Alterations meets Reinvention

I used to say that I would rather make something from scratch then take something apart and alter it. but this has a very narrow definition of "alter". That alteration is like, replacing a zipper or making something a little bigger or smaller.

Lately I have been working on projects where "altering" the garment means recreating it. For these currant projects are taking older, vintage dresses and turning them into something new for new celebrations. It's really fun to see these kinds of family history be passed down and then updated for a new generation and new memories. Giving these dresses a new life. It reminds me of the pieces I made for last September's Fashion Night Out.

So with Oscar night and the party that went with it last weekend, I was inspired to revisit some old "reinvention projects" that have been neglected in my studio. (Going to a party is the best motivation.) This originally was a skirt sample that I got years ago when I freelanced at Jcrew, too pretty to decline even though it was 3 sizes too big. I opted to turn it into a dress, obviously...

(I'm not so photogenic these days...)

I did this once before with another skirt I got during the same time. This one I added the bodice to make the skirt into a dress. The beading and detail in this piece was too brilliant to turn down just because it was much too big. (The beading also made the idea of just fitting the skirt a very daunting task... much more fun to add a bodice and call it a dress!)

(You'd trust me at your wedding with a camera, wouldn't you?)

Brings the idea of recycling to a whole new level, yes?

More snow....

Yesterday it was about 8 degrees.

Weeks ago my sister and I were having this discussion, how do you dress to stay warm and still feel cute even when wearing long johns? I even read an article on the New York Times Fashion & Style page about how long johns are making a come back. But mostly it was talking about for men's wear. Doesn't really help me and my sister. I have a friend that designs long johns for women, from her stories, her sales people don't think people like us want well fitting, cute, long johns. I want to sign a petition that we do! She's a very talented designer, please let her design something awesome!

Dressing warm and feeling good is a pretty constant discussion in the winter (for me at least). And this winter in particular has been colder and snowing more then most of my New York life. Today it's a balmy 32 degrees and I'm watching big fluffy snow flakes falling outside my windows.

A couple of weeks ago, inspired by wearing something warm and not wearing pants, I made this heavy wool pencil skirt. I lined it in silk. So now my question is, where are the long johns that come just to my knees? What do you wear to stay warm?

(I promise I did not leave my house with bare legs.) (shoes by K* for Spring 11)

More Pants!

As I mentioned in November, my pants assignment is to make cute, warm winter pants. So here is the newest pair. (I have not yet mastered the art of photographing myself in clothes.) After finishing these, I was discussing the things I wanted to change with a couple of my design school friends and my friend Jenn suggested a correction that hit me like, "ohhh yeah!". Now I'm itching to make more, to see how these little tweaks will change the fit. (I love the experimenting part.)

Also, all these snow storms are a big inspiration for more winter clothes....

New year, new adventures...

(this image above is from the steam whistles at Pratt, it's a Brooklyn New Years tradition)

New years is my favorite holiday. Hands down. I like all of it, new years eve, new years day, new years resolutions.... What I love about it is it's so simple. It's just a celebration of time. One year is over and we're on to the next. It's the newness I love, like a new sketch book, the year and often in New York the city is all white and blank.

It makes me feel really optimistic. Also it's an excuse to make a new party dress.

So for this year, I'm making 2 sets of new years resolutions, 1 set for my life and 1 set for my studio. So far for my studio, my resolutions are to:

1) make more. and post more about what I'm making more of.

2) take on more projects that make me nervous, these projects always end up teaching me so much.

3) Try more of the "I'm not sure that will work" variety, just to see what will happen. (I think I started this one while working on my new years eve party dress. . .I'm still not sure what will happen with it.)

That's it. I like to keep the resolution list short, makes it all feel more achievable.

My parting thought, and maybe my mantra this year, is this:

I love this, I found it on pinterest, but it is actually from madebysean.com. It's right up there with my other favorite new poster, the "You will have your cake and eat it too" one my sister found on Esty.

I don't think these count as resolutions, maybe they are just reminders to do what I love and see what happens. I guess, in a nutshell, that is the resolution... to do more of what I love and see what happens...

Here's to a wonderful new year! cheers, xophae

Chuppah ideas to finished curtain . . .

I thought you'd like to see how this curtain turned out. One of the things I enjoy about it is I can tie it back where ever I want, the "holes" make for perfect loops to tie it back.

cheers!

It is cocktail party season...

Years ago a co-worker of mine asked if I would copy her favorite vintage bag so she could give them as gifts for the holidays. I obviously said yes, it's so fun to get to investigate vintage pieces I don't have the patience to shop/hunt for. We did modify the proportions some, shorten the bag, lengthen the handle..

As I was cleaning out my studio, I found my pattern pieces and the half finished one I had started to make for myself. So, I finished it up and here it is, just in time for all the holiday parties!

One of the things I love about this design is (if it's not clear from the photos) it's totally reversible. I love a good stripe lining and in this case it makes for a great option, something to add to your little black holiday ensemble. The other thing that I love about this design, is how you arm slips into the handle, the arm opening is the same as the opening to put things into the bag. Brilliant. So easy to hold the bag while also holding a drink and . . . whatever else you fancy, something to eat, your sweetheart's hand .. . . :)

It's nice, yes?

Chuppah ideas lead to all kinds of things...

I really love collaborations. I know I must say this all the time. But it's really one of my favorite parts of working on design projects. I also, really enjoy getting involved with projects that I normally don't know anything about.

Recently I've been helping a friend create a chuppah for her sister's wedding. We had lots of conversations about possibilities for the design of the sides that would be draped down around the poles that hold up the canopy, one of the options involved cutting the fabric into a vaguely organic lace-like pattern.

I started a mock up, to see how it could look and how long it might take, as we don't have that much time before the wedding. While we decided this idea won't ultimately work due to the time crunch, I liked the idea so much I came home and kept working on the first curtain.

I love the way the cut pieces hang down and the light filters through. I've decided to use my mock up as a curtain in my bedroom since I only have one window, this mock up will work quite nicely.

In the mean time, I totally want to try this for a party dress, so many ideas of what to do with this kind of texture in a dress, something with a lining....

You see way I love collaborations, such fun things comes of it.