Tag: fashion

For their final collections on Lifetime’s Project Runway All Stars, the designers were given four days to create five looks in a cohesive collection. They were later presented a twist: a sixth look using scrap materials from one of their previous designs from the season.

For my final collection, I looked to the past and some of the glamorous screen legends of the 1930s and 1940s. After studying many photos of them, I chose one look from each star to be modified for a Monster High teen. I wasn’t trying to replicate a dress exactly, but to re-create a look appropriate for my model. I hope you enjoy my collection, Homage!

First up, Lagoona Blue pays homage to Carole Lombard.

This is also the design that uses fabric from a past challenge, Week 2’s A Night at the Opera. The A-line underdress uses the same purple fabric. The embellished lace overdress is made of fabric from Houston’s fantastic High Fashion.

Electra (renamed from a modified Abbey Bominable doll) pays homage to Gene Tierney in gold-embellished ivory velvet, also from High Fashion.

My youngest model, Howleen Wolf, pays homage to Betty Grable.

From the back. This fabric is a gift from Debbie C.

I made a slip of the same fabric and used a shrug for more modesty since Howleen is only a youngster.

Because I already used one Clawdeen Wolf as a model this season, this second doll has been renamed Leah Wolf. She’s paying homage to Hedy Lamarr.

Ophelia (renamed from a modified Abbey Bominable doll) is paying homage to Rita Hayworth.

Front and side views of the dress. The blue satin is a gift from Lynne.

Back view of the dress.

For the final look, Frankie Stein pays homage to Vivien Leigh.

The original Victor Stiebel gown was magenta with a turquoise ruffle, but I changed the colors for Frankie using green velvet from High Fashion and lavender silk for the ruffle.

All the jewelry was designed by me. All the shoes are by Mattel. I hope you’ve enjoyed the collection and feel as if you’ve been brushed by the stardust of these amazing Hollywood legends. The Monsters were happy to help.

Thanks for checking in every week to see my designs for the Project Runway All Stars challenges and for your comments. Maybe we’ll see you again on the runway this summer!

To see each previous week’s designs, please click on the links below.

Week 10: Let’s Get Down to Business
Week 9: When I Get My Dress in Lights
Week 8: O! Say, Can You Sew?
Week 7: Puttin’ On the Glitz
Week 6: Fashion Faceoff
Week 5: Clothes Off Your Back
Week 4: Good Taste Tastes Good
Week 3: Patterning for Piggy
Week 2: A Night at the Opera
Week 1: Unconventional Challenge

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway All Stars, the designers faced their last challenge before the finale. To determine which three All Stars would be showing at Fashion Week, the designers had to create a ready-to-wear look within budget. The winning outfit would be produced by designer Nanette Lepore and sold nationwide for charity.

I chose Cleo de Nile’s older sister Nefera for this challenge because she has the perfect look for the fabric I wanted to use, a colorful embroidered batik.

I designed a full skirt, keeping it tea length so it can be dressed up or down, depending on shoes and accessories, and paired it with a peekaboo bodice.

The fabric may be Indonesian, but sometimes Nefera just has to walk like an Egyptian.

In cobra shoes! Watch out for the honey badger.

A twirl and a “Stop! In the name of fashion.”

The next time you’ll see the Monsters on the runway is when I present my final collection. Thanks for sharing this season with me and for your comments.

A final glance at all of this season’s looks, including the incomparable Miss Piggy:

To get more views of each week’s fashion, click on the links below.

Week 9: When I Get My Dress in Lights
Week 8: O! Say, Can You Sew?
Week 7: Puttin’ On the Glitz
Week 6: Fashion Faceoff
Week 5: Clothes Off Your Back
Week 4: Good Taste Tastes Good
Week 3: Patterning for Piggy
Week 2: A Night at the Opera
Week 1: Unconventional Challenge

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway All Stars, the designers were challenged to use lighting technology to create an avant garde design. After visiting the Barbizon Lights and Special Effects Shop and Mood, where they purchased lights, fluorescent tapes, and other reflective materials and fabrics, the lighting they chose had to be incorporated into their looks. Their models then walked a runway illuminated by black lights.

Draculana’s shiny black hair with its glittery pink strands made her a natural for this challenge.

