On the latest episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the contestants met with designer Michael Kors, who told them that much of his work had been influenced by places he’d visited around the world. Each designer chose one from a group of cities and created a look inspired by that location. They were given a paragraph about their city and a couple of photos for guidance.
Rather than pick one of the choices from the show, I asked Tim to name a random city. His suggestion: Amsterdam. Located in the province of Holland, Amsterdam is the cultural and financial center of The Netherlands. Holland is a place that appeals to me for personal reasons. During World War II, my father (a U.S. soldier) was for a time behind German lines there and was taken care of and hidden by a Dutch family.
From the Wikipedia section on Amsterdam fashion:
Fashion brands like G-star, Gsus, BlueBlood, 10 feet and Warmenhoven & Venderbos, and fashion designers like Mart Visser, Viktor & Rolf, Marlies Dekkers and Frans Molenaar are based in Amsterdam. Modeling agencies Elite Models, Touche models and Tony Jones have opened branches in Amsterdam. Supermodels Yfke Sturm, Doutzen Kroes and Kim Noorda started their careers in Amsterdam. Amsterdam has its garment center in the World Fashion Center. Buildings which were formerly housing brothels in the red light district, have been converted to ateliers for young, up-and-coming fashion designers.
An Amsterdam location that caught my attention is Negen Straatjes: nine narrow streets with a large number of privately owned shops, many of which sell vintage fashion.
These are the two pictures that inspired my design this week:
a Belgian fauvist painter and sculptor who lived and died in Amsterdam:
Two Women Sewing in Front of the Window
And a trendy accessories shop in the Negen Straatjes district:
I loved the bold flowers.
But the design’s gray roses also reminded me of the historical Amsterdam of black-and-white photos. I imagined Mattel Top Model Lacy finding this 1950s-style dress in one of Negen Straatjes’s resale boutiques.
Then I created appropriate accessories for the dress, including:
The earrings and necklace.
A belt.
A pair of green slides after the original Mattel Barbie shoes,
enhanced with emerald crystals and gold threading.
Lacy and I have to dash out–but I’ll see you next time on the runway!
To see my previous designs for this season:
6:9–Sequins, Feathers and Fur, Oh My!
6:8–A Fashionable New Beginning
6:7–The Sky’s the Limit
6:6–Lights, Camera, Sew!
6:5–Fashion Headliners
6:4–What a Woman Wants
6:3–Rumble on the Runway
6:2–We Expect Fashion
6:1–The Red Carpet
Normally, i am not a fan of big freaking roses, but I really like the fabric that you choose and I can definitely see why you were reminded of the painting. I like the vintage look and I think that the belt adds to the look, not dominates – a lesson a certain contestant could learn from you
Next to the gypsy dress I would have to say this is a close second to my favorite dress from you this season.
Thanks! Normally, I’m not a fan of big freaking roses, either, and I usually try to keep patterns as close to the 1:6 scale as I can for the dolls. Occasionally, a fabric just calls for an exception, and this was one of those times.
This one is definitely one of my favorites. That fabric matches the cut perfectly.
Thank you, ma’am. =) It’s always fun to me that you usually see these designs start in person, but generally see the finish when I post.
Thank goodness for that Dutch family!
The colors this week are mouth-watering, very much like that boutique. That dress is no one else’s but Lacy’s.
Thank goodness for that Dutch family!
Indeed! One of my cousins (thirty years older than I am–and I mean that seriously, and not in “I’m 35!” years) maintained an ongoing correspondence with the Dutch family after the war.
Thanks for the compliments. Before I even picked fabric or found my inspiration, I’d decided on Lacy as my model. She’s such a beauty.
I was wondering where you were going with the fabric and design. Nice. And your story? Not bullshit at all. 😉
Thank you. (We will discuss my super power in a more private conversation–I don’t want the entire Internet to know how well I can bullsh…uh….never mind)…
That fabirc is awesome. I really like the simplicity of the style,here too.
Thanks, Gary!
Lovely inspirations, my dear. And the dress? A Dutch confection. Delish!
Your compliments are like a comforting hug on a rainy day. Thank you.
You know, the attention to detail is what amazes me in your gorgeous creations. Of course, since you’re a writer, I shouldn’t be surprised in the least.
Thank you so much. And what a sassy user pic. =)
flowers
Nice!!
PS- check out today’s (oct 27th) clos to home comic 🙂
http://www.gocomics.com/closetohome/
Re: flowers
Thanks! And ha! on the comic.