Second Look

December 4, 2013December 4, 2013 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

Continuing on with my RAWards New Orleans looks, my second look went through a slight transformation from sketch to final design. After dreaming up my first look, I decided I wanted to play with military-inspired colors (primarily an army greenish-brown), lace and brocade. I ended up with 3 green/brown & cream looks and 3 red brocade & black/brown looks. This second look was designed to go along with the first.

My initial sketch included my signature ruffled capri leggings, a lace tunic, spats, & the tattered lace ruff:

I’ve already discussed that the spats were the main element to go, due to my inability to make my brain play nice and create a work-able pattern that I liked.

Onto the first incarnation of the design–again, I don’t work in muslins, so I went right for the fabric:

I re-purposed some mens dress-slacks (wool) for the very top of the tunic. There is an under-lining to the tunic, and I used a really lovely cream moleskin–so soft–that kind of gets lost under the beautiful lace. I cut this so that I could take full advantage of the scalloped edging on the lace. The tunic has a zip-back for closure.

At the first fitting I realized that the ruffled leggings just didn’t work–I hated them so much with this that I didn’t even nab a picture with them on. Plus, hello beautiful legs! (I sound like I have a leg-fetish!)

You can see one of the (five or so) incarnations of the spats here. I love the idea, but I’m glad I opted for sanity and gave them the boot.

The fitting went well–just ditched the leggings and put in the zipper. Done.

Final design walking the runway:

Above photo by: http://gustavo.photoshelter.com/

And, from the pre-show photo shoot:

The dress will be listed soon in my shop–contact me if you’re interested.

Clothing by me: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TrappedInTimeDesigns

Hair & Make up by: Amanda Bravender
For inquiries : http://www.ahbweddingandevents.com

Model: Jennifer Culicchia https://www.facebook.com/jenniferculicchia

Final images by: Underexposed Photography https://www.facebook.com/brittsmithphoto

Opener

December 3, 2013December 4, 2013 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

So, as I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I found myself honored (and shocked) to be in the final 3 fashion designers of the year for RAW New Orleans this year! Coming as it did during the last of my Halloween rush, it’s all a bit of a blur to this day. Being a finalist meant putting together a 6-look mini-collection for the awards show, which was on November 14.

I immediately began brainstorming, sketching, imagining. Most of my ideas seem to come as I’m drifting off to sleep, or as I lie awake in the wee hours (I have a bad habit of waking for 2-3 hours every night). The first look I imagined came around 3am one night and stuck with me for a few days, so I knew it was going to HAVE to be part of the mini collection. First up, sketch:

Military-influenced bustier, bustle, spats & a tattered lace collar. I originally envisioned a pompadour-mohawk for the hair, but later changed my mind since those pompadors are being used entirely too much lately. The spats ended up taking a hike, too, as I just couldn’t get the pattern quite right and needed to streamline things a bit (mainly for my own sanity).

I don’t generally make mock-ups in muslin. This is ridiculous, I realize, and can have terrible consequences (hello, wasted fabric!), but, *knock on wood*, I rarely have a problem with my methods. So, this was the next step:

I was pretty obsessed with that bustle.

The bustier is reclaimed cotton (from mens khakis) with metal buttons and cotton twill trim, lined in cotton twill. The bustier is cream taffeta.

Since my model has legs for days, I decided to go with no skirt under the bustle–it opens at each side as she walks, so I did, for modesty’s sake, make a pair of ruffled boy-shorts to be worn underneath.

First fitting went extremely well, with no real alterations needed:

(excuse the lighting–it was dark outside and my studio photographed rather yellow–photo editing washed it out too much, so I stuck with the yellow)

Onto the show! This was my opener for the show:

I told my models to have fun with this show–why take fashion too seriously? The music was a remix of “In the Mood” and was perfect.

I was lucky enough to have Underexposed Photography do a mini shoot pre-show, as well:

Hot, right?