I created a drop waist gown of patterned cotton for the foundation of my look.

This is one of my favorite silhouettes.

I added a sheer overskirt of glittered gray organza.

Room lighting turned off.

Dress lighting turned on.

The black light on the runway turns the organza and cotton a bold pink and makes the star designs on the dress brilliant white.

Don’t forget the shoes!

We’ll see you next time on the runway!

Organza was a donation from Lynne. Earrings designed by me were a gift from Lindsey. Thanks a million to the guys at Houston’s Light Bulbs Unlimited for their assistance with this challenge. My limited photography skills don’t do justice to the lighting effects. Check out their web site for your lighting needs; they work with people all over the country!

Draculana is joined by her sister Draculaura, who’s wearing Week 1’s design. To get a closer look at all this season’s looks:

Week 8: O! Say, Can You Sew?
Week 7: Puttin’ On the Glitz
Week 6: Fashion Faceoff
Week 5: Clothes Off Your Back
Week 4: Good Taste Tastes Good
Week 3: Patterning for Piggy
Week 2: A Night at the Opera
Week 1: Unconventional Challenge

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway All Stars, the designers were taken to the World Headquarters of the United Nations in New York. There, they chose from a table of flags representing various countries who are members of the UN. The flags’ colors, as well as characteristics of each flag’s country, were to be inspiration for new looks. Rather than risking a design too derivative of the All Stars by using any of their flag choices, I opted to base my design this week on the actual United Nations flag, shown above.

The UN’s mission is to promote peace and security and to address and seek solutions for global problems. The organization’s flag has changed over the years to represent many of the goals of the UN itself. The map of the world in the center is designed such that all the continents of both hemispheres are shown. This world map is surrounded by crossed olive branches representing peace. The blue background was chosen as the opposite of the color red, which represents war.

The flag’s palette is ideal for Ghoulie because of her hair color. I designed her earrings.

I chose to create a round skirt for her reminiscent of the eternal circle of the globe.

Her white blouse is cut from a leaf pattern to mimic the leaves on the flag’s olive branches.

The lacing on the blouse is like the grid that shows the connection between all countries sharing one planet.

The asymmetrical design of the blouse symbolizes the continents as represented on the flag. They are not all equal in appearance, but all countries are equally important for a thriving, healthy planet.

Ghoulie’s bracelet and shoes are from Mattel.

A final glance at the overall look.

We’ll see you next time on the runway!

Fabric for the skirt was a donation from Lynne.

Ghoulie now joins her sister Ghoulia, who’s wearing Week 5’s design. To get a closer look at all this season’s looks:

Week 7: Puttin’ On the Glitz
Week 6: Fashion Faceoff
Week 5: Clothes Off Your Back
Week 4: Good Taste Tastes Good
Week 3: Patterning for Piggy
Week 2: A Night at the Opera
Week 1: Unconventional Challenge

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway All Stars, the All Stars were challenged to design an outfit for a character in the Broadway musical Godspell. This character is described as a bitchy, wealthy woman who stops at nothing to obtain money, even stealing it. She wants everyone to know she’s rich. The final design had to consist of separates so the actress/character could be dressed on stage as part of the performance. Her clothes need to have a “thrift shop” quality, as if pieces have been found in resale shops or inside people’s closets, and put together to express her inner personality in a colorful, humorous, and slightly exaggerated way–but she still has to look great.

The Monster High model I chose is Operetta. As the daughter of the Phantom of the Opera, she’s perfect for this challenge. The first piece I designed for her is a bodice of navy blue silk.

I then made a red full skirt with an oversized paisley pattern that’s easily visible from the audience.

The final look includes a second skirt of blue lace with a silver-flowered pattern worn as an underskirt, and a shiny red shrug.

I created a necklace of pearls with ebony, ruby, and citrine beads and pearl earrings.

And finished the look with red boots.

Operetta is ready to strut her stuff on Broadway!

We’ll see you next time on the runway!

Fabric for paisley skirt from Kathy S. Pearls for earrings from Mary. Red shrug fabric from Lynne. Boots from Lindsey and Rhonda.

