A Scrumptious Project for Spring 2022

Every once in awhile, I get asked to design something 

that really is special. 

Recently, I was asked to take a basic little dress 

and re-design it for a special event -
a wedding vow reaffirming ceremony.  

The dress as it looked.

Pinterest Inspiration 

* So, this dress is leather and very different fabrics

than I would be working with. However, the concept 

of the shirt's layers and asymmetry was the 

beginning of some inspiration. 

I had one piece of this lovely beaded detail which 
would perfectly pair with the beaded crown.

And, I was all set to start the re-designing!

Re-aligned the under-slip and added the 
♡ Lovely Detailing. ♡ 

Then I cut off the bottom tier of the skirt.
And, added length to the under-skirt. 

I realized that the middle tier seam was never going to look 

right. It was going to have to go! 

This meant removing the entire skirt to remake it. 

Much better!
Next step was adding the (curtain) sheer skirt fabric.
This was very assymetrical and would become
 a train at the back of the dress.

Now, for the fun part! 

The tiny hand-cut fabric flower buds - each one 
with bits of multi-color yarn strands. 

Some of the detail work could be sewn 
on by machine . . . 

 
. . . but much of it would be hand-sewn.

A few views of the skirt and train:

Introducing, my favorite Spring 2022 Project: 

This was a fantastic and fun project. 

From concept to finish, it was totally enjoyable. 

I describe this dress as "ethereal" - 

Delicately lovely with a fairy-land mystique. 

          Congratulations!

2021 Fall Fashion Fiesta Photo Album

November 3rd, 2021  

2 Years in the Planning. . .

Two clothing designers: Naomi & guest, Dalia

35 models (from age 13 to 70+) 

Plus, 4 salon teams: 

Lourdes Rivera Makeup and Hair Artistry, 

Gloria's Salon, Mary Kay Alex and Iza  

3 Charleston dancers - Cultivarte Dancers 

A 1926 Ford car with owner, Dennis G.

Volunteers: Alberta & Sara, Marcia, Jenny and Carol O 

Our fabulously dressed MC, Sarah C.

Tony Ballesteros taking fantastic photos 

Jimmy Maldonado's great video team

 

So much local support in the audience

 . . . and, of course, Russ the one man "music man"

Dalia and her models 

Linda, Maru and Carol

Lora, Judy and Karen

Ana, Teresa and Kathy

Katherine, Jerri and Haley

Mary, Rebekah and Adri

Rachele, Jenny and Sarah
 

Carol, Emy and Felicity

Dottie, Terri and Heidi

Randi, Jeannie and Lea

Shayna, Kathy and Ellie 

"Whoo Hoo!"

 

Some random pics from Facebook:

. . . and, we can't forget the car. 

A few more angles of the entire group:  

(and, soon we will have a video of the runway.) 

THANKS AGAIN! 

until next time . . .  

                              ~ Naomi 

Roaring 20's Trivia: KNEES

Remember the movie, Chicago? 

It may not be historically accurate to a fault. 
But, it is a Hollywood depiction of the Flappers and the time of the Roaring 20's.  So, let's dive right in by listening to the first few lines of the song, "All that Jazz": 

"Come on babe, why don't we paint the town?

And all that jazz.

I'm gonna rouge my knees and roll my stockings down

And all that jazz."

Ok. What's the deal about "rouged knees"?

 . . . Well, I had to find out!

Here are a few quotes from what I found:

"That’s not just a weird lyric — it was a major fad during the Roaring Twenties to rouge one’s knees. While dress hems would hit flappers below the knees, that part of the leg would usually expose itself while they Charlestoned inside dance halls. So by rouging them and rolling their stockings down, it only brought more attention to that illicit flash of skin."

"The 'flappers' were wearing skirts shorter than ever before (hemlines just under the knee were the ’20s version of a miniskirt), they were rolling down their stocking below the knee or giving up on them altogether, and knee rouging became just another way to attract attention to an area of the female body that had never been as visible before."

Then, apparently, it went even one step farther. 

The girls even painted pictures on their knees.

"Rebellious girls in the 1920s wanted to anger and shock their Victorian-era parents, so not only would they bare their knees with short dresses, but they would also paint pictures to make sure an onlooker didn't miss their risque hem length. Rolled stockings became a fad with the shorter hemlines, and girls would go get roses, butterflies, ocean scenes, or their dogs' faces painted on their knees to further push their boundaries."

So, to sum this all up (in 1920's slang)  

Having rouged or painted knees. . .  

Seems to have been the "bee's knees" 

__________________________________________________________________

Research:

https://www.livingly.com/Flappers+Loved+This+Surprising+Act+of+Fashion+Rebellion

https://www.simplemost.com/1920s-beauty-trends

https://www.odditycentral.com/news/hand-painted-knees-a-forgotten-beauty-trend-of-the-1920s.html

2020 Summer Sewing

I have been working on a collection of outfits for my 
2020 Fall Fashion Fiesta

The collection will highlight the theme of the Roaring 20's with a a bit of Art Deco included. I am pretty excited about what I have already been able to work on, since spending so much more time "en casa" these days... 

My closet "stash" of outfits ready and waiting is slowly growing. About a week ago, I went and looked through all of the hangers... and there were actually things I already had forgotten that I had made!

Today I thought I would share a post about how I re-design an outfit. 
"Follow-Along-While-I-Work" 

I found this beaded silk top on Ebay.  Ordered it. 

When it arrived it was even more beautiful than I had expected.

However, the neckline was way too high. 

Besides looking dated and "old" I imagine it would also be uncomfortable and scratchy, too.

I decided to remove the high neck first. 

I remembered that recently 
I received a donation of some fantastic pieces 
of jewelry. I sorted through what 
I had over at my studio, 
and came back with a few 
that may work.

Then, started messing around with the necklaces. 

Not bad. 

Then I tried this one and I think this is it! 

Perhaps it is too "blingy" bright, tho.

I turned it wrong side out and the gold is muted a bit. 

Yes. This is what I want...

and, it will look great with the colors in some of my other designs! 

A few hours of hand-sewing later, 

an almost finished top. 

 The next step will be designing the skirt which is being created from a set of drapes that also were a donation from one of my clients. She thought the fabric was too interesting to just throw away when she replaced her window coverings.

I agree. . . And, I LOVE it when people think of me! 

Tomorrow I will tackle the skirt. 

Hmmm.  Maybe I will add sleeves. 

Stay tuned to get more details about the Fall Fashion Fiesta. 

November 2020  /  Rocky Point, Mexico

P.S.

Will you be in town? Interested in modeling? 

Well, when you return to RP this fall, bring a pair of shoes that have a vintage flair to them... 1920s style or any "Mary Jane" style shoes.

See you soon!