Tag: fashion

Runway Monday: Women on the Go (PR 10:4)

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers were asked to create a look for a busy woman that could transition from day to night. Their designs had to reflect their own aesthetic. Tim Gunn encouraged the designers to come up with a “story” for their look.

My story is about Melissa, an Atlanta fashion blogger, who for five years has helped her readers dress, decorate, and entertain on a budget. On a spring morning, she catches an early flight to New York City.


No piece is a more consistent part of my collections than the swing coat. Here, it’s a lightweight plaid, perfect for a cool morning but not too heavy or bulky for traveling.

Melissa is picked up by a car to take her into Manhattan, where she has a couple of interviews with periodicals featuring popular blogs and the people who write them.

Melissa is photo ready in a denim dress that travels well. It’s both comfortable and durable, and she’ll arrive at all her destinations without a wrinkle.

If she goes anywhere that her shoulders need to be covered, the scarf is a handy accessory.

In the late afternoon, Melissa meets an editor from a New York publishing house who’s interested in turning her blog columns into a book.


Still looking crisp and fresh, Melissa is definitely a savvy woman on the go.


Melissa heads back to Atlanta after a busy day. We’ll see the rest of you next time on the runway.

Mattel: Scarf, shoes, sunglasses, attaché case, earrings.
Swing coat fabric: Donation from Tom (an old and well-worn Ralph Lauren dress shirt).
Dress denim: Donation from Lynne.
Suede belt: Made from reversible fabric Tim once used in this challenge.

To see previous challenges this season:

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: Welcome Back (or not) to the Runway (PR 10:3)

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers were divided into teams and asked to design an Emmy Awards red carpet look for a former Project Runway contestant. I didn’t have a partner or PR designer in my work room, but I did have a fabulous new model, Raven. And unlike some of the whining PR designers, I LOVE designing for the red carpet. The Emmys may not be quite as luxe as the Oscars, but who wouldn’t want to create a look to be seen by millions watching an awards show?

This challenge was also called the Lexus challenge, since the designers were given partners and colors based on keys to various Lexus GS vehicles. I randomly chose this Lexus from online photos.

Inspired by the shiny red of the car, I chose a sheer red organza to design an asymmetrical bubble dress for Raven.

I gave the dress a single pickup in the front, embellishing with square sequins.


Earrings and bracelet are from Mattel. The delicate necklace is my addition.

To go with the accessories, I added gold sandals with a charm-embellished gold chain ankle strap.


The single bubble-edged sleeve has a line of red beading as a dramatic border between the fabric and Raven’s bare back.


I hope you enjoy the total look! I’d love to see Raven wearing this dress on the Emmys red carpet.


See you next time on the runway!

Red organza a donation from Lynne. Shoes a gift from Mark G. Harris.

To see previous challenges this season:

Episode 2: Candy Couture
Episode 1: A Times Square Anniversary Party

Runway Monday: Candy Couture (PR 10:2)

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers were taken to Dylan’s Candy Store. They were to create a garment using mostly candy.

Although I did embellish my look with candy, I actually used this unconventional materials challenge for a contest from Design Sponge. Entries for the Painter’s Tape Do It Yourself Contest needed to use Scotch painter’s or masking tape for a home-related project. Here’s how I started my project.


I got a cardboard sphere, ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape, and a model named Iris.

While putting together a jumpsuit for Iris, I was also creating a globe for my collection. Here are some process shots.


Wrapping.


Wrapped.


Glueing planet cutouts in preparation for coloring and Mod Podging.


Candy!


Hung out to dry.


Hitting the runway; necklace of Sour Punch Tangerine-Lemonade Bit.


Nerds belt!


She’s got the whole world in her hands.


And at her feet. And the world’s got her back!


Hope you enjoyed Iris’s look of bold colors. And a taste of sweetness.

See you next time on the Runway!

Thanks, Lindsey, for telling me about the Design Sponge contest.

To see previous challenges this season:

Episode 1: A Times Square Anniversary Party

Runway Monday: A Times Square Anniversary Party (PR 10:1)

To kick off its tenth season, Lifetime’s Project Runway put on a fashion show in Times Square. The sixteen designers had to send the show one look each that they felt represented their points of view. After arriving in New York, the designers had one day to create a companion piece that should look like it was part of the same collection.

I decided to go with one of my more glamorous former looks. This blue velvet evening gown enhanced with sequined-flowers was modeled by Noelle in Fall 2010. I created the straps from cobalt blue beads.