This season’s previous looks:
Week 6: Fashion Faceoff
Week 5: Clothes Off Your Back
Week 4: Good Taste Tastes Good
Week 3: Patterning for Piggy
Week 2: A Night at the Opera
Week 1: Unconventional Challenge

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway All Stars, the All Stars drew seasons and competed in teams of two for high and low scores for a sportswear look appropriate on a weekend getaway. Since I don’t have a competitor, I had to figure out a way to let someone else control elements of this challenge for me. I asked my friend Johnnie to give me a season, and he assigned me “Winter,” with the beautiful Cleo De Nile as my model.

Using Cleo’s makeup as my guide, I chose an argyle fabric of teal and blue. I pictured Cleo joining friends for dinner out after a day of playing in the snow on a weekend in the country.

I was fortunate enough to have the perfect pair of Mattel shoes for her to wear.

The dress has an off-the-shoulder cowl neckline, is form fitting in the torso, and flares to an A-line hem.

I added a little drama with a silver link belt to compliment the silver strands in Cleo’s hair.

A fun design to keep Cleo warm while giving her a relaxed, feminine look.

See you next time on the runway!

This season’s previous looks:
Week 5: Clothes Off Your Back
Week 4: Good Taste Tastes Good
Week 3: Patterning for Piggy
Week 2: A Night at the Opera
Week 1: Unconventional Challenge

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway All Stars, the All Stars were sent to the streets to find someone whose clothes inspired them. They had to interact with their muses, persuading them to hand over the clothes they were wearing to become at least fifty percent of new looks by the designers.

I sent my original Model Muse Summer out to find clothing that inspired her. Because inspiration is what happens when I’m busy doing other things.

Summer was wearing a design I created just for her: the Eiffel Tower dress. Her shoes and bag are from Mattel. She also took a Mattel T-shirt with her to trade for the article of clothing she would bring back to me. Off she went to the park to begin scoping out potential fashion inspiration.

Too dressy.

Too casual.

Just right.

Summer explained what she needed; the muse began removing his shirt to appreciative glances from the crowd.

Summer took possession of the shirt that would become my new design.

After saying goodbye, she headed to my sewing room, where I was delighted with her find.

I turned the man’s shirt into a sassy little skirt for my Monster High model Ghoulia. I kept the hemline of the shirt for the skirt and gathered it at the waist to give it fullness. Ghoulia’s boots and stockings are from Mattel.

I used a bold pink fabric for the shirt to match the stitching on the skirt. I altered the old collar and made it the collar on Ghoulia’s shirt. Finally, I added a single black button to fasten the shirt.

Ghoulia loves showing off her new clothes.

See you next time on the runway!

The pink shirt fabric was a gift from Marika. Also, I confirmed that last week’s fabric was a gift from Kathy S. Thanks as always for helping to build my fabric stash!

This season’s previous looks:
Week 4: Good Taste Tastes Good
Week 3: Patterning for Piggy
Week 2: A Night at the Opera
Week 1: Unconventional Challenge

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway All Stars, the designers were asked to create a design that would evoke the taste of one of the gelato flavors from Manhattan’s L’Arte del Gelato, use the flavor as their color palette, and complete their look in only six hours.

I couldn’t fly to Manhattan for gelato, so I picked up the next closest thing–raspberry sorbet–from my grocer’s freezer. Because food shouldn’t be wasted, I’m forcing myself to eat it a few bites at a time. Other than slightly changed lyrics to a Prince song, what does raspberry sorbet evoke for me?

I knew my perfect model was Monster High’s Abbey Bominable, because she knows all about frozen treats.

As I tasted the sorbet, I thought of summer nights near the shore, sitting on a garden bench just after dusk, when garden lights give flowers dustier hues than the sun allows. I thought of how cozy a crop top and clamdiggers are to slip into after a busy day.

I thought of little girls who aren’t willing to give up their filmy tutus for less fanciful clothes.

And the way our dreams seem to float around us as we dance through life.

Since the PR designers were allowed a mere six hours, as my challenge, I managed to make my patterns, cut them out, and do all the sewing in around two hours. Jewelry and shoes are from Mattel.

May you have many magical raspberry nights and dreams of your own. See you next time on the runway!

Whoever gave me the print fabric–Lynne? Kathy S?–claim it and I’ll credit you!

This season’s previous looks:
Week 3: Patterning for Piggy
Week 2: A Night at the Opera
Week 1: Unconventional Challenge