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attempting to design a classic
just to give you an idea about creating a design from scratch, i have been working on this dress since january. it is a very simple dress, but the most simple designs are sometimes the hardest. they are like the slow movement of a piece of music; there is nothing to hide behind. no flashy distractions like ruffles or volumes of gathered fabric, just a basic contour darts and seams. this dress is inspired by the 1960’s sheath dress, but instead of an a-line from the shoulder, it nips in at the waist for definition. i was never a fan of the sack dress, as it is unflattering on most…
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the swan has flown away…
she said: “everyone will be in formal wear, and i will be the only one wearing a costume.” my kind of lady.
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black swan act II
he last two days have been spent coating a cheap tank top in “feathers” made out of tulle, organza with sparkly bits, and silk scraps. deconstructionist fashion at its best. triangle scraps of fabric with their ends free make the body of the swan, with the rest sewn down for texture. tomorrow we fit on the body. i can just have my client put it on, and i will pin and tuck until it is the shape we want. then we will decide what to add to the crinoline. we decided that the swan would be sleeping. regular couture conventions are thrown out the window with costumes. costumes are a…
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black swan
every now and again i will take on a crazy custom project that is so whacky, i just can’t turn it down. this month it is a version of the swan dress bjork wore to the oscars that the whole world had to make fun of, but in black. it is for a client of mine to wear to an oscar theme party. at my suggestion, she brought me a fluffy crinoline (one of those big square dance skirts), a top to deconstruct and cover with fancy bits, and a selection of tulle, netting and sparklies. true to form, i spent the last few days thinking about how to make…
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what am i waiting for?
muddling through the same old crap. i have to work things out in my head first, but then, what of the things that can’t entirely be worked out in my mind without doing? this weeks exampled is this simple wrap skirt. it is a summer staple; nice and breezy. the challenge here was the waist band. it wraps around and needs to go through itself so the band lies flat and doesn’t cross over in a bulky way. i had to think it out for two days before i tried out the design i had in mind, and guess what? it worked on the first try. so why think about…
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chopped up and spit out
sometimes it’s just good to cut your losses, and not waste any more thread.
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at war with the dandylions
on my way in to the studio today i noticed that the dandylions are out in full bloom. their bright yellow heads peering from lawns, cracks in the pavement, gutters and everyone’s unweeded gardens. it seems to me that most people hate dandylions and the colour yellow. i have gotten strong reactions to yellow, with people commenting on how much they hate it. almost as much as they hate dandylions with their long stubborn tap root that refuses to be wrestled out of the ground without a fight. i understand the reluctance to wear yellow. on me, it clashes with my skin tone, which contains a good amount of yellow.…
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friend up! or and over-dependence on electronic devices
since when did my business start to depend so heavily on my computer? i was separated from it for a couple of months due to a series of circumstances somewhat beyond my control. my whole life during this time seemed dedicated to me being reunited with my computer. and now, today, i am feeling the conditionality of my relationships with others on my proximity to my computer and my cell phone. when did this all happen? i remember a time when i had neither of these things, and i had a decent social life which wasn’t dependent on me checking my e-mail or never being more than 8 feet from…
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my brush with the law
we went to the lawyer yesterday for a quick lesson on copyright law, trademarks, licensing and incorporation. things are happening. the lawyer put our minds at ease. the big announcement and launch will be here soon. when i woke up on 1 january 2007, i had no idea that i would be starting a new company; much less with contracts and lawyers and licenses and copyrights and trademarks. i was just sewing some characters that brent cut out on some skirts. we are still in our phase of introductory offers. hoodies for $65. and skirts are 30% off retail. you still need to own one, i still need the money.…
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learning to love valentine’s day
for the same reasons everyone else has i was not so fond of valentine’s day. i don’t feel so interested in delving into the sea of expectation and invalidation that surrounds this so-called holiday, but i have been slowly changing my mind about it. it’s mostly for superficial reasons. i really like pink and red and my designs tend to be flowery and girly. what i mostly would like to say is that it is another day that we take way too seriously. it isn’t about rebelion against our relationship anxiety, but a day to treat ourselves with sexy clothes, chocolate and champagne. and i am here to help! come…