My mother called me earlier today to tell me the great news! I had been a bit stuck in a rut and she improved my mood INSTANTLY! The shirt is now up on the C & C California website and is available for purchase! I love the colors that were chosen and am really happy with the final product. Click the photo below to view/purchase the shirt!
 

Last night, my friend Lemuel tipped me off to --->this photo posted by College Fashionista via Instagram! Needless to say I was excited for the rest of the night! The release date is upon us and I can't wait! It looks pretty cute from this little teaser, I must say. :)


 
UPDATE! I've learned that the shirt is due for release around the beginning of April! The shirt will also come in 4 colors! I can't believe it. I thought that they were only going to make it in 1 or 2 colors but 4 is amazing! More updates to come upon the shirt's release.

Stay tuned!
 
1/28/12
I recently contacted the very nice folks at C&C California and I was informed that the shirt is now in the sample stage and all the kinks are getting worked out. I was also told that the shirt will come in multiple color ways! Which colors exactly, I do not know yet. 

More updates coming soon!
 
The short interview I did with Zappos.com is now up on their site! Click the photo to see the whole thing. 
 
I won! I got the e-mail this morning confirming that I won the competition! My shirt will be produced early next year! I can't believe it! I'll post all updates here.
 
I am a finalist in the C&C California x College Fashionista T-Shirt Design Contest! My design, along with two others, was chosen by a panel of judges. It is now up to the people of Facebook to comment on which design they like the best. The design with the most comments will be sold on C&C California's website as well as Zappos.com. Voting is open until December 16, 2011. Click the photo below to vote for my design! Every comment counts!

 
Over Summer 2011, I completed and internship with the VCU's School of Nursing at the MCV campus. My task was to recreate a nurse's uniform from the early 1930s using yearbooks, photos, and an actual uniform from the St. Philip's hospital (the Black hospital) as my references. I also had to write a research paper on nurse's uniforms, interview the archivist I worked under, and produce a muslin and patterns of the design. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to take photos of the complete uniform, but below I have a slideshow of process pictures, showing my documentation of the real uniform, as well as one of the two muslins I constructed. A link to the PDF of the pattern will also be included below. 
To view the pattern, click HERE.
 
This semester, I am taking a class called "Eco-Centric," where the focus is on making eco-conscious clothing. The goal is to use low impact and recycled fabrics and trims, while elevating eco-fashion beyond the earthy style that it is often associated with. Our theme is "Shipwrecked," and because of this theme, I wanted to design some pieces that had some sort of transformative quality to them. I figured, it I were ever to be shipwrecked off the coast of an island, I would want to have options! Of the 30 pieces we were asked to design, my convertible dress was chosen as one of my final looks. The dress is fully reversible and can be worn as a maxi or knee length on both sides, giving a total of 4 looks! 
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My (possible) second look, the drop crotch pant and sweater are not so much transformative as much as they are just something I wanted to do. I have been wanting to knit something for a while, and this class gave me that opportunity. 
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I've got two weeks before my complete muslins are due!
 
**To preface this, I am by no means saying that what follows is the end-all be-all truth. These are just some things I have observed as a young women on the search for a swimsuit. I am just rambling. Proceed.**

I really enjoy designing bathing suits, mostly because of my desire to see something for people my age that isn't incredibly skimpy. Not that I have anything against skimp, it's just not for everyone, and certainly doesn't look good on everyone, myself included. For younger ladies, there aren't many creative options for those that are uncomfortable wearing string bikinis and the like. The options that do exist are...well, for older ladies. And they look like it. While these suits are great for the 35 and over set, they tend to lack the things that younger girls look for in bathing suits, such as bright colors, interesting patterns, interesting hardware details or a transformative quality such as mix -n- match options or multiple ways to wear either the top or bottoms. I hope to design swimsuits that allow young women to look confident, youthful and a bit sexy while not having to feel uncomfortable. With that said, my main inspiration when it comes to designing bathing suits are those of the 1940s and 1950s. During that time, there was a great concern for female modesty and femininity, but that didn't keep the suits from having an air of sex appeal.
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credit: http://blackvintage.tumblr.com
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credit: I can't remember!
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I'm pretty sure this came from blackvintage.tumblr.com
When I think of the influx of tiny bathing suits, it brings up thoughts of the perception of what's sexy for women. The suits from decades ago reflect the ideas of the time, that highlighting your figure and showing just enough was considered attractive. During this time, there was also great emphasis on women not being seen as immoral, so covering up most likely factored into the designs. Do the skimpy swimsuits today reflect current societal thoughts on female "sexiness" or do they represent something more, like the freedom women have to wear whatever they like?  
Do you think there is enough diversity in the swimwear options for young women?