Dress Making Report: De-constructed Wedding Dress

Last year, a friend of mine gave me her wedding dress from the 90's and told me to use it to my hearts content. I completely changed the entire look of it! A client came to my house to discuss, the dress for two weddings, and fell in love with what I had started doing with it. I have now finished the dress and will be having our final fitting today, she will be able to take it home and wear it where ever she thinks it will be perfect for.  We will be doing a photo shoot with 'Michelle Liane Photography', including the hat I created last July in the shoot, so stay tuned for those lovely photos. 

 

Farmers Market: Apron

My most recent completed project, was a vintage apron, made for a very special farm wife. Also I am so in love with her farmers market in Milton. They have the best fresh vegetables and amazing homemade preserves, I am greatly found of the zucchini pickles.  If you are ever in the Milton area or just looking for a lovely scenic drive, I suggest Marshall's Real Farmers Market.

It was great that Marissa asked me to create this for her after my drafting class because I had to create the pattern from scratch. I used this tiny little picture I had found on the back of an old vintage pattern and did my best to make it as accurate as possible. She was so happy with the outcome of this apron and I am so excited to make more!

Photo Shoot: Marilyn Monroe Inspiration

Recently I did a photo shoot with my amazing photographer friend Michelle Gerovac. It was a ton of fun and wonderful to pose from the inspiration of Marilyn Monroe's famous, ballerina photographs. She is so beautiful and these pictures are my very favourite of all her photos. The idea came to mind after the deconstruction of my cousins wedding dress, when I decided to make a tulle skirt out of the tulle from the dress. It is actually two separate pieces as I will be returning the top to my cousin, but together they are gorgeous and I had to take the opportunity to capture them as one.  I am extremely pleased with the out come of this shoot and would like to thank 'Michelle Liane Photography' with all my heart.

Drafting: The Perfect Fit Tailoring Course

Since January 19th I have been taking a little online drafting course to begin making my own patterns. I am so happy to say that with finishing this course I have learned how to make patterns with my own measurements along with copying my favourite fashions to recreate them in different fabrics. It feels so great to submit my final project with confidence, growing my skills in all that I do is so important. Here's to many more patterns and lots of fun!

This circle skirt pattern I made from my own waist measurements, I am so excited to use this as I can make any length, and use it for making layered or ruffled skirts. 

The bodice, sleeve and pants that I created needed to be adjusted a lot after I went to put them together. Once I re-did my measurements and did some minor alterations, each piece fit very well.

For my final project,  we had to take something from our closets that could be redesigned and create something fresh and new. I had this little red dress that was so comfortable (from when I was 18!), and created a totally different piece. I am proud of this one, using the skills learned, I was able to tailor it to fit me like a glove. Let me just say the judy (mannequin) doesn't do it justice. 

The 2015 Oscars: My Favourite Dresses of the Night

Rita Ora
 in Marchesa

I thought it was so completely necessary for me, being a dress designer, to choose my favourite dresses from the 2015 Oscars. Now my choices aren't based primarily on the look, as the construction is one of my main focuses. Some of these amazing pieces I'm sure took hours, days, even weeks to create and for that I think they should be honored. Also, these amazing women who are wearing them, look fabulous, whether it is your cup of tea or not. I love red carpets, they bring out some amazing fashions!

Anna Kendrick
 in Thakoon

America Ferrera
in Jenny Packham

Giuliana Rancic 

in Mireille Dagher

Jamie Chung Yanina
Couture dress

Jenna Dewan-Tatum
in Zuhair Murad

 

Jennifer Lopez
 in Elie Saab

Zoe Saldana
in Atelier Versace

Laura Dern
in vintage Alberta Ferretti

  

Lupita Nyong'o 

in Calvin Klein

Emma Stone
in Ellie Saab

Jennifer Aniston 

in Versace

Lady Gaga
in Alaia Azzedine

Scarlett Johansson
 in Versace