Finale

December 10, 2013 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

The final look for my mini RAWards collection was actually the second look I dreamed up, hot on the tail of the first look. I knew I wanted Mary Andrus to model it from the get-go, too.

Initially, I envisioned a brocade bust with an extremely full chiffon skirt. I even toyed with pockets.

Paired with the tattered lace collar and the (not-gonna-happen) spats, it looked really cute.

I think I design things that I would wear if I were tall and thin. Because I would so totally wear any of the things in my collection if I were. Sadly, being of the oompa loompa persuasion, I must live vicariously through my beautiful models.

I decided to make the closure for this dress lace-up to accommodate a closer fit that wouldn’t have to be hiked up every few minutes. I switched the chiffon idea over to a beautiful black lace with an attached black mini skirt lining. The back is bustled and the overskirt is longer than the lining.

First fitting:

Mary looked beautiful, OF COURSE. The top did need to be taken in quite a bit, so there was some deconstruction and re-construction in the dresses immediate future.

Walking the runway:

From the pre-show photo shoot:

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

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

Model: Mary Andruss https://www.facebook.com/ModelMaryAndrus

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

Five

December 9, 2013 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

My post titles are really gripping lately, aren’t they? I just can’t come up with witty headers for the RAWards looks. Ah, well. You’ll have to settle for little wit, but a whole lotta pretty.

The fifth look is another that underwent a rather extensive transformation from sketch to final product. That had to do with a few things:

1) my falling out of love with the idea of using that grey pinstripe suiting

2) my realization that the original idea for this look was DULL DULL DULL

3) my recent love affair with bustles

So, the (dull) original (dull) sketch was this (SUPREMELY DULL):

The original idea was a brocade bustier, grey suiting mini skirt, ruffle capri leggings, tattered collar & spats.

I realized one day that it was just boring. It just felt thrown together, no real inspiration.

As I mentioned, my love affair had begun with the bustle, and I knew that I wanted to do a bustle in that gorgeous brocade. This time, I decided to do an attached underskirt, rather than just the bustle (as shown in the first look). The brocade made the most gorgeous bustle.

Fitting:

I ended up going with the bustle and a repurposed mens-wear bustier featuring belt loops at the waist, to accommodate a belt if desired. This fit beautifully from the get-go. No alterations needed at all.

The final design walking the runway:

And from the pre-show shoot:

I couldn’t be happier with the look–Marielle really brought it to life, and looked gorgeous.

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

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

Model: Marielle Songy/NolaChick www.nolachick.net

Photographer: Underexposed Photography https://www.facebook.com/brittsmithphoto

Number Four

December 6, 2013 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

I have a little secret about the fourth look. *I ended up re-styling a dress I showed at my last RAW runway* Not that people couldn’t recognize that fact themselves just by looking at the dress. And in all fairness (to me), I did have every intention of making a NEW dress in a different fabric–even had it all cut out (it’s still sitting in pieces on my “sew these someday” pile). The original idea was this:

The idea was to use this grey stretch suiting I have that has a maroon pinstripe. Lovely fabric, but I was hesitant to use grey. It was just so…..grey. I know, like army green/brown and cream are fascinating colors. Who knows what it was, but I ultimately decided I didn’t want to use the grey paired with the brocade looks.

So, anyway, this look was originally designed to be that fabulous slinky grey pinstriped dress with a plunging neckline, a brocade under-bust corset, spats and a tattered lace collar. Of course, the spats took a hike.

I quickly decided to use the brown pinstripe dress instead of making the grey. Well, maybe not quickly, since I went through the trouble of cutting the dress out, but the decision was made.

The first fitting went well–other than the fact that the corset was 2 sizes too large. I’m not posting images of that fitting primarily because, well, boobs (ooo–I just opened my blog up to a whole new search category!). It was discovered at the fitting that this model has more, shall we say, blessings up top than previous models who have worn the dress. I had thoughts of a tank top for modesty’s sake (though I never really liked the idea too much). It hadn’t occurred to me that we didn’t try the dress without a bra at that fitting, and luckily we were able to make it work without a modesty panel for the show.

So, after the fitting, I re-made the corset. I love the under-bust corset–I’ve been wanting to make some for awhile but somehow hadn’t gotten around to it. I have plans for many more.

Luckily, the dress fit like a glove already so no alterations were needed.

Onto the show!

And the pre-show photo shoot:

Love it!

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

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

Model: Ashton Akridge https://www.facebook.com/ashton.akridge

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

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

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?

Shop Update

August 21, 2013 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

A few more new items are available in the shop:

You can find them here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TrappedInTimeDesigns

Finished up an Alice in Wonderland costume today and began the next–a Wendy Darling from “Peter Pan”.

More later!

From Under a Stack of Fabric

August 15, 2013 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

Well, there went a couple weeks of silence.
Time got away from me, lots of orders in, lots of hours at the part time gig, lots of excuses and forgetting.

I’ve been working on a LOT of really fun costumes and outfits, and I wish I’d thought to, oh, I don’t know, take pictures of it all. Alas, while I have a few to share, they don’t represent even the scantest of hints of what I’ve been doing.

So, without further ado:

A couple of my cincher skirts made their way to the NOLA Red Dress Run:

I finally finished the Doctor Who-inspired Victorian costume, inspired by this:

My version (which, in total honesty? I wanted to keep so bad–that jacket is really lovely, despite it looking rather lumpy on my broken-and-too-small-dress-form):

I even made the decorative frogs–which was a learning experience in itself, trust me:

A dress for a friend, who will be wearing it out this weekend to a concert:

Bunches of other items were made (Alice dresses, Wendy dresses, cincher skirts, leggings, collars….):

One customer requested pink and orange leggings–an excuse for me to order extra and (eventually) make some for the shop:

Some knitting was done in the evenings (as I decompressed and watched terrible old movies):

I found some AMAZING fabric that I’m WAY too excited about….and totally want to make halter dresses out of, for some reason:

I have a lot of stock that needs to be photographed and listed, but finding the time to do so has been a bit difficult:

Today I’m working on another Doctor Who-inspired piece (though this one from Tennant’s era):

And I’m starting to get ready for the Halloween rush–getting prepared, getting organized, getting supplies.

Getting ideas together for a Halloween shoot that I’m pretty excited about….

And…..tossing around the idea of doing a runway show in October–Halloween focused, of course. Because I’m insane and apparently intend to remain so.

Trapped In Time Designs

the blog

costume design

Finale

Five

Number Four

Second Look

Halloween Shoot

Destruction

Shop Update

From Under a Stack of Fabric