Undressed

During a break from designing and making I took a trip to Bendigo (about an 1 1/2 hours from Melbourne) to see the ‘Undressed’ exhibition  http://www.bendigoartgallery.com.au/Exhibitions/Current_Exhibitions/Undressed_350_years_of_fashion_in_underwear

 I wasn’t disappointed, in fact ideas exploded each time I moved on to the next exhibit, smiling to myself that as I’ve always said underpinnings are too gorgeous to be worn not being revealed, but deserve to be worn to be seen, using exquisite fabrics and embellishments.

The exhibition for those in Victoria is worth a visit, and for those in Europe get to any costume gallery, they usually have a case of Victorian and Georgian underpinnings  - beautifully made.

Georgian stays

And yes I admit the stays, as they were once called, didn’t help the health of the wearer, but a modern corset is a lot more forgiving and an empowering garment to wear, the posture becomes positive and the ‘lumps and bumps’ are well constrained!

Made to order, do contact me, I trained in corset making as a 

costumer and have now combined these skills with fashion fit. 

Take a look at
www.alexandrazvi.com

I’m about to produce an elegant grey pin-striped under bust corset for a one of my special friends who is celebtated a ‘big’ birthday. I’ll share the photos as her husband is a great fashion photographer, based in Leeds – www.simonmurray.com

These are the fabrics I'll be using
to produce Jam's Birthday outfit

Shaken not stirred

Just spent a lovely morning at the James Bond Style exhibition - 

http://designing007melbourne.com

The gadgets the story boards and most importantly for me, the costumes captured the glamour and the world of James Bond.

Bucket list – work in the costume department of a James bond movie – even better Design the costumes 

I’ve always enjoyed a James Bond movie, but more recently, actually, since living in Australia, the Ex-pat thing has grown within in, and now I love all things Bond. 

Lindy Hemmings' designs

Costumes at the exhibition

So much so I listen and sew to Ian fleming’s Bond books by audio. These are read by the very best of the British acting fraternity, Damien Lewis reading Diamonds are Forever has been a particular favourite!

Kitty and I spending time with 'Daniel'

I organized a  ‘Shaken not Stirred” fancy dress video evening for my theatre friends  - What fun watching Skyfall all dressed up in sequins and drinking Vodka Martini’s 

So viewing the Melbourne Museum exhibition of Bond Style was thoroughly enjoyable. The skill behind these films is inspirational. 

As I said before one for the bucket list – to design for Bond – YES PLEASE!

The Jennifer Blouse - Part 1

Inspired by my time in the patternmaking department at Anna Sui, I purchased this beautiful fabric 

100% Silk - Gorgeous

Unintentionally the same colour scheme - 100% Cotton

The Interns corner

the evolution on post-it

....to design this wee blouse I sketched up during a quiet moment between tracing off patterns and photocopying spec sheets.

Months later, it’s nearly a year since I arrived in NY to live my life a Newyorker in fashion.,  on returning to Australia, I’ve taken time out and 'waltzed' once again with costume, but the 'tango' of Fashion has seduced me back to create.

So I thought I would blog my way through the realization of this wee blouse. 

I’ve decided to call it the Jennifer blouse!

So where have I started. 

As I said, my inspiration has come from the amazing pattern makers at Anna Sui,

Make a front from an existing block in calico

Pin the top onto the mannequin & 

Draw the design onto the toile. (Once I am happy I will cut and add seam allowance to another toile)

Make the centre tab and bunny ears

Experiment how to attach the ‘bunny ears’

 I attempted 4 different styles and have opted for inserting 
the ties into a seam that will be attached to the neck band.

At this stage I will use a button hole tie rather 
than knot so that the bunny ears will sit just so.

The tie through will be hidden by a piped from tab 
that will be held down by a decorative button.

Or should I just  knot the fabric?

What do you think - feed back welcome?

So far so good. will Blog as and when I find the time to progress.

Fashion Is my Lover

It started with the necklace!

I once said to my family, I’m don’t do fashion, I do style, My brother      burst out laughing saying that was the most pretentious fashion thing I could say. The fact is it’s true, some would describe me as fashionable, I can be if the fashion suits me but what is more important to me is that the outfit goes together , its coordinated or the clash is complimenting the outfit not at war with it.

So what am I going on about? After nearly a year of no blogging I’m back here thinking  - ‘ok what have I read about making you blog exciting, readable. How do I get a following’.

I‘m thinking:

It’s a full time job - I work full time

I need to create a new collection

I need to market myself differently to get the customers.

So what should I write about, my time at Anna Sui as an intern, no not now maybe soon

The Wizard of Oz – since May this has taken up my time. The opportunity to costume a full musical has been energizing. But that old lover of my life beckons, it whispers, it seduces me back to the fold. Fashion is calling me once again.

So I ‘ve decided to write about Fashion – my lover,

I've ‘googled’ this and found blog sites entitled ‘a fashion love affair’ or 'passion for fashion' or statements such as 'Fashion Is My One Love'.

From as long as I could hold a pencil in my hand, I chose to sit in the corner drawing, designing, putting my creative ideas down on paper. I slept with Cinerella under the pillow, it was the dresses I loved and memorized each one by heart.

It’s always been there, the designs fly about in my head, the cut of a skirt the detail on a collar, its all there crying out to be created. So I entered the world of fashion and the reality was anything but beautiful. The insecurities of the fashionistas, the greed of the manufacturers and monotony of the day robbed me of the joy.

So I went done other paths, styling, costume and teaching, but still Fashion whispered in my soul. I’ve often heard other fashion designers say I love fashion I just don’t like the industry. I know what they mean!

So after my internship at the age of 43 having had 20 years of life experience, I walked away disillusioned, but very satisfied it was off the bucket list, Fashion went into hibernation, but now it is spring, and its woken up. So what will this new season bring?

High Tea me thinks. I’ve had my ramble, I have no answers but I’m looking forward to having that love affair with fashion all over again.