Knit bodysuit
Studio
For students applying to Central Saint Martins and the top fashion schools.
Portfolio direction for students applying to Central Saint Martins and the world’s top fashion schools.
I work one-to-one with a small number of students each cycle, from the first idea in the portfolio through to the interview. I studied Womenswear at Central Saint Martins and run my own label, LOVETT, in Los Angeles.
Online worldwide, or in person in Los Angeles.
Results
Who you’ll work with
Carson Lovett
Founder and Creative Director, LOVETT
- Trained
- BA Fashion Womenswear, Central Saint Martins, 2023
- Residency
- Sarabande Foundation, founded by Lee Alexander McQueen
- Label
- LOVETT, Los Angeles, since 2022
- Press
- Vogue, Dazed, i-D, Paper, 032c, Metal
- Also
- Entrepreneurship Diploma, Babson College
LOVETT has been worn by Addison Rae, Tyla, Charli XCX on the Sweat tour, Jennie Kim, Alix Earle, JT and Hearts2Hearts.
ApplyAbout
I do my best work with students who have stopped responding to conventional tutoring. They usually have strong instincts and very little patience for being taught at. We start from what they already care about and build the portfolio out from there.
Sessions are working sessions. Students make work while we talk, and I stay involved between sessions.
Worn by
The work
Knit bodysuitSling bikini
How it works
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Step 1
Portfolio diagnosis
The usual starting point. Send the portfolio, or a PDF of the strongest work, before we meet. In 60 minutes on Zoom we go through what is working, what is holding it back and what to make next.
- 60 minutes, online
- Portfolio reviewed in advance
- You leave with a list of pieces to make
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Step 2
Weekly sessions
One-to-one sessions through the application cycle. We build new work in the sessions, and I give feedback on what gets made in between.
- Weekly, online or in person in Los Angeles
- Feedback between sessions by text
- Packages for the full cycle
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Step 3
Application and interview
The last stretch before deadlines. We make the final edit together and prepare for each school on the list.
- Final edit and page order
- Personal statement
- Interview practice for each school
Who it’s for
Students applying to Foundation, BA and MA programmes at Central Saint Martins, Parsons, London College of Fashion, Antwerp, IFM, the Royal College of Art and schools at that level. Parents are welcome to get in touch on a student’s behalf.
I take a limited number of students each cycle, so start with an application.
Common portfolio mistakes
- No sustained ideaMost portfolios start in one place and end somewhere unrelated. Admissions tutors look for one idea carried from research to finished work.
- No point of viewCSM is selecting a person. Work that could belong to anyone reads as a set of drawings.
- One way of workingShow drawing, collage, research, 3D experimentation and layout, each handled with control.
- Too much writingKeep text to short annotations. If a page needs explaining, the images need more work.
- Weak editingEvery page is a choice. Take out anything that isn’t strong.
- Careless layoutFormatting changes how the work is read. Good layout lifts ordinary pages and poor layout drags strong ones down.
From students
“Paying for a lesson with him goes much further than an hour. He works behind the scenes between each lesson. I left with a clear portfolio direction and much stronger experimentation, drawing, and portfolio work.”
“Carson pushed my portfolio up to CSM standards.”
Gabrielle, CSM“Carson was especially helpful in taking my ideas and pushing them to their full potential. My skillset as a designer was really rounded out under his mentorship.”
Jing, Parsons
Apply
Choose a session to start. Most students begin with a portfolio diagnosis.
Students and parents can both book. Online, or in person in Los Angeles.
- Message on WhatsApp
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Portfolio diagnosis60 min
An intensive review of the current portfolio. Send the work beforehand and leave with clear next steps.
Book -
Standard session30 min
A working session on current pieces. We define next actions and walk through examples.
Book -
Advice session20 min
Quick direction, questions about schools, or where to take the work next.
Book
Prefer to write first?
Send a note and I’ll reply within 24 hours.