Dreaming in coral

It seems like winter is just going to stick around forever...but while I'm snowed in, at least I can get a head start on all the spring dresses I've been thinking about!  And of course, the color that makes me feel the springiest (I'm sure that's not a word) is CORAL.  I love coral; it looks great on everyone; it brings a little color to those pasty winter cheeks; it's feminine but not overly sweet; and it has a hint of summer beaches and nautical seaside.  What could be more perfect to drag a person out of the winter doldrums?

So with this coral obsession of mine, I started with my Celine dress and made it in a gorgeous pinky coral--almost a tea rose color.  I love the Celine dress for multiple reasons--the gathering detail at the v-neckline, the little gathered cap sleeves, and of course the POCKETS!  

Well it would be selfish of me to hog all this coral deliciousness for myself, and you know who else loves the Celine dress?  My little sis!  I wish I had more fully documented her outfit, because she was so super sassy with a wide brown belt for some waist-cinching action, cognac brown platform sandals and our favorite Coach purse of all time.  Adorable!  But when I say I have a coral obsession, I don't mean just one dress.  Stay tuned, there's more...

Blue belle

You know the saying: "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue--and a penny in my shoe!"  My brilliant customer Laura came up with a gorgeous concept for her wedding gown that incorporates the "something blue" in a unique and absolutely lovely way: she found a white cotton eyelet fabric with the most delicate hint of sky blue in the embroidery.  The result?  One of my new favorite dress designs!

Laura's original dress design concept was inspired by a dress she found on a site that I absolutely love, Thread.  The Thread design aesthetic--simple, feminine dresses in high quality fabrics at reasonable prices--hits very close to my heart!  And I have to say I love their use of seersucker--but I digress. :-)  Laura fell in love with a strapless full-length gown with a tiered ruffled skirt, but wanted the dress made in a more mermaid-style silhouette with graduated length ruffles--and of course in her size and with her sweet blue and white eyelet fabric!  I was up for the challenge.

 

Laura's finished gown came out even better than I could have expected!  We lowered the starting point of the ruffles and made the skirt a bit more fitted in order to gain the fit-and-flare shape that a mermaid gown must have.  The gown has a built-in bustier--comfortable and secure, and so much more convenient than wearing a separate strapless bra!  I ended up doing an interlining in the skirt and organza underlining in the ruffles to achieve the mermaid shape at the bottom of the skirt.  Sooooo pretty!  Laura tells me that she's having a little blue shrug sweater made to match the dress, which will be just the perfect accent to this sweet dress.  I can't wait to see the whole ensemble all put together!  Congratulations and best wishes, Laura!

Indie rock star eco chic

I first met Heather almost a year ago via Alchemy on Etsy.  She was looking for a unique wedding gown--a dress that would incorporate both her taste for retro design and her desire to have a completely eco-friendly wedding.
The original conception for Heather's dress was a simple 1920's style gown with a dropped ruched waistband, wide v-neckline and softly draped chiffon overdress.  I found the most amazing source for organic, fairly traded and sustainable fabrics, NearSea Naturals, which has since become one of my favorite fabric suppliers.  We ordered a length of their absolutely gorgeous, luminous peace silk and a length of the feather-light, delicately sheer chiffon.  The fabrics arrived and they were just so beautiful, I was almost afraid to cut them!
Next came many months of design contemplation.  Heather and I traded ideas; I sketched out possibilities; then one day, Heather found THE dress (or at least, THE dress bodice): a Dessy design with a deep v-neckline and mirrored deep-v back, lovely double chiffon ruffles all along the bodice gently cascading over the shoulders, and ruching over the bust and waistline.

We initially planned to add a simple tea-length or ankle-length sheath style bias-cut skirt, but then inspiration struck again: Heather saw a gorgeous white dress with the most amazingly retro-modern-urban-chic pencil skirt.  Since the groom will be wearing a bespoke fitted suit and looking every inch the indie rock star, it was a must that Heather be just as stylin'! (Luckily I hadn't cut the skirt out yet!)  After some more tweaks to the bodice design to make it just right for Heather, this gorgeous dress was done.  I can't wait to see how it looks on the lovely bride!

