Preparing for another Bridal Expo.......

Can you believe we are approaching the middle of 2011 already? Where has the time gone?  When you think that you completed one project, another is on your doorstep, waiting to be finalised. The important tip to enjoy a lifestyle of constant work, is to take a few minutes every day – spend it on yourself. You have to sit back and take in, your daily achievements. Appreciate your surroundings, the talents you encounter and where all of it is coming from.

Diep in die Berg is a fabulous wedding venue in Pretoria East. They are hosting another Bridal Expo Extravaganza, with a great Wedding Collection Fashion Show. A few designers will make use of this opportunity to exhibit their skills. We are very fortunate to announce that we will sponsor the Wedding Gown for the Win a Wedding Competition. For more info you can ready up about it in the Pretoria News. We will offer the winner a dress worth R20 000, and it will be designed especially for this future bride.

Please keep your fingers crossed as we look for inspiration in our day to day lives, to put a collection of six gowns together for the show. We look back at highlights in 2011, with great pride.

Expo4Brides was an amazing experience. We would like to thank everyone who made these shows possible, from the dressers to the models to the F Wilson-Support Base (they know who they are).

No FASHION AFFAIR will be same without the fabulous Fiona Wilson, who held her own as a model for us.....

Chat soon

Just F

Howzat...

Fiona finally ended her extended holiday in Hollywood, after the glitz and glam of 83 Annual Academy Awards. She loves South Africa so much and can hardly contain her excitement, as she was updated about the Proteas’ progress in the Cricket World Cup Tournament, currently being held in India and Bangladesh. She insisted on attending at least one match, to support her boys.

Fiona’s schedule has never been more hectic and therefore she needs all the energy she can get. As she settled in for the in-flight movie, The King’s Speech, she mistakenly took a sleeping tablet instead of her potent multi-vitamins. Good thing she was not needed as wicket keeper for the Proteas’ game against India. Luckily Morne Van Wyk was able to prevent occasional dosing off and a possible catastrophe. She was happy to hear that sleeping tablets were kept far away from the boys in their next game against Ireland. Their attention and alertness won them the top spot in Group B.

She is holding thumbs with the rest of us for the boys to go all the way to the top.

Is that Fiona at the 2011 Oscars..........

Fiona did keep the press in suspense the last week; she did not incubate in an egg after we saw her at the Grammys, a few weeks ago.  You see, some people are Born That Way, others ooze fabness, so don’t Hold It Against Them. It was a simple case of extreme Jetlag. Sources say that she is feeling much better, and that she has her famous smile back. That is why we spotted her at the 83^rd Academy Awards. In Fiona’s direct words, “Comfort is not a style, so I need to get out of my PJ’s and into Labels again.”

Everyone was stunned to see Fiona Wilson strutting her couture, on the 2011 Oscar Red Carpet. Where does she find the time to pick a gown, arrange for hair and stay in such amazing shape? She should indorse her multi-Vitamins.

Most ladies went for pale, nude colours and did not rock Oscar’s boat with bold colours. There were some stunning red gowns that made on lookers turn their heads. Jennifer Hudson floored critics with her great new shape and the Orange Gown, she flawlessly pulled off. Fiona took a risk though.  She wore a soft, rouged, fully printed gown. “Risks are there for the taking.” Fiona commented on some dresses that her peers wore on the red carpet, “Céline was the understated elegant surprise and she touched us all, when she sang Smile.”She later mentioned that she is Ellie Saab’s biggest fan and therefore enjoyed Mila Kunis’s dress. “My dear friend Hale Berry stole the best dressed Oscar in her Marchesa gown” and “what a glam look Michelle Williams sported, WOW, so GLAM.”

“Movies makes us happy and sad, it moves us universally. I will forever be inspired by films and was thrilled to see Alice in Wonderland take the Best Costume Award. Natalie Portman proved that even soon to be mommies can rock couture frocks. I have to sign off now, I am dying to watch the King’s Speech.”

Hugs

Fiona and Team

Fiona Wilson at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards

Fiona Wilson was spotted, at the Grammy Awards, this weekend...How did she manage to be on the Jacaranda Love Boat and attend the Grammy Awards in one short little weekend....It is a difficult job, but someone has to do it. She draws her energy form her love of music. Music is so universal and speaks to us all no matter what the language. Music can be seen in fashion all the time, which is why such an award show cannot be missed.

Miss. Wilson commented on some of the amazing dresses and could not help to mention her favourites. “The dress Giuliana Rancic was wearing on the red carpet, while doing interviews for E was perfection.” She also confirmed that Natasha Bedingfield and Eva Longoria were breathtaking. “One cannot talk about best dressed, without mentioning how ravishing Jennifer Hudson was in Navy...WOW”

Fiona loved the whole show, “everything was great, what a performance from Lady Gaga....I now strive to be as egg-ceptional and original as she is.”

See you at the Expo 4 Brides at the Tswane Event Centre (Pretoria Showgrounds), 19 and 20 February. Fashion Shows at 11:00 and 15:00 on both days.

To be continued......

Introducing Fiona Wilson......

Who is Fiona Wilson?

Fiona is the alter-ego of the F Wilson Fashion Design Team. Miss Wilson is a stylist to the stars, actress, model, songwriter, choreographer, fashion designer/fashionista and socialite. She attends the most glamorous events, and rubs shoulders with all the stars and influences of the world.

She is at the forefront of charitable events, not only does she support, but she attends and takes part, this fuels her spirit for fashion. Due to her role-model power and positivity in this negative world, she will give advice and critique to A-list personalities, only in a positive fashion.

Fiona can be seen in interesting outfits and costumes inspired by all the wonderful events, that add to the creativity of the F Wilson Fashion Design Team, like music, movies, art, dance, social events and charities....

