at Fashion Mavericks for all their hard work in putting on an amazing event, and providing a platform for creative people with real talent ... and I thought I had reason to be stressed! And also many thanks for the other teams that made it all possible - Michael Haase, the well-known hair stylist from LA (more next time), and make-up artist Juliet Osodi. And finally a big thanks for everybody who turned up and showed their support. I will also be posting pictures and video clips as I receive them
Click on the button for a video clip of Michael
at work on one of my catwalk models.
You can also check out Michael Haase here: www.michaelmhaase.com
at work on one of my catwalk models.
You can also check out Michael Haase here: www.michaelmhaase.com
21 September, 2010: Westmorland Gazette 'Fashion designer to unveil new collection'
20 September, 2010: Blow 'LFW Day 2 - Romantique Couture'
20 September, 2010: Fashion Mavericks 'Day Two in Pictures'
16 September, 2010: West Ham United Official Website 'Claret and blue couture'
16 September, 2010: BBC RADIO NEWCASTLE - Listen in from 10:00 until 11:00!
15 September, 2010: North-West Evening Mail 'Catwalk Fashion from the Terraces'
12 September, 2010: Sunday Sun 'Toon Dress Designer set to swap teams'
2 September, 2010: Fashion Mavericks 'Angela Morton-Plucked from the Lake'
PRESS RELEASE: FOOTBALL FAN WEAR at LONDON FASHION WEEK
Avant-garde designer Angy Morton will be unveiling a unique collection of designer, football fan wear, including some samples created for West Ham United,at Fashion Mavericks during London Fashion Week, this Saturday, 18 September, 2010.
See my PRESS page for further information
PYROMANIA py-ro-ma-nia: - an irresistable impulse to set fire to things for personal gratification
PYROMANIA py-ro-ma-nia: - the exciting, new collection from Angy Morton
PYROMANIA is the new concept collection I am currently working on with a view to releasing the first completed designs on the catwalk in September, during London Fashion Week, at Fashion Mavericks. My PYROMANIA creations comprise a mix of limited edition 'hand made' lines, which can be made to measure on order, and designs which will subsequently be manufactured in the United Kingdom as limited edition 'prêt-à-porter' lines. The 'hand-made' range will be available from my new online BUTiQ from late September, and exclusive runs of 'prêt-à-porter' designs from select boutiques or online, later in 2010.
Pyromania will comprise two themes based around the elegant, sinuous curve of 'Midnight Sun', and the stylish, angular, low cut back of 'Wildfire'. I may not be granted permission to literally set the runway on fire, but hopefully these new outfits will ignite a spark of pleasure! I am now busy juggling my new creations with existing commitments but expect a selection to be ready for the September launch. I am not giving too much away at this stage other than to say that the outfits will be available in either dazzling fiery reds, oranges and yellows, or in monochromatic themes. They all bear names reflecting the fascinating Pyromania theme, from which I have drawn my inspiration - from the explosive 'Krakatau' to the serene 'Fuji', the elegant curves of 'Pacaya' and foaming streams of 'Kilhauea' to the twisted geology of 'Pahoehoe' lava, the smoke and sulphurous funes of 'Ijen', and the electrical, energy of 'Astraphobia'. ... so, watch this space!
See ANGY'S BLOG and BUTiQ for further details and regular updates
THE SUNDOWN IN SUDAN
PROJECT
The Sundown in Sudan Project: Fashion for a Cause
Celebrity Charity Event at Movida - London's No.1 Celebrity and VIP club
22 September, 2010- 21:30 until late
Movida, 8 Argyll Street, London W1F 7TF (near Oxford Circus)
By invitation only (to midnight)
See also: London Fashion Week - Fashion for a Cause
Yeah, right! Just when I thought that my stress levels couldn't get any higher I receive a phone call asking if I would like to exhibit a few designs at a celebrity charity event ... next wednesday, to mark the end of London Fashion Week! Can I afford to? Can I afford not to? You know the answer. Anyway, hopefully more anon so watch this space!
