Fashion!

Thursday Threads: Fashion

  I am not much of a fashion designer, however, I do love fashion anyways.  I like to think I am fairly decent at picking out my clothing when I actually try (There are some days where I just don't really care).

   I set to looking about for blogs on fashion that might interest me.  Through Networked Blogs I found one that at actually inspired me to go shopping today.  This outfit is what did it. I really want this sweater in red.  Apparently though, red is not in fashion right now.  I had a hard time finding anything of a loud, bright color. 

  Things I noticed that are definitely in fashion right now:  frilly shirts, pale colors (like purples, pinks, some yellows), A LOT of greys, blacks and dark muted colors.  I may just not have ever noticed before, but almost the entire Ladies section was dark and a little drab as far as color.  It's getting cold out and soon it will snow and the weather will be drab enough for everyone.  Color is definitely needed during the colder months to bring in a little bit of brightness.

   During my shopping spree (I had a gift card from my birthday), I ended on only two items.  A pair of new wedge heeled winter-ish boots (which I could wear FOREVER! So cute! So comfy!) and an amazing blanket sweater of greys, oranges and yellows and generally out of my budget.  Also, this sweater was only left in the size XL, apparently popular, and I can see why.  It is luxuriously soft, it reminds me of a soft blanket I passed up in Ireland.

   I will be comfortable all fall and winter in this.

   In final news: Come and see the MN Princesses & Co. in the Anoka Halloween Parade! Main Street in Anoka, 1:00 pm Saturday, Oct 29th!

Matrinmony Monday: Illusion Necklines

  A popular look for the Spring 2012 wedding line is the Illusion Neckline.  Sheer, elegant and modest, this look could revolutionize the wedding gown industry for the next year, eliminating the strapless gown or at least providing a wider array of options for a more elegant look.

  Brides.com has an article on the wave of Illusion Neckline dresses throughout the Spring 2012 collections, the photo above being just one example (Designed by Reema Acra) of the collection of dresses they chose to advertise.

  As a designer and dress maker, I love what this addition does to a very simple design. I had something similar with my wedding gown last year with my sheer v-neck tulle straps. 

  The best word I can think of to describe the Illusion Neckline is Elegant, which is what I believe every wedding gown should be.  A wedding gown, in my opinion, should not be too showy, revealing or sexy, save that for the wedding night.  Shine in your wedding gown and embrace wearing something you can't every day, and take a chance on a unique, elegant design, you might find a feeling of luxuriousness that you didn't expect.

Thursday Threads: 5 Hands, 1 Hem

Is it weird that today I got sort of an adrenaline rush when there were 5, yes 5, of us all hand sewing around the hem of an evening gown to get it finished in time for the dress rehearsal? I felt a little giddy afterward.

The MN Opera's Cosi Fan Tutte opens this weekend. It will hopefully be a fun, smooth run. The costume shop has been down to the wire, finishing hems and fixing ballgowns for opening night, when the two leading ladies will literally shine and sparkle on stage. The costume designer for this has also designed some gowns for Disney World, of which I am completely jealous. The fabric that my team used to create the blue ballgown for Fleurdiligi is the same fabric that Cinderella dons at the park to greet many a Disney fan.

Fun Fact about this show: one of the 4 main characters is named Guglielmo.

Monday Matrimony: Start a new trend

I have often said that I believe wedding gowns to be just another costume. It's a dress you wear once, often extravagant and fits with your special day.

I love wedding gowns.

I love looking through my social networking sites and visiting the photo albums that lead me to wonderful pictures of beautiful women in white.

One of my goals at the moment is to design a small line of gowns that are inspired by Disney Princesses. I have been on a huge Disney kick lately and this would be another great way to make more pretty dresses!

Thursday Threads: Jasmine

I have a tendency to forget to update, so I am going to start updating every Thursday with Thursday Threads of current and future projects I am and intend to work on.

Currently, I am starting extremely early for CONvergence next year with a Belly Dancing princess: Jasmine (above). I've collaborated with my friend, Lea, who did the beautiful drawings and pretty much all the designs for the skit. I will be seamstress extraordinaire, helping make all the costumes (7 total) and also collaborate with the choreography.

We are taking various princesses and adapting them for Egyptian belly dance style costumes. I barely had enough fabric to cut my harem pants, but (as Tim Gunn advises) I made it work!