Esme Illuminated

It is always incredibly rewarding to see my creations brought to life by the gorgeous ladies who wear them, so I was thrilled to receive photos from one of my first bridal clients last night--the inspiration behind the Esme gown!  As you can see from the photos, I couldn't have asked for a lovelier bride or a more obviously over-the-moon couple. The joy radiating from these two is absolutely magical--it just goes to show how even a beautiful garment can look even better when worn by just the right person. 

The only word to describe the Esme gown is luminous. It was a joy to work with this luscious, luxurious ivory crepe-backed silk satin: soft, cool and fluid with a subtle sheen as though lit from within. The pearl-like glow seems to catch all of the light around it, reflecting up onto the skin. And could Esme be more 1930s glamor girl gorgeous?  It reminds me of a gown you would see in a photo of 1930s movie starlet Barbara Stanwyck...  

Luscious 100% silk crepe backed satin is amazingly soft and fluid, perfectly complementing the streamlined 1930s-inspired elegance of the design. The deep, slightly sweetheart shaped V-neckline frames the face beautifully, while the back dips dramatically in true starlet style. The gored skirt is fitted at the hip and flares out just above the knee, creating the most beautiful rippling movement as you walk. With a sweep length train, fully lined in 100% silk charmeuse with an underskirt of 100% silk organza, this gown would be perfect for a classically elegant vintage-inspired wedding or as a sleek and comfortable reception dress.  Congratulations to the lovely couple!

Sweet Emmeline

The Emmeline dress has been one of my most popular and most requested designs. It all started with a light, sweet vintage-inspired dress in navy blue cotton batiste. Feminine yet tailored, with a sweet and subtle vintage allure, the Emmeline dress would have been a young lady's favorite summer dress back in the late 1930's or early 1940's: pretty and proper enough to wear to church, but with a face-framing neckline and nipped-in waist perfect for an evening with your sweetheart. Puffed sleeves, loop-over button closures, dainty mother-of-pearl buttons and a gathered ruffle at the neckline add retro charm.

As I began making the Emmeline dress for my clients, the design evolved and was refined: I added princess seaming to the bodice as an extra figure-flattering detail; I increased the number of dainty little buttons and a placket for modesty; AND I added pockets! I began making the dress in cotton poplin instead of batiste because I liked the crisp look of the poplin; the poplin is also opaque, so lining the bodice was no longer necessary. Less bulk=tinier waist=gorgeous retro hourglass silhouette!

As the weather began getting colder, I was completely enamored with warm, rich fabrics--particularly this lovely charcoal gray flannel suiting fabric. It seemed perfect for a warmer fall/winter version of the Emmeline! You can see the princess seaming detail in this photo, along with the gathered elbow-length sleeves. Vintage silver-toned filigree buttons add a perfect touch of fancy.

And finally--at last! The latest edition of our lovely Emmeline in crisp, diamond white bridal-weight cotton sateen. A softly pleated ruffle at the neckline frames the face beautifully, while the short puffed sleeves and gorgeous (and completely functional!) loop-over fabric covered buttons lend vintage charm. The nipped in waist, princess seaming and full gathered skirt fit and flatter in all the right places--perfect for combining a gorgeous hourglass silhouette with maximum comfort. The best part? Emmeline has side on-seam pockets! Absolutely perfect for outdoor weddings and for the bride with retro flair, I'll be offering the bridal Emmeline ivory and cream sateen as well. I'm so excited about this newest Emmeline that I'm thinking of making one for my wedding in May!

Back to the blog

It's been quite a while--time for an update! Wow, has my little dressmaking business taken off! I am so incredibly humbled and grateful to all of the lovely people who have trusted me to make dresses for them. It's been a very busy last few months, and this spring/summer season is shaping up to be even busier!

I've added many new designs to my collection, and I'm also branching out more extensively into custom bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses. So exciting! I love all the lush, rich fabrics and the beautiful designs. I'm planning to use this blog to keep brides (and their families, friends, co-workers, etc) updated on the progress of their custom gowns. The creative process behind designing a bride's dream wedding gown is so much fun, and it is always a pleasure to work with someone and help make her vision a reality! Stop back by and visit often--I'll be posting sketches, photos, and inspiration boards as frequently as I can.