PACAYA - is an elegant, full-length, evening gown crafted from luxurious red and black silk. It is close-fitted, with one long sleeve, and a layered, organza tail which cascades down the opposite side. The distinctive, signature curve mirrors a fast flowing lava stream.
I am featured artist on the American site Talenthouse this week. Talenthouse is a fab site which I joined a while ago. It provides opportunities for the world's creative community. It is a place to participate in unique projects with artists and brands, to collaborate, gain recognition and compensation. For example Florence Welch, from Florence and the Machine, is using the site to invite fashion designers to design a stage outfit for her. Talenthouse is not only for designers though. There are categories for a wide range of creative artists including fine art. music, photography, film and fashion.
Check out my profile: www.talenthouse.com/angy
and: Featured Artist in Fashion
www.talenthouse.com
PAHOEHOE - is a spectacular, knee-length, flame and red-gold, shot-taffeta cocktail dress. It is close-fitted, and sleeveless, with an assymmetrical, gathered hemline which represents the twists and curves of pahoehoe lava formations. It also features my signature 'tornado' curve which, in this case, represents a Hawaiian lava flow.
As I’m writing this the first day of NY Fashion week has started. With the NY fashion weeks you have to be careful how you are searching because they are always sponsored by big names - in other words Sponsor name+Fashion Week, a bit confusing but that’s the game, This year the sponsor is Merceds-Benz. Thankfully London is always LFW.
Of special note will be the first ever catwalk during New York Fashion Show that only features plus-size models - finally, they are beginning to recognise that real people are not all anorexic stick insects! Nevertheless, I was approached by one model agency for my London show who were offering only size 6 and size 8 models.
For more info see the live blog offered by the Guardian: Guardian - New York Fashion Week
The key Fashion Week schedules are as follows:,
NEW YORK: 09-16 September, 2010
LONDON: 17-22 September, 2010
MILAN: 22-29 September, 2010
PARIS: 28 September-6 October, 2010
You can find a full schedule for fashion shows around the world on the Fashion Community website: www.fashions.org
This is an interesting one isn’t? Ive just read on the Premier League website that following research conducted by Populus over the 2008/2009 season, they have found that the group of the population showing the highest increase in attendance at Premiership matches is ... wait for it ... women! I could have told them that months ago ... so how about something different to wear then?
Unfortunately, attitudes don't change and from my experience it is still very much a male dominated world. When I suggest trying out something different most clubs just laugh at me. Mixing ladies fashion and football still seems to be a taboo. They just don't get it! They claim they have tried it and failed. Indeed, the percentage of ladies fan wear sold by the clubs is miniscule. Fact. But is that a surprise when all that is on offer are overpriced rhinestone sweatshirts and casual hoodies in powder pink or baby blue? The research I did in Newcastle earlier this year, with the help of Radio Newcastle, certainly suggests there is a demand for something different. And, there are a few, more dynamic clubs such as West Ham who are beginning to take it seriously - and it is working for them. Just look at the reaction to the basque Katy Perry wore to impress Russell Brand!
Meanwhile, the rest of them will continue to churn out two or three replica kits per season, knowing that huge sales are guaranteed with little effort on their part. And, if you suggest recycling them into something fashionable at the end of the season ... ooops, I can feel another slapped wrist coming ... how ethical is that?
So watch this space ... I have something up my sleeve for LFW but I can't show you just yet! In the meantime check out the following links:
BBC SPORT - Matt Slater's Blog
Premier League - Fun for all
The closer we get to LFW, the more my anxiety grows. To be honest, I’m scared stiff of the whole thing! I know you guys will say that I will be fine but I’m absolutely petrified, especially after so many ticket requests from fashion magazines, fashion bloggers and other fashion designers to see my catwalk show. So if anyone would like to come along and give me some moral support on the 17th drop me a quick line to press@angymorton.com and I'll try to add you to my guest list. But, please be quick, places are limited and my deadline for applications is next Friday -10 September.
