A Year of Pretty - February 21, 2014

Tomorrow night is the first of two shows I am presenting with a Great Gatsby theme. Both shows will be for charity, and I am looking forward to both as a way to not only highlight my designs, but as an opportunity to learn what works and what doesn't work during a live show. When I presented my graduation collection, I wasn't able to be backstage, so I had no say in how the models were dressed. This time I will have that chance and as such, will be able to style the ladies as I wish.

I am lucky to have a fairly good collection of costume jewellery from which I can select pieces that will compliment each look. I also have a number of shoes in different sizes that will work for the looks for these shows. Every year in early September when wedding season is over, shoe stores start offering amazing deals on all their strappy, sparkly summer heels. Last year I picked up six pairs of the same shoe in gold and silver in a variety of sizes from 8.5 to 10 for 50% off the last ticketed price - $15.00 each pair. It may seem strange to spend money on shoes that don't even fit me (I'm a size 8.5), but it ensures that I have shoes that I know will work for the models; not only for this show, but for for other shows in the future. Choosing shoes with classic profiles and in neutral tones (silver, gold, beige and black) means that the shoes are pretty much going to go with any look.

I adore the look of these shoes here. I like the attention to detail, and how the art deco feel is continued on through the punch work of the pale pink instep. Having not one but two adjustable straps is also handy. Unfortunately these will not be my show, but they embody the feel of the 1920's art deco period, if higher heels had been in fashion at that time. Most heel heights were only between 1.5 and 2.5 inches during the 1920's, whereas today's average height for runway starts at 4.5 inches.

So enjoy these darling shoes and I will be back tomorrow with a review of the show. Fingers crossed.

A Year of Pretty - February 08, 2014

Today's Pretty Post is this very bohemian Great Gatsby inspired wedding dress. Simple silhouette with a frothy lace overlay. yards and yards of fine tulle netting held in place by a band of lace and some dusty rose flowers.

Sad to say, the original link leads me to a "page not found" and some obscure pictures of llamas and a doorway. Not very Gatsby-esque at all.

A Year of Pretty - February 06, 2014

Today's Pretty Post is from the March 19, 2012 cover of Ruche. Check out the entire article and many other beautiful photos by clicking on the picture above. The whole collection of images are Great Gatsby inspired, which is just what I'm after for the upcoming show.

A year of Pretty - January 31, 2104

Well here we are, end of January. One month into the year.

Today's Pretty Post is of this collection of GORGEOUS dresses. No credit was given on the photo, but I believe the collection is by Anna Campbell.

Not Anna Campbell the historical romance novelist. And not Anna Campbell the actress, but Anna Campbell the Australian designer of vintage-inspired evening gowns and bridal dresses.

I'm still working on my Great Gatsby Inspired collection, and the date has been set for the fashion show reveal. Actually, there will be two dates; and both are coming up pretty quick. The first is on February 22nd at Venue in Vancouver. The second will be on February 27th at Performance Works in Vancouver on Granville Island. Both events will be on the smaller side, but both will be a good way to start when it comes to presenting a collection. I'll be able to work out some of the snafus before moving on to a bigger audience.

Luckily, both events have the same theme, so I am able to show the same set of garments. The first show I have chosen my own model. The second show I will have to use the models the even host has chosen. This will be a bit more difficult, as the garments will have already been fitted to the one model in the first show.

In any event (see what I did there?), it should be fun and a great learning experience.

In the meantime, my fabrics and trims are selected, my sketches are near completed (will probably post a couple of these within the next few days), and the technical design wheels are moving around in my head. Building the patterns will begin next week. Super excited to see how it all turns out.

A Year of Pretty - January 24, 2014

Today's Pretty Post is this beautiful jumble of cameos, pearls and pearl strands; all linked together to form one 'super pearl" necklace. So interesting, so unique, so . .Chanel.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find an original source except for Pinterest.

I bring you this post today as a follow up to yesterday's silver lace Chanel dress. And because I liked the image of the round, refined necklace with all its luster against the rough, weathered boards.

And because it's something I would wear.
And because it's Friday and I wear pearls with my jeans. With heels.
True story.

A Year of Pretty - January 23, 2014

I can't believe it's already only three months until my birthday. My big birthday. The big four-zero. Yikes!

Onto something more positive. Today's Pretty Post is the GORGEOUS Chanel dress, found via Pinterest, linked back to walkingthruafog. And there it ends.

This is stunning. This is glamorous. This is Chanel.

This reminds me of some lace I have that I will be using on my Great Gatsby Challenge, due in . . .a month. Yikes again!

While my design will be no where near this elaborate, it's still nice to think I haven't got it ALL wrong.

(the shoes are pretty awesome too)

Anyhow, enjoy today's post and wish me luck as I continue with designing (which right now is really just a bunch of ideas with editing and a good dose of compromises).

A Year of Pretty - January 22, 2014

Another great colour collection inspiration.

