Venus Chen

~ 2008 Beijing/London Olympic Handover Ceremony ~ - London College of Fashion was given the honour of designing and styling the costumes for the British performers at the biggest show in the world - the Closing Ceremony of the Beijing Olympics 2008, on Sunday 24 August. I'm so grateful been given the opportunity working specifically on the show-stopping dress for the British top-charting singer Leona Lewis, and other spectacular costumes under the direction of the overall Stage/Costume Design Director - Jonathan Bentley.

~ 2008 Beijing/London Olympic Handover Ceremony-Leona Lewis in the dress ~ - This is an elegant, pre wired dress and will drop down beneath her feet and extend for some considerable distance as she rises into the air. The dress will separate as she steps off the riser revealing a smaller, condensed version of the outfit. Our biggest challenges are making sure the dress extends without snagging. Incorporating A quick release safety harness, and integrating the costume into the metal framework of the riser… while retaining elegance and beauty~!

~ 2008 Beijing/London Olympic Handover Ceremony-the show dress of Leona Lewis ~ - We explore the western fusion concept, as a big show like this, is all about extravaganza and glamour yet still elegance. Since it'll representing Britain, I researched and explored the great English cultural history, from the royal families to films and traditional historical costumes. For the outer dress is all about drama and magnificence, I experimented the draping on the stand to create the perfect shape with the old English Victorian style but also added a bit of modern structure twist!

~ 2008 Beijing/London Olympic Handover Ceremony-dress concept/structure sketch ~ - At a specific point in the show a telescopic riser will extend up from the stage. (about 4700 mm high) Leona Lewis will stand on top of this, and her dress cascading down below her as she ascends. Later in the performance the riser comes back down to stage level and she will step off it. The dress incorporates a safety harness and quick release mechanism allowing her to release herself on stage in the middle of the performance.