Her mission – don’t take life too seriously, have fun and live life to the fullest.

When you are down and weary and feel that the world is taking its toll on you, visit Fiona Wilson on her blog fwilsonfashion.blogspot.com for instant laughter and relieve. Let’s put fun and positivity back into life. JUST love life.

Inspiration chapter 1 – Jacaranda Just Plain Breakfast Show, thanks for a great show. See Fiona Wilson on the Jacaranda Love Boat in her F Wilson Cocktail Dress.

Fiona to jet off to the Grammys soon.......

Just F

Once upon a time, there was Expo 4 Brides

During the last 3 weeks, we’ve been planning, designing, sewing and working away, to complete and finalise our creations for Expo 4 Brides 2011. We fell in love with the designs, we doubted the designs, we fell in love with the designs, and again doubted the designs...A designer will probably doubt the designs, until the creations hit the runway. No matter what comments you get, no matter who judge the designs? It could be your biggest rival, your best friend or colleague. Doubt always plagues the mind. A focussed attitude and going beyond your design limitations, eliminates the doubt slowly but surely. We pledge to be totally different. So hang onto your “veils” and put all expectations aside......

At the risk of this sounding like a typical fairy tale, rather follow this blog for the titbits and juicy details, leading to the completion of the Bridal Collection 2011. This year we’ve been inspired by “romantic fantasy” – picture a princess being swept away in a La Borie - Chantilly combinations, or froths of sheer fabrics, draped gently into the modern wedding gown; even a Fashion Diva making an entrance down the isle/red carpet.

A photo shoot of note will take place, a week prior to the Expo. The goal is to publish the amazing photos with the help of our brilliant photographer Annalene – Moments by Annalene. You will only be able to see these at the Expo 4 Brides, held at the Pretoria Show Grounds (Tshwane Events Centre) The expo is taking place, 19 to 20 February. F Wilson Fashion Design will launch teasers of the collection, via the Blog and Facebook just hours before the first Runway Show. Four shows will happen over the two days, they will start at 11:00 and 15:00.

We are looking forward to the chaos, excitement, fun, and the goose pimply feeling of pride when our dresses hit the runway.

Here is a behind the scenes look of Expo 4 Brides 2010.

To be continued........

F Wilson and Bianca Olivier = Winning Team

Bianca Olivier dreamed about her Matric Farewell Dress for years, just like any other girl does. Bianca is a part-time model and is used to wearing glam gowns frequently. Where do you start shopping or designing, when you are used to wearing designer dresses. Enter -F. Wilson Fashion Design. She asked for our help and showed up, for her consultation, very nervous but excited. Miss Olivier had hundreds of small magazine clippings, of red-carpet-ready-gowns. Johan strongly advised, not to look at any, as so many other girls do exactly the same thing for inspiration. Who wants to have a dress designed with the same design-ideas as another girl at the function?  SHOCK HORROR. I told her we need to make this dress on her and it has to grow with every fitting, into something unique to her - a design that cannot be sketched, as it will continuously change. F. Wilson’s ultimate trademark move.
We gladly accepted the challenge and promised to give our best, when we design and make her gown.

Bianca insisted that it should be a dress that can win competitions and create a stir, inspiring words to say the least.

Bianca's mom bought the lace in India. Honestly, gold and yellow beaded lace was not our idea for a winning design. So here we are again, we just finalised about 88 dresses and gowns in 3 months time, and Bianca (AKA Binxi) wants us to be more creative than ever. She is depending on us to create something unique for her and true to F. Wilson Fashion Design.

What happens to creative minds when they are so tired and so worn out? How do they find the creative flame within? I used to believe that taking your time on a project usually helps and that no time constraints will make it easier. WRONG. Time just makes you think too much and try too hard. What a wake-up call. One week ahead of the big night, Bianca still makes changes, as women usually do. Naturally she saw something that inspired a new idea. Binxi talked us through the changes, hoping we can take the idea further. Do we start to PANIC, with only a week to go? Yes we do.....but Bianca is not to know.

We began to create, under even more pressure. We zoned in and started with the creation process, because nothing else in this world exists. It forces you to be creative. DON’T THINK, JUST DO! You actually start to feel like the painter for the TV show Heroes. It feels like your eyes flip over, so that only the white part shows. You forget everything around you – to create. Drifting away into a state of mind, I cannot describe. One eventually returns to reality, with a creation in front of you. The moment you step back to look at this design, you realise that there is a much Higher Power out there; this Power just gave you a glimpse of what passion is.

We told Binxi to trust us. Boy, did she trust us. We finished the dress in time. HALLO – we will never drop anyone, on such a big night. Her last fitting was the morning of the Matric Farewell. We decided, to sew each frill onto the dress by hand and to fray all the frills, at the last moment. (Why do we always make more work right at the end of a project, because we do it in the name of couture!)The major aspect was to keep it young, torn, textured and bright. I have never seen a so much excitement in one person, after her final fitting.

Binxi competed with her dress, in the Huisgenoot Magazine Matric competition. Readers had to vote for the best dress. From the 10 000 votes, Bianca raked in just over 5000. Wow. We are so proud of our new "Face of F.Wilson".

She was kind enough to invite us along with her on the luxurious cruise she won, to the Portuguese Islands, off the coast of Mozambique. We will be cruising off into the sunset, on the third weekend in April. If all goes according to plan. We will keep in touch about every second we spend on the cruise ship.

Thank you to Bianca and her family for the amazing trust they had in F. Wilson. Thank you to all the readers, fans, friends and family who voted, we appreciate it more than words could describe.

Here is to a prosperous 2011, and loads of no.1 couture gowns.

XXXX
F