A Year of Pretty - February 26, 2014

Today is the last day of preparation for the Great Gatsby Inspired Fashion Show I'm participating in tomorrow night. Most of the work is done, but there are a couple things that still need attention before everything gets packed up at moved to the venue. Minor things like stitching in company labels and pressing, plus matching the shoes and accessories for each look. I will be dressing my model myself, so at least I will have control over the look and can give it a once over before it heads out on the runway.

Last week, I was able to get in a photo shoot with a few of the pieces that will be going down the runway. We spent most of the day at the shoot, and my model Jen Ryley was fantastic (and oh-so-patient). Jenny Ruth of JennyV Make Up and Hair styled the model for the shoot. I think she did a beautiful job. 

Photography was done by Wesley Allen Shaw in his own studio.

I was super lucky that the garments fit Jen perfectly. Which means no size adjustments to the garments for tomorrow night. So happy about this. It also means Jen, who is modelling for me in the show, will already be familiar with each of the looks.

It was a fun shoot, and I've included not only some serious shots of the garments, but some goofy ones as well when Jen was in between takes.

So Today's Pretty Post is about my own label de volk & gosche. First, a little history:

My maternal grandmother's (my Oma) maiden name is Volk. My paternal grandmother's maiden name was gosche. "Volk" means "people", "Gosche" means "cheeky, or left of center". So the two names together become "For People Cheeky or Left of Center". It also sounds sophisticated and European.....like Dolce and Gabbana. 

The fabrics I've used here are silks and yoryu satin, which are produced by Telio. I also bought some great trims online through Etsy. Check out PrettyLaceShop for their great selection of trims and lace details.

The looks all came together relatively easy. Okay, okay . . there were some frustrations when trying to get my ideas from paper to fabric; but in the end I am extremely please with the results and can't wait to see them on the runway.

Anyway, I hope you like them as well.

 

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.

Have you Missed me ?

I have been away, I mean, I haven't gone anywhere physically, but I've been away from here. From this blog. It seems like just a couple weeks, but in truth it's been months.

Life ran away with me. Or rather, I ran away with life. Together we eloped into a frenzy of office work, fashion sketching, pattern drafting, muslin making garment construction and (horror of horrors) . . . restaurant work. A second full time job.

Yes, despite my previous thoughts of not returning to work in a restaurant, the $13,000.00 for a new roof and balcony had other ideas. So back to prostituting my soul table side for $$ I go ! Okay . . . I'll admit I do love the industry, but no the long hours and the effect it has on my sleeping pattern, my eating pattern, my aching back-knees-calves-and-feet pattern. Essentially . . . my life pattern.

And silly me, I did this heading into the last term of my graduate program. Yes, I am crazy. Or a glutton for punishment. Or destined for design disaster. Time to tell. Time that I don't have . . . for things like this blog.

Because if you're paying attention, I now work 40 hours in the office, 35 hours at the restaurant and 12 hours at school, plus about 10 hours of homework. That's 97 hours per week. Yeh, I'm gonna have to go with "crazy" on this one.

So I think the next little while will be about posting inspirations and ideas and less about writing and actual "blog" blogging.

A blog without any real "blogging". Or blog writing.

You get the picture. Or you will, because there will be a lack of blogging.
Just pictures.
Which you will get.

Beautiful Flocked Ivy Silk Art Fabric by FabricMart

Design Inspiration - part 6

beautiful colour palette as inspiration for the upcoming collection.

Design Inspiration - part 5

It's here. My last term of school. My final project. My five looks that will walk down a runway and represent me. Daunting; capital D.

So, in anticipation, I'm going to start sharing a couple images of inspiration for my collection. Most of these are either from Pinterest or Etsy, and along the way they have lost their original links. If you recognize any of these, please let me know the source so I can give credit where it's due.

>>>The shorts/vest/sweater combo to the right is Chanel SS2012....no mistaking those iconic pearl buttons and the soft structured look. (in love with the layering and textures!)<<<

Which brings me to the theme of my collection: Softness in Structure and Architecture as Design. Think of the curves of the Sydney Opera House, or the swoop of the roof of the Richmond Oval (formerly the speed skating track for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics). I'm also evolking memories of travel while honoring classic design. (Whew! all that in five looks.)

I have most of my fabrics selected. All the patterns are made and test toiles put together. Cutting on the "real fabric" begins tomorrow night. Fingers crossed and wish me luck!

In the meantime, enjoy!