A Year of Pretty - January 21, 2014

Okay, so yesterday I posted about a chair with castor wheels on its front legs and a couple cushions and some flowing fabric that may have been too light to be a throw to keep warm. So I daydreamed that it was a gauzy, dreamy evening gown tossed on the chair after a night of dinner, dancing and champagne.

Today's Pretty Post is said dreamy dress. Well, not really actually. But we can pretend. Or at least I can.

The original post is from Pinterest and the link leads to everlytrue on tumblr. But there it stops.

So I'll have to make some educated surmises about this dress. The fabric appears to be a silk charmeuse with pleated chiffon in different lengths underneath the shirt, and ruffled chiffon over the bust and forming the sleeves. No glitter but lots of understated glam.

I try to combine different textures when I am designing, and this style of elegance is what I'm trying to achieve in the Great Gatsby Design Challenge I'm currently working on. I know the roaring 1920's were about beads and sparkle and fringe and feathers. But team this up with a couple long strands of pearls and you're the belle of the ball.

A Year of Pretty - January 15, 2014

"I love you like Vintage loves Lace"

Boots. Lace. Lacey boots. These are gorgeous. And they are today's Pretty Post from LaLaLaBonneVie's tumblr page.

Shown here, they appear to be part of this woman's wedding preparations.Delicate, but with just enough sexy. Especially if the dress she'll be wearing also has a corset detail in the back.

I am looking for something similar for my model to wear for the upcoming Great Gatsby inspired runway show.

(the bedpost is beautiful as well)

A Year of Pretty - January 14, 2014

I should be designing today. But I'm getting over this cold. My second cold in a month's time. I caught my first one about a week or so before Christmas. I was finally getting back to my usual self by New Year's Day. Then round two came along and now I am heading into the final stages of this one.

It's hard to be creative when you aren't feeling well. The problem is I have scads of ideas running through my brain . . .especially late at night when I am trying to fall asleep. (Never TRY to fall asleep. It does not work. The harder you try, the more futile the result). But setting those ideas in motion and actually getting them down on paper is the difficult part right now because of this head cold. I usually end up walking away to go blow my nose.

Case in point. It's currently 2:10am and I am nowhere near being ready to fall asleep.

I'm also up against a deadline. First fittings for the Great Gatsby themed fashion show are on January 22nd. That's in eight days. I'm only one pattern into my designs and haven't cut the muslin for it yet. Am I worried? Not really, because I'm pretty used to pulling a rabbit out of a hat in the eleventh hour while behind the 8 ball, so to speak. Should I be worried? Probably.

But it will all work out. I have faith. Just not enough sleep.

So. Today's Pretty Post, designed to inspire me to be more creative and actually get stuff done is this AMAZINGLY GORGEOUS beaded dress. The designer is Anna Sui for BHLDN. Photo source is a flickr post by Herkkupeppu. On the BHLDN website, the Aiguille Gown dress is still available in a number of different sizes, and shows some styling options such as jewelry and head pieces. There are several studio shots of the dress, as well as "real weddings" photos of the dress on different body types, which I think is pretty great because we all know that how a dress looks on an industry model and how it looks on the average female frame can be quite different.

I like how the rows of sequins above and below the waist form a chevron pattern, and how the waistband reflects this chevron design in its center. Very art deco. The button detail down the front is interesting, though I'm not certain they are functioning buttons. The silver chain and necklace also mimic the sequin patterns and provide a great contrast to the softness of the garment.

It's Great Gatsby, but with a modern silhouette.

A Year of Pretty - January 08, 2014

In a little over six weeks time, I will be participating in two design showcases; one on February 22nd, the other on February 27th. Luckily, the theme for both showcases is the same: The Great Gatsby.

Which brings me to today's Pretty Post. The photo is from a tumblr post which no longer exists, so I have no original source. Sorry.

So what does chosen theme represent to me? Besides the obvious beading and fringe and feathers and dropped waist lines, Gatsby is a state of mind. It is elegance, it is decadence. It is the beginnings of women cutting their hair into short bobs, of forgoing the previous decades (centuries) of corsets and hip paniers and other foundation garments meant to alter the female torso into the "ideal" shape. 

It's the start of a more free time, a looser time (both in dress and in morals). It's fun, it's flirty, it's here to drink champagne and dance the night away.

I am striving for six looks. I'm very excited about this challenge simply because I get excited about beading and trims and lace and whispy dresses like those shown in the picture. Although, the front beaded one probably weighs a few pounds.

I'm going to stay with a lighter colour palette; pinks and gold and champagne wishes and caviar dreams. Basically, if you took the black garments out of this picture, you'd have my colour palette. This means these six new pieces will mix well with the five looks I created for my first collection back in September. Ah ha! smart thinking !

So get out your feather boa and stay tuned while my creative process begins, my late night struggles to get things done endures and I try to recreate the fabulousness that is The Great Gatsby.