entertainment – Page 74 – beckycochrane.com

Runway Monday All Stars: Made in the USA Today

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway All Stars, the designers were shown a collection of photos that had been Tweeted by fans to be used as inspiration. The idea was that every picture tells a story; the designers were asked to create a look that would tell a visual story that evoked a headline. The winning designer would be featured with photos and an editorial piece in USA Today.

Since I didn’t have access to the photos collected by Project Runway and USA Today, I browsed photos from my Instagram, Flickr, and Twitter contacts. You can click here to see a photo that caught my eye at the beginning of the month and that I decided to use for my inspiration. This is a photo taken by Keri of a few days’ worth of eggs she collected from her wonderful backyard chickens, Maggie, Henrietta, Ruby, Etta, Ethel, and Winifred. Autumn being my favorite season, I love the colors of the eggs, as well as the shapes. I appreciate the idea that spring is not the only season that offers us gifts from nature. Plus I think Keri is a terrific photographer. If you click that Flickr link above, I highly recommend checking out the rest of her photos, especially her fantastic BuNnY*MoNsTeRz.

The egg photo reminded me of a vintage fabric (circa mid 1970s) that I’d been wanting to use for a while: leaves in autumn colors on a metallic blend. Skull Shores Lagoona Blue is the perfect monster to show off this fabric.

I created a dropped waist dress.

The neckline is asymmetrical, with a cap sleeve on one arm.

I love Mattel’s gold shoes. And note the scalloped hemline, which mimics the shapes of the eggs.

Hope this helps make the shorter days of fall a little brighter for you. See you next time on the runway!
Thanks, Keri, for the inspiration!

To see previous designs on All Stars Season 2:
Episode 3: Up Your Aerosol
Episode 2: Put On Your Dancing Shoes
Episode 1: Redemption on the Runway

Legacy Writing 365:319

I don’t know why I keep this thing.

It’s not as if I’ve used it since sometime in the 1970s. But I suppose since it doesn’t take up much space and is tucked among a lot of other things on that particular bookshelf in my office, I forget it exists.

It was printed in the late 1960s/early 1970s by a business in Tupelo, Mississippi, that appears not to exist now. There’s a bank on or near the site. Google Maps–so fun! With the Internet, this kind of book is extinct. Doing a quick online search, I can find the zip code for exactly the address I’m mailing to. (In this book, each city gets only one code. So Houston is 77000, though as of March 2012, the city apparently has 181 zip codes. We’re BIG.)

The book lists around 35,000 zip codes. Present day, there are around 45,000 zip codes. I’m supposed to be writing it ZIP code, because ZIP is an acronym for Zoning Improvement Plan. That little guy on the front is named Mr. ZIP. He was adopted to promote the use of the codes in the 1960s (when they replaced the old postal zone numbers) and the 1970s. Some people call him Zippy. He was originally drawn by the son of a letter carrier, Howard Wilcox, when Wilcox worked at an advertising agency in New York. That’s right: Mr. ZIP could have been created by that Mad Man Don Draper.

Woof. Now I’ll never be able to throw the book away.

State of The Compound

We are enjoying a “cold” front–and I realize cold is relative, but 56 degrees is a welcome relief in Houston. Except my flowers looked sad about it this morning. If they survived summer, they need to plant up and endure this, too.

It’s the perfect weather to break out the iron skillets. So, this:

Homemade chili and cornbread. Add our tossed salads, and Tom, Tim, and I will be fixed to gather ’round the TV and watch “The Young and the Restless” on Tivo tonight. It’s just like a heartwarming scene from “Little House on the Prairie,” isn’t it?

You know what else it’s a perfect night for? For Tom to come home from work with THESE for me!

I’d forgotten that Stevie Nicks put out a new CD last year until Greg reminded me of it. And today, he also helped me remember that she had a song on it inspired by Twilight. I love Stevie.

Meanwhile, if you don’t know why the soundtrack from Breaking Dawn Part 2 has me all worked up, just scroll to the bottom of my blog to remind yourself what Tim laughingly told me to upload many months ago. Indeed, it has made me giggle every single day that I’ve seen it there–even days when I didn’t much feel like laughing. For future generations who may stumble onto this blog by accident, because my countdown widget will be gone, here’s a screen cap:

This year, only Lindsey, my Vampartner in Crime, is willing to go with me to the first night of the new and final (?) movie. But LUCKY FOR US, they are starting showings at ten PM Thursday instead of the usual midnight, giving us a better chance of seeing ‘tweens and teens sparkle on.

Then it’ll all be over and I have to be a grownup human again. Or build a new world in a novel of my own…

ETA: Also added to Numbers Photo Series No. 3.

Runway Monday All Stars: Up Your Aerosol

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway All Stars, the designers were taken to a location in Long Island where they watched aerosol (a/k/a graffiti) artists at work. After talking to them and getting tips on techniques, the designers created their own wearable art using spray paints, stencils, and either chiffon or cotton. I feel that perhaps I’ve done challenges like this in years past…

To give myself a little more of a challenge this season, I decided to design for a ghost. I wanted to dress Spectra Vondergeist in a look that would transform modern pop art into something that seemed not only vintage, but ethereal.

I began with a cutting from a piece of pale grayish-lavender silk chiffon I had in my fabric room. I believe this was a remnant I found at High Fashion a year or so ago.

Taking spray paints I had in the garage, I used the techniques the PR designers were taught to color the fabric.

Then, with strips of unhemmed chiffon of varying lengths and widths, I created Spectra’s gown.

