Christina's Fourth of July Wedding!

I'm not always invited to the weddings I design dresses for, in this case however, the Bride is a good friend of mine and Joe's (who took all these beautiful images!). For this wedding, not only were we invited, I was also invited to help her get ready. 

Their love story is really so touching. Christina and her now husband John, met in the 80's, back then, they were together for years and John actually proposed. However, she said no. They broke up, John moved away. Then 25 years later, they were back in touch, and he proposed AGAIN! and this time, she said YES!

Really it was such an honor to be present for a day that was so long in coming.

Anyway, since I was going to be there, we decided to put the final ironing off until the day of, so her cotton sateen dress would be as fresh as possible. Since the groom was still present when we arrived, I was ironing in her bathroom so he couldn't see the dress! (You know this is a nice New York apartment when there is room for an ironing board in the bathroom! Christina is an architect.)

And I was able to add the last finishing detail, a silk organza and haboti flower to the neckline/collar.

Here's her dress, a beautiful lilac cotton sateen with cotton voile sleeves, the collar and cuffs were silk organza.

The Bride! We choose cotton for this dress since they planned their fourth of July wedding in Central Park. It's always a challenge to be comfortable and look lovely when it's hot outside, but I think we found a great balance.

Jessica the hair and make-up stylist and I collaborated on fixing Christina's veil, sometimes the best thing for veils like this is to just work the tulle into the hair style and fix it with hair pins. For her veil, somehow I'd found vintage silk birdcage tulle the exact color of her dress. We decided to layer this lilac tulle on an ivory tulle and keep them together. It really created a great color. I love layering tulles, it reminds me of watercolors.

You can tell Christina trusted me, as I cut away the ends of the tulle while it was already fixed in her hair!

And here is the happy couple! before and after the wedding! It's true that when you're truly happy, it doesn't matter how hot it is outside! It also seems to be true, that when two people belong together, they will end up together... :) Don't they just look so lovely?! 

Then a few days later, they hosted a lovely reception. For this, we took some pieces she found and rebuilt them, they turned out so well. This outfit is almost like an old fashioned trousseau, now she has some great summer pieces to go out on the town with her new husband!

Here's to many years of much joy and love to come! Cheers Christina and John!

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

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

Keiko's Orange Dress with Navy Fascinator

 I just got these amazing photos from my photographer, Joe Tanis and I'm so excited to share them!

Keiko needed a dress this summer to go to a wedding in Japan, we talked about me making her a fascinator and I did (see below), it kind of inspired our Fascinator Making Workshop, but then we also got on about what she would wear with this fascinator and one thing lead to another and well, we both thought she needed this...

Someday I will make a post about the original dress that keeps inspiring new versions, but for now, I think this might be one of my favorites! This is one pattern piece, it's a wrap dress. This one is in a lovely 4-ply silk crepe.

 And I love how the orange dress and navy fascinator look so elegant on her! Really it can be so fun to wear color!

You may remember the fascinator from our flyer... :)

It's always so fun to work with clients that want a little adventure in their party clothes... I'm totally for adventurous party clothes!