Meanwhilwe, my new dresses are coming along nicely. I'm well behind target of course but I always am. Nothing is ever ready on time…as I said to one of the fashion students who interviewed me not so long ago: caffeine, caffeine and more caffeine. oh yes. and stress are my best friends. My dear hubby helps me with the admin work as I’m battling with zips, threads and patterns. I shouldn’t complain really, I love what I’m doing. It is just that I wish time wouldn’t fly so fast.
I’m very proud that one of my friends, Zoe Gadd, has been shortlisted for the British Airways Great Britons programme. How fab is that? Zoe, a contemporary dancer, is hoping to fly to Accra in Ghana with members of her Newcastle-based dance company, Shardana Danza, on the first leg of a journey to join L'école des Sables (International Centre for Contemporary and Traditional African Dance) in Dakar, Senegal. Once there, she will lead workshops and share skills with dancers, choreographers and artists from all over the world. She hopes to use this experience and inspiration to produce her first full length production and ultimately to make contemporary dance a more accessible art form in the north of England.
British Airways Great Britons Shortlist
IJEN - is an asymmetrical, silver-grey and champagne-gold, taffeta evening gown. It is a close-fitted dress, with a collar at the front and a gathered, low-cut back. Intricate, stitched pleats at the front represent the paths from the crater, while the gathered, yellowish fabric at the back represents the sulphur.
AUGUST 2010 House of Fraser - BUTiQ: ready-to-wear with a difference - Ladies, Gents, Fashion Designers ..., Worst Nightmare
JUNE - JULY 2010 Fashion Mavericks - Pyromania - Catwalk Curves - Victorian Wedding Dress - Quest for an Orchid
MAY - JUNE 2010 London Calling - Little Black Dress - Dress Sizes - Holiday Hangover - Pam Carter - Over the Sea to Skye - Mackintosh
APRIL 2010 Spring is here - Howay the Lads! - Kirkby Stephen - April Fools - BUTiQ - Leeds Catwalk pics
FEBRUARY-MARCH 2010 Stadium of Light - Leeds United Wedding Show - Spring - LLFW Catwalk Show
JANUARY 2010 Life is a Roller Coaster / Alexander McQueen - Tyne Tees TV Interview - LFW - New Year 2010
DECEMBER 2009 White Christmas - Liverpool Debacle - Stolen Dreams Facts - Haverthwaite - Miss Sundlerland
NOVEMBER 2009 Lavish & Luxe - The Big Flood - Stolen Dreams - Censored Dreams
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2009 Stolen Dreams - Gambling Man - Laughing Stock - Justice - Broken Promises
AUGUST 2009 Lavish & Luxe - Weddings - Chaos - Photo Shoot at St. James' Park - Harvest Time
JUNE - JULY 2009 Sir Bobby Robson RIP - Mannekins - Liverpool - Georgian Splendour - Price of Fame - Detox
MAY - JUNE 2009 (Toon in Tatters - Fashion Communism - Ele Horsleys - Kittiwakes - Stolen Dreams - Bluebells
MARCH - APRIL 2009 Made in England - Stolen Dreams - Easter Sunshine - Victoriana - Alan Shearer - Funland
FEBRUARY - MARCH 2009 (Favourite View - Punk Revival - Fast Fashion v. Recycled Fashion
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2009 (In Search of Winter - A Favourite Place - Catwalk Videos - Winter Chill
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008 (ROCS - Florence No2. - Winter-Mere
OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2008 (Cumbria Life - Glitz & Glamour Haggerston Craft Show
OCTOBER 2008 (Woman Event - Catwalk Photos - Radio Cumbria - Brochure Download
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2008 (Newcastle United Wedding Dress - Wedding Shows
AUGUST - SEPT. 2008 (Fashion Designers - Spectrum Collection - Sara Gadd
JUNE - JULY 2008 (Haute Couture - Vivienne Westwood - Dorset Buttons - Magna Carta
FEBRUARY - MAY 2008 (Lake District Inspirations - Long Blondes - Wedding Show
We are on
Angy's Blog is written by Angela Morton, Fashion Designer & Dressmaker
Photographs copyright of Mike and Angy Morton
Copyright Romantique Couture 2010
Photographs copyright of Mike and Angy Morton
Copyright Romantique Couture 2010