Clothing by me, https://www.etsy.com/shop/TrappedInTimeDesigns

Hair & Make up by: Amanda Bravender
For inquiries : http://www.ahbweddingandevents.com

Model: Amber Carollo (www.facebook.com/modelamberleighhh)

Photography by: Underexposed Photography (https://www.facebook.com/brittsmithphoto)

The bustier is already listed for sale in my shop: https://www.etsy.com/listing/99960424/bustier-top-military-bustier-steampunk?ref=shop_home_active

I’ll have the bustle up at some point in the future. If you’re interested in ordering, contact me–remember, I primarily work custom/made to measure, so can make one in your size and color choice.

Halloween Shoot

October 9, 2013October 9, 2013 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

Two weeks ago now, I was schlepping about in the swamp for a photo shoot. Well, first I got lost. Really, really lost. Gravel road lost. “Is that a banjo I hear playing” lost. Seems they don’t need fancy things like, oh, STREET SIGNS, out in the swamp.

Actually, there were a number of lovely homes around, and it wasn’t REALLY the middle of nowhere. But, the street signs I needed were, in fact, not there.

The shoot is really the brain-child of my friend Amanda of AHB Hair & Make up (www.ahbweddingandevents.com). She does a big Halloween shoot each year, with a different theme. Since we had pretty much not yet met in time for last years shoot, this was my first opportunity to play.

Shot by Jennifer of Just Be Photojennic (www.facebook.com/justbephotojennic) and modeled by some really good sports (and theatre folks).

I made the Voodoo Swamp Queen and Angel costumes from scratch. The rest I thrifted and distressed/dyed/painted as needed.

The storyline is roughly: Two kids at Grandma’s house are sent out to get an ingredient for her cooking, they take a short cut through the swamp and are nabbed by the Voodoo Queen and the Swamp Man, they get away, Angel comes, cleans up wounds, everyone’s happy, kids make it back to Grandma, end of story. 😉

It’s been so long since I’ve had the opportunity to flex my theatrical costuming muscles–and this project really reminded me of how much I love and miss it. Since moving to the La area, I really have not branched into the local theatre scene. This made me think that I just might….after Halloween, of course.

That’s not all of the images, of course, but enough to give you an idea. I’m waiting on more costume-specific ones (including some with the Angel in pointe shoes), and as I get those I’ll share.

The Voodoo Queen costume is up for sale in my shop now: https://www.etsy.com/listing/165123657/swamp-witch-costume-voodoo-costume?ref=shop_home_active

A few other items from the shoot will be available for purchase soon.

Destruction

September 23, 2013September 23, 2013 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

First off, I plan to be around a bit more. Today was the official First Day of being self-employed full-time–no more part time gig to fall back on! No more hours spent doing things that are, quite frankly, deadly dull. No more wishing I was home, sewing.

Now for the panic.

Noooo. I’ll be fine. Pass me that paper bag, would ya?

I’ve been sewing, tearing, ripping, painting and dyeing my little heart out for the past week. I’m working on costumes for an upcoming Halloween shoot with AHB Hair and Make up. We shoot Thursday!

First up, Voodoo Queen from the swamp. I first made a beautiful gown and underskirt–mismatched on purpose, as a voodoo queen living in the swamp probably doesn’t buy matching gowns. In fact, she probably takes what she can get. So, after sewing it all up, brand new and lovely, it looked like this:

The material for the overdress is actually a home decor fabric that I’ve been hoarding for years. I purchased it with the express intent of making this very type of dress. The tatted apron/draped portion of the skirt was made by my grandmother. It’s stained and torn, but I’ve kept it around, knowing I’d come up with something some day to do with it–and that day finally came!

Since this character lives in the swamp….well, she couldn’t be too clean, could she? So, it was with an aching heart (and, lets be honest, a little bit of glee) that I set to the dress with dye, fabric paint, scissors and a cheese grater. Hours later:

I’m extremely proud of the outcome. I’d have to put this in my top 5 favorites of all time that I’ve created. I really cannot wait for the shoot!

I still have some accessories to create–some necklaces and hair bits.

This will be up for sale after the shoot, and I’ll be offering it as a custom order, as well (though I’ll never be able to re-create it exactly).

