Happy Valentines Day!

Well hello strangers. I've been neglectful of this blog. So where to start to sum up?

Basically, I fell in love. Am in love....

December was a wild kind of month, I was working on a bunch of custom projects and I launched and completed my You Will Have Your Cake and Eat it too Campaign on Kickstarter. As soon as that finished, I went with my most amazing boyfriend to meet his family for the holidays. We came back to Brooklyn and as I was mulling over my New Years ideas and new designs, my most amazing boyfriend put a ring on my finger.

 (Photo by Joe Tanis)

We met at my sister's kitchen table. But we became friends working on photo shoots together. See above.

(me plus Joe!)

I'm now finding myself in the most interesting place as a wedding dress designer. I've been designing and sketching lots of dresses for the You Will Have Your Cake and Eat it too collection. But now, I'm also thinking about what a bride might want from a brand new place.

Will I design and make my own dress? Yes. Will it be white/ivory/cream? No. One of my top commitments in designing dresses for weddings, has always been that people end up feeling and looking like themselves, their very best selves. I don't feel so much like myself in white/ivory/cream. It has also been lovingly pointed out to me that because I am so pale, I look terrible in it. So there's that.

Am I telling what color it will be or will look like? No. You all will have to wait same as the groom to see it. :)

My theme this year is You Will Have Your Cake and Eat it too! (Its also the year of the Dragon. (I'm a dragon!)) I'll keep you all posted on the collection! and on all the Cake!

Wishing you lots of love for Valentine's day! xoxophae

Cake for everyone!

Where do I start? I love getting to design and make things for people. I meet the most amazing people doing what I do.

(photo by me at my sister Briana's wedding 2005)

And it seems a little silly sometimes, that I just want to spend my day playing with fabric. I admit I talk to the fabric and the dresses. Designing feels like a conversation with the materials.

So when I started this whole Kickstarter Campaign, I was sure I would make my goal, somehow. I thought everyone would give me $15. And I was so excited by that! What I didn't realize was how much everyone else wants to see me succeed.

Now, designing feels like a conversation with a community. And I love that. I have 6 more days to reach my goal and it is so close!

I have spent the last 2 weeks just being floored by the love and support.

With my heart in my throat, Thank you. I can't wait to show you all what we've created!

Originally, my inspiration was Nora Charles (or Myrna Loy, depends on how you look at it!) from the The Thin Man movies from the 30's and 40's. Now I think my inspiration is a little bit Nora Charles and a little bit of everyone that's contributed in thought, spirit and backing.

What will you all wear to the party? And what kind of cake should we have?!


xoxophae

You Will Have Your Cake And Eat It Too.

It's no secret that when I started my studio last summer I wasn't at all sure what I wanted it to do or be. And I've just been making things and saying yes to projects for the research, just discovering what I want to create.

What do I want this studio to be like? Look like? What do I want to offer to people? Do I want to do only custom projects? Or, do I want to do some designs that are ready to wear?

So I've come up with some answers to some of these questions. I'm making a line, a proper line of wedding and party dresses.

My goal is somewhere between 6 and 12 dresses. (I like to have some flexibility.) When these samples are complete, I'm hiring Joe Tanis to shot my look book.

And today, I launched my Kickstarter campaign to help fund all of this! From fabric and materials for the production of the samples to Joe's photography and the model that will wear all the dresses in the photos.

I would LOVE LOVE LOVE your support!

Check out my Kickstarter project here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/290059773/you-will-have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too

Thanks and Cheers! Phaedra

"Take My Picture!"

Um, it's no secret that I've been working with Mr. Joe Tanis for my Photography. I met Joe at my sister's kitchen table. (I meet the coolest people there.) And we started talking, he's a photographer that wants to take editorial photos of brides and I'm a designer that works with brides, one thing leads to another and we have some really fun photo shoots and Voila! Suddenly I have all these amazing photos of my work! This one above is one of my favorites. I love the mood....

What I know about really good photography is that it tells a beautiful story. And Joe Tanis is a great story teller with his photography. You might not know this about me, but I actually got my first degree in Photography, I know how difficult it is to tell really great stories with pictures. It is so difficult that I became a designer instead. Turns out I'm better at telling stories with fabric and clothes. My education left me with a profound appreciation for the people that do it much better then me.

There's so much that goes into really good photography, the lighting, the composition, getting the model to relax, the photo retouching so everything is perfect, all of it works together to tell a story.

On Tuesday and Wednesday Dec 6th & 7th, he's creating a portrait studio to work with people one on one and photograph them. He's created this branding photography event to work with people to help them tell the story they want their pictures to tell. If you need your business or your portrait to tell a new (or better?) story, check out his event here.

He's also offering a Thanksgiving discount ($150.00 off), use discount code: "Thanksgivingdiscount"

Check out his event, pass it along to people you like that need awesome photos. You could pass it along to people you don't like too, but generally anyone you like, must be an awesome someone to photo.... :)

cheers! xophae

Nov. 30, UPDATE
Joe updated his day, do you're own hair and make-up and the total cost is $150, he's got a new discount code that is "friends" I think, it's listed in his link to the event. links above still work! Or let me know if they don't and I'll get you the link directly!

xophae

Party Hats for Party Season

With Thanksgiving this week, I keep thinking of what kind of hat I can wear to dinner. And then, what kind of hat can I wear to the Holiday parties this year... I love this one. I love the way it moves and I love the idea of wearing a pale peach hat with a navy or black dress and enjoying the contrast.

This fascinator is really bridal, and I love that about it, but I also love the idea of wearing light colored party fascinators even in the winter.

I just added both of these to my Etsy shop. The peaches and cream one at the top is a one of a kind. Ready to send out if you need something right now for you're next party. And this white petal one is made to order. So, even if you don't want to wear white in winter (it is a real winter white, no rule breaking on this one) I can make one in what ever color you fancy for your holiday party. Remember Keiko's? She wanted it in navy, black and silver with the tulle and it turned out just as festive and lovely! 

(all photos by Joe Tanis Photography)

What are you planning for your festive attire this year? 

Happy Thanksgiving! xophae

The Genius of Raven & Crow

As a designer I am really clear about what I am good at and what I love and where I'm not so fluent. I often say, "design is design is design", meaning, a good designer can learn to design anything well.

I've spent 20 years designing and making just about everything I can think of. However, I am not a graphic designer. Which is exactly why when I wanted to give my studio a proper logo I called someone that does what I do, but as a graphic designer.

I met Troy and Katie of Raven & Crow through a friend at a bar one sunny afternoon in Brooklyn and loved loved loved their business cards. They are also some of the loveliest people ever.

You can see why I love my logo so very much! They actually finished this for me many moons ago, so this update to my blog header and showing off the logo like this is long over due.

But don't you love it? Aren't they so good? geniuses....

I'm still just so delighted with it.

Adding Dresses to Etsy

Photos by Joe Tanis Photography

Today I've added a new dress to my Esty shop.

So I've been playing around with this design, bias cut little shift dress with the contrast straps and belt. Originally I made it out of cotton twill, this one is in silk twill with the grosgrain ribbon contrast trim. I love working with designs that I can make in various fabrics to see how it shifts and changes.

What would you like to see it made up in, something more bridally? or as a little black dress? I could also go the other way and make it up in a lovely suiting wool, with a jacket or cardigan it would be a great dress for work and going out after, yes?

:) xophae

 shoes and fascinator also by me