The new strapless piece uses the same silhouette and also has a slit up the back, but it’s a spring-friendly gown in lighter-weight, beaded, onyx Dupioni silk.


I couldn’t make it to Times Square, but my model Elke steps onto the Runway Monday set with confidence.


A look at the fabric in natural light.


I also designed Elke’s crystal necklace.


Red-carpet ready for the cameras.

Visitors to the workroom thought Elke looked a lot like PR host Heidi Klum. Here, she poses with mentor Tim Gunn and Heidi so you can see they’re three different blond(e)s.

Hope you’ve enjoyed my Season 10 debut. See you next time on the Runway!

Fabric from High Fashion. Tim Gunn gift of Marika. Necklace beads gift of Mary.

30 Days of Creativity 2012: Day 30

This is it! The last day of the creativity project. Thank you to everyone who encouraged me with ideas, props, and comments.

Today’s theme from 30 Days of Creativity is “Star.” The Ram directs a lost chapter of the Star Wars movie franchise, Star Wars: Fashionistas Face Off.

Cast:
The Muses (called the “Hangers” by their enemies), led by Top Model Summer
The Monsters (known as the “Posers” by their enemies), led by Nefera de Nile
Yoda
A bunch more characters not pictured

Plot Synopsis: New Muses who haven’t yet appeared on Runway Monday realize the Monsters have attempted a coup, and Summer agrees to lead them in battle. When Yoda becomes aware of a disturbance in the Fashion Force, he arrives to broker a peace accord between the Muses and the Monsters.

Done, I am.

Other Day 30 creations can be seen here.

Thanks to Tom for Yoda. Season 10 of Project Runway begins July 19 on Lifetime.

30 Days of Creativity 2012: Day 28

Today’s theme from 30 Days of Creativity is “Notebook.”


The Ram directs a scene from the movie The Rum Diary. He actually thought of renaming the film The Ram Diary, but out of deference to Hunter S. Thompson and Johnny Depp, he restrained himself. And though you can’t really see them, Kemp and Chenault are wearing vintage clothes from the period of the film’s setting. Viva la fashion!

Other Day 28 creations can be seen here.

With thanks to Lisa S for the car, and to Tom for moving bins around until he found it for me.

Legacy Writing 365:177

I make no bones about it. I’m an Anglophile and a fan of the British monarchy. I don’t follow their every move, but I’ve remained interested in them over the years. I particularly get a kick out of the young Royals, and I like Kate Middleton for many reasons. One is that it tickles me that she, her mother, and her sister not only repeat outfits, but they wear one another’s clothes. I remember when I got to the age where I could borrow from my mother’s and sister’s closets. We all had different builds, but there were some things we could share. If I wanted to be dressy and feel ladylike, I’d borrow something of my mother’s. If I wanted to feel cool, I’d borrow something of my sister’s. Of course, we never had anything like the incredible fashion the Middletons exchange–but Kate has been known to buy high-quality items from resellers, so good on her. Recycled fashion is awesome.

After my mother died and I was going through her things, I found these and cracked up. I’m pretty sure that even though a good scarf will always be in style, these little plastic…scarf rings? Is that what this would be called? The Boy Scouts call theirs woggles, but I’m not sure if there’s a term for them as a women’s accessory. Anyway, I don’t know if they’ll ever make a comeback, but if they do, I’m set.

In addition to scarves, collars that tied, like these:

could always use an accessory. Very popular when I was a wee teen: initial pins. Here are a couple of mine.

And a couple of my mother’s. In fact, that gold C might have even been a tie tack of my grandfather’s. But I couldn’t swear to that.

Here’s another of my mother’s favorite accessories to dress up the ties and scarves on her blouses.

If I’m not mistaken, this was a gift to my mother from Terri even before David married her. I’d say she was trying to butter up her future mother-in-law, but she never had to. They were always great friends.

Vintage

I took these pictures in 2007 when we were remodeling our house, and I catalogued and repacked my Mattel dolls that are stored in the attic. This doll bed was given to me by Christine and John (they modified it with a “vibrating” function because they’re funny that way). Barbie’s wearing some vintage Francie fashion (“Tuckered Out,” 1966) that belonged to Lynne.

Another shot with the vintage Barbie “Nighty Negligee” from around 1961.

And I was eventually going to do something funny with this other shot from 2007, but then Michael Jackson died while trying to sleep, and it didn’t seem appropriate. So without any tasteless jokes, I simply present my Michael Jackson doll wearing Ken’s Active Wear pajama set, circa 1992:

I love these older dolls and their fashions, and Lynne kept most of her doll clothes in better shape than I kept mine.