What do you think?

TnT Tuesday

July 23, 2013July 21, 2013 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

This slinky number was made specifically for a photo shoot.

I have to admit, it’s a little sexier than I normally go for.

I’m kind of a costume nerdy girl…..more Helena Bonham Carter in regular life than Victoria Beckham.

So, I went back and forth and back and forth and back and forth on the neckline.

I did compromise a wee bit–the original idea was for it to be cut to the navel….

I used the dress in my RAW runway show, too.

And, WOWZA, Mary brought that baby to LIFE.

I recently listed it in the shop. (yes, it’s been cleaned)

The belt is part of the sale–it’s actually made from a re-purposed leather purse strap.

I hope to make more of these in other colors and fabrics.

One of these days….

You can find the dress here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/156283125/dress-brown-dress-womens-dress-pinstripe?ref=shop_home_active

Modeled by:

— LouAnn Eads

–Mary Andrus

Images featuring LouAnn photographed by: Gustavo Escanelle

It’s Good to be the Queen

July 22, 2013July 21, 2013 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

¹roy·al adjective \ˈrȯi(-ə)l\

Definition of ROYAL

1. a : of kingly ancestry <the royal family>

b : of, relating to, or subject to the crown <the royal estates>

c : being in the crown’s service <Royal Air Force>

2. a : suitable for royalty : magnificent

b : requiring no exertion : easy <there is no royal road to logic — Justus Buchler>

3. a : of superior size, magnitude, or quality <a patronage of royal dimensions — J. H. Plumb> —often used as an intensive <a royal pain>

b : established or chartered by the crown

4: of, relating to, or being a part (as a mast, sail, or yard) next above the topgallant

Ghostly

July 15, 2013 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

Still struggling with getting my butt into the right rhythm and on the right schedule. I think this might take awhile.

So, while I struggle to stay awake long enough to sew, you can feast your eyes on this Mondays offering: slightly ghostly, but totally lovely.

Rest and Relaxation

July 8, 2013 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

Kicking the week off with a 4am wake up call has inspired within me a fierce desire to lay about in a sunshiney meadow. Lazy fuzzy bumbling bumble bees bumping from flower to flower, dragonflies perching on my toe to see what I’m up to. The sun warming my face, a good book to keep me company.

TnT Tuesday

July 2, 2013 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

I’m featuring one of my all-time favorite type of shirts for today’s Trapped In Time Tuesday.

It also happens to be in one of my all-time favorite prints.

(I had to make myself a shirt in the same print, fyi)

It’s a simple cropped cowl neck shirt with long, full sleeves.

I like to layer, so this speaks directly to my fashion aesthetic.

These images with the model are actually from my first-ever (rather impromptu) shoot–and where I happened to meet the amazing photographer, Britt of Underexposed Photography.

We were actually doing a trunk show (with lackluster sales), and still joke today that the best thing that came out of that day was our meeting each other, as well as a couple of models that we’ve worked with a number of times since.

You can find the shirt in my shop here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/94807216/shirt-womens-shirt-cowl-neck-jersey?ref=shop_home_active

Photographer: Underexposed Photography http://www.facebook.com/brittsmithart
Model: Hillary Nelson http://www.modelmayhem.com/2560745

Dance

July 1, 2013July 31, 2013 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

The first couple of images from the dance photo shoot have been released–they’re AMAZING! (you might remember my posts about making the costume for this from about a month ago)

Breathtaking, right?

Photography by: Jessica VanDerMark (www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Jessica-VanDerMark/493101197420462?fref=ts)

Hair & Make up by: Amanda Bravender (For inquiries: http://www.ahbweddingandevents.com)

Wardrobe by: Me! 🙂 (http://www.etsy.com/shop/TrappedInTimeDesigns)

These beautiful images inspired today’s post. I’ve always been fascinated by ballet. I wanted to be a ballerina, of course, when a child. Sadly, my talents did not lie in that arena. Happily, I can feast my eyes on the beauty that is ballet anytime I so choose.