The PR designers were allowed to buy extra fabric at Mood to enhance their looks. I chose a cutting from an old piece of tapestry that was used on the border of The Compound living room for Spectra’s bodice, then I made “faded roses from days gone by” from knots of the painted chiffon to adorn the bodice.

Is she live, or is she after-live?

Shorter, narrower strips of painted fabric under the dress help make it fuller. I thought you might enjoy seeing Spectra’s translucent legs in her gray heels from Mattel.

Hope you’ve found Spectra’s dress hauntingly lovely. See you next time on the runway!

To see previous designs on All Stars Season 2:
Episode 2: Put On Your Dancing Shoes
Episode 1: Redemption on the Runway

Runway Monday All Stars: Put On Your Dancing Shoes

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway All Stars, the designers were asked to create a look inspired by disco. Taking a Nine West Shoe as their inspiration, their outfit was to be appropriate for a current-day disco party.

Though Nine West doesn’t design for Monsters, Mattel had exactly the shoe I was hoping for.

I chose as my model the werecat sister Purrsephone. I wanted to give her an updated look, creating in white lace the body-hugging silhouette of 1970s disco jumpsuits. But instead of letting the design flare into wide-bottomed pants, I gave her a younger look with a flared black crepe skirt at the drop waist of the dress.

Old school disco.

She wants to put on her boogie shoes–and boogie with you.

Hope you’ve enjoyed the look. See you next time on the runway!

To see previous designs on All Stars Season 2:
Episode 1: Redemption on the Runway

Runway Monday All Stars: Redemption on the Runway

The second season of Lifetime’s Project Runway All Stars kicked off last week. As I did last time with All Stars, I’m letting the Model Muses take a break and the Monsters come out and play. The show’s designers had to work as teams and create a collection inspired by one of the attitudes listed on a board. I don’t have a team to work with, so I created one look using the “Bold” theme.

I couldn’t think of a better model than Operetta because of her striking hair, tattoo, and scar-like “beauty mark” running from her face to her upper left arm. She’s perfect as a bold lady in red satin.

Hope you’ve enjoyed the look. See you next time on the runway!

Clear crystals gift of Kathy S.

Mon*Stars

What do you mean, “season’s over?” Time for Monsters to come out and play!

That’s right, Season 2 of Lifetime’s Project Runway All Stars begins tonight, 9 Eastern, 8 Central. Judging by the cast of designers returning from previous seasons, there will be DRAMA. And my Monsters are ready to compete. No rest for Becks!

Runway Monday: Finale, Part 2 (PR 10:14)

On the final episode of Season 10 of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers showed at Fashion Week. The winner and his model received their fabulous prizes. No prizes for Becks or her final collection–so praise is always welcome! As I mentioned last week, this is a line developed with my Model Muse Summer. In fact, the Summer Fun line bears her name. The collection is for Spring 2013 and the theme is “Summer Fun: Tied Up in Ribbons.” Hope you enjoy!

Fallon.

Tanya.

Jessica.

Sarah.

Maia.

Summer.

Ellison.

Esperanza.

Justine.

Victoria.

Faizah.

Alexandria.

Summer Fun: Tied Up in Ribbons

Thank you all for checking out the fashions throughout Season 10. Project Runway All Stars begins this Thursday. Should I sit this one out or bring the Monsters out to play again?

CREDITS:

Fallon’s ribbon bodice courtesy Laura and Jess.
Tanya’s ribbon belt and straps courtesy Aunt Gwen and Lindsey.
Ellison’s swimming suit fabric courtesy Marika.
Esperanza’s blouse fabric repurposed from Tom’s dress shirt.
Alexandria’s red ribbon tie courtesy Aunt Gwen and Lindsey; ivory collar repurposed from another of Tom’s dress shirts.

For previous looks from this season:
Episode 13: Finale, Part 1 (PR 10:13)
Episode 12: In a Place Far, Far Away (PR 10:12)
Episode 11: It’s Fashion Baby (PR 10:11)
Episode 10: I Get a Kick Out of Fashion (PR 10:10)
Episode 9: It’s All About Me (PR 10:9)
Episode 8: Starving Artist (PR 10:8)
Episode 7: Oh My Lord and Taylor (PR 10:7)
Episode 6: Fix My Friend (PR 10:6)
Episode 5: It’s My Way On the Runway (PR 10:5)
Episode 4: Women On the Go (PR 10:4)
Episode 3: Welcome Back (or not) to the Runway (PR 10:3)
Episode 2: Candy Couture
Episode 1: A Times Square Anniversary Party

Runway Monday: Finale, Part 1 (PR 10:13)

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers received home visits from Tim Gunn before they returned to Manhattan. After five weeks and nine thousand dollars each, they returned to New York to send three showcase designs from their final collections down the runway for the judges. This challenge was to determine which of the remaining four contestants would be showing at New York Fashion Week. Congrats to the final four–I wish I’d had your budget! But… I did get a visit from Tim Gunn.

Tim: What’s the inspiration for your collection?

Becks: This is a line that I’m designing with my new business partner, Model Muse Summer. The label is “Summer Fun,” and for Spring 2013, this is “Summer Fun Tied Up in Ribbons.”

Tim: I’m extremely excited! Let’s see what you’ve got.

Becks: Sorry, Tim, you get to see ONLY ONE LOOK this week. Next week, you’ll see the full collection.

Summer wears a cotton dress with a playful pattern reminiscent of the groovy Sixties.