BROWN VELVET AND LACE

While taking a break from making patterns, I stared looking at some of the pics of my dresses and came about this dress. I’ll tell you, I love this dress, have to make it again someday.





I made the dress for a client that was going to a wedding. The dress is made out of velvet, lace and netting with horsehair.






What I love, about it [apart from the design itself] is the closing technique I use for it. The back was made out of lace, being a see through back; a zipper was out of the question [in mine opinion]







I did not want a zipper to show through the lace on the side, zipper would not be the best choice for the dress.



The opening on the dress is on the left side, it has a 7”zipper up to the begging of the lace. For the upper part of the dress and the shoulder I used snaps for the inside [for added security and support] and velvet cover buttons with loops.


The buttons and loops gave it a nice look [my opinion].




Enjoy the pics, I think they speak for themselves. And, yes the dress is a bit bigger than the mannequin!
Back to the cutting table, have patterns to finish

GARDEN PARTY

I have two passions in life, books and silks! When I was in NYC I had a large collection of fashion books, some I have keep after I move to Miami, others I sold or gave to the library. It broke my heart parting with them, but I just could not bring them.

One of the books I’m glad I keep with me is “The Opulent Era” by Elizabeth Ann Coleman. The book is a rare look at the early haute couture houses in Paris. It gives the reader an inside of the houses of Worth, Doucet and Pingat. I love the dress on the cover, it is an evening dress from the House of Worth [1902] designed by Jean-Philippe Worth. I love this dress and always wanted to design something base on it. The dress is so feminine, light and airy so unlike the other dresses from the era.

The opportunity to do something inspire by the dress is finally here, I found a print with the feel of the dress. It is on Charmeuse and Chiffon, I got them both, just have to have them. I will be using also one color Charmeuse in both the pink and the violet.

The fabrics had arrived today and I’m very pleased to see the print is just perfect. I will be making several dresses out of these fabrics, but I’m still not made up my mind about trims, or technique I’d uses. I’d let the fabrics talk to me. In the mean time, here are some pics of fabrics and a lace, I might or may not use, I hope you love them as much as I do!

YOU PLAN, AND GOD DECIDES!!

It’s going to be a year since my last post on the blog, I can believe it! I’ll tell you, it sure feels movies imitates life, specially my own. I had referred to Forrest Gump a few times in the past, and if you saw the movie you know how his life took him to so many different experiences. Well I feel that way sometimes!

At the end of last summer, my business was slow and I was “going’’ in a different direction; opening my store online and networking here in Miami, when I got a call from one of my clients, muse and dear friend Anastasya. She was working at a company doing loan [mortgage] modification and an opening was coming up and she gave my name.

Well, needless to say, that’s what I had being doing all this time. What kind I say, “a boy got it do what a boy got to do” I had bills to pay, and money to save.

Now, this is where the “God Decides” comes about. There I met two ladies that were also in fashion on one form or another. Jennifer makes beautiful jewelry out of semi-precious stones weaved on macramé. Her work is just amazing.

Jen and I have kept in touch although she left the company at the beginning of the year. She has being working on her jewelry, making more of them and evolving her style. The “free” time has allowed her to follow through with some connections and acquiring new ones. Through her, I got connected to some people, and we have something “on the back burner” [more to come, stay tone]

At this time I’m getting myself ready to jump back on the design “wave” [I forgot, I no longer work at that company, the company is no longer on operation, the loan modification business is almost dead… but that is a different story].

So, my dear friends and colleagues, I’m waiting on my order of beautiful printed silk chiffon, Charmeuse; and “delish” silks to get busy. I promise I’d be sharing the designs with you as I move alone.

I want to take a moment to thank my dear friends, Paco and his Sister Isabel we have being in contact all this time, their love, support and encouragement has no price.
Thank you Paco for the magazines!!


I’l be Back!!