costume

Second Look

/ 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:Image

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:

Image

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!)Image

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:

Image

Image

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

Image

And, from the pre-show photo shoot:

Image

trapped-in-time-designs-amandabravender-jennifer-underexposedphotography3

trapped-in-time-designs-amandabravender-jennifer-underexposedphotography4

trapped-in-time-designs-amandabravender-jennifer-underexposedphotography2

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

/ 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:

ambersketch

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:

fittingamber3t

fittingamber4t

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:

fittingambert

fittingamber1t

(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:

raw39

raw2

raw3

raw38

raw4

raw5

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:

final1

trapped-in-time-designs-amandabravender-amber-underexposedphotography2 trapped-in-time-designs-amandabravender-amber-underexposedphotography3 trapped-in-time-designs-amandabravender-amber-underexposedphotography4

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.

TnT Tuesday

/ trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

lou2

This slinky number was made specifically for a photo shoot.

GEscanelle-2466-Edit

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.

7773

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

DSC_7896-Edit

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

8582206498_ddfc9fd353_b

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

And, WOWZA, Mary brought that baby to LIFE.

mary

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

DSC_7958-Edit

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

GEscanelle-2489-Edit

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

GEscanelle-2496-Edit

One of these days….

lou5

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

/ trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

royal11

1roy·al adjective \ˈrȯi(-ə)l\

royal

 

Definition of ROYAL

royal1

1.  a : of kingly ancestry <the royal family>
royal2
 
 

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

 royal3
 

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

royal4

2. a : suitable for royalty : magnificent
royal5
 

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

royal6
 
3. a : of superior size, magnitude, or quality <a patronage of royal dimensions — J. H. Plumb> —often used as an intensive <a royal pain>
royal7
 

b : established or chartered by the crown

royal8
 
4: of, relating to, or being a part (as a mast, sail, or yard) next above the topgallant
 
royal10

TnT Tuesday

/ trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

This week I’m featuring an item that was out of stock for quite some time–and also happens to be one of my best sellers.

redheart1

My velveteen capelets are, if I do say so myself, rather fabulous.

My solid version was featured on brides.com a couple of years ago, and I still get traffic from the site.

redheart3

These were unavailable for awhile.  I’ve recently re-listed them as custom/made to order options.  Not sure why this didn’t occur to me sooner.

This one is customize-able in color and trim options.

redheart2

A lot of brides have ordered these.  I love learning what people are wearing my creations for–and I love getting pictures even more! 😉

I initially created these as part of my Little Red Riding Hood costumes, but had so many requests for just the capelet that I went ahead and started making them a separate option.

redheart4

The inside of my serger in always filled with red fluff from these.  Always.

redheart5

You can order here:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/90390398/red-capelet?ref=shop_home_feat


Model: Sarah Brittney-Ann (http://www.modelmayhem.com/1692827)
Photographer: Underexposed Photography (https://www.facebook.com/#!/brittsmithphoto)

This Week

/ trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

Happy 4th of July!

4th

I’m celebrating by working. 😉  Gotta grab the time when you can.

I’m cutting out a pretty cool costume, actually.  I have the awesome task of making this costume:

docwho1

Into a women’s version!  So cool!

docwho

Blueberries were out this week at my grandfathers–yum!  I froze these babies, and have been nibbling on them periodically, savoring and saving them as long as possible.

DSCN9139

Some leggings went out early this week.

DSCN9142

Over the past weekend I got the urge to paint–I do this every once in awhile.

DSCN9153

I’m never as happy with the outcome as I want to be, but I love the process.

I have a whole haunted theme going, and a few paintings to complete.  Two are in various stages of completion right now, none are completely done.

DSCN9151

I reorganized my pens/pencils/markers.  I’m a little too pleased by it.

DSCN9158

Hope you’re enjoying a lovely day off.  If only a BBQ were in my future….sadly, the husband was called out to a job yesterday and will most likely be gone through the weekend.  And the kitties don’t grill.

This Week

/ trappedintimedesigns / 1 Comment

This week started out with finishing up a couple projects–a pair of ruffled boy shorts (I’m extremely smitten with these, btw and I’ll be offering these in the shop as soon as I can get a photo shoot set up):

009

My final Kahlan Mother Confessor bustier replica!  I’m really happy with this.  It took a lot longer than I expected it to, but I took extensive notes and wrote out and drafted my pattern immediately after completing, so that I can (hopefully) make it in MUCH less time the next time around (and I already got an order for another full Kahlan costume, so we’ll find out in a few weeks):

002a

Then on to a dress for a photo shoot.  The dress started out as just the base, and looked like this pre-fitting:

007

After the fitting, the dress became just a tad bit shorter (ha!  I have SHIRTS longer than this thing):

012

And then the draping began!  I didn’t snap pictures of every single version (trust me, you should thank me for that), but I have a couple.  Here’s one version that I liked an awful lot, but ended up being too bulky for what the client is going for:

017a

A little less bulky, but still too much fabric:

023a

Though I really liked the back of this one–I’m a fiend for a bustle (even if it’s not REALLY a bustle):

026a

And, the final result (pre-hand sewing):

028a

030a

I’m currently trying madly to finish that baby up so that I can make a head piece and another pair of ruffled bloomers to go with it by SUNDAY.  *gulp*

Wish me luck.

And send chocolate.  And caffeine.

This Week

/ trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

What I’ve been working on this week:

003

A full Kahlan, Mother Confessor replica.  This includes the full overdress (done), a long skirt (done) and a custom bustier (in progress).

008

018

First time through for the bustier–I’ve draped the pattern, altered it, and am now sewing it up.  I’m working with a faux leather (yes, I know, but it sure does keep the cost down, and until I have an actual LEATHER MACHINE, I’ll be working in pleather) and cotton twill.  I’m excited for the end product–just have to remember to keep good notes, as I do plan to offer this in the shop after this project is complete.

025

020

Beginnings of a bustier and ruffle bloomer look for a burlesque number.

013

Which meant a trial run for some boy shorts–these will be altered, but I kind of love this cut and am thinking of offering these in the shop soon, too.  Just need to do a fitting on a model first.

010

Shipping completed items out every couple of days.

026

And getting a package returned to me from the post office.  Apparently the large envelopes I’ve been using for over 2 years as a flat rate are NOT ACTUALLY FLAT RATE.  But, somehow, no one ever picked up on this.  *sigh*  So, until I get myself a postal scale, I’ll be taking the long way round and bringing all my packages to the post office, paying there, and coming home to note down how much certain things weigh so that the NEXT TIME I can just prepay.

Eep

/ trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

Business has picked way up in the last couple of weeks, and I’ve been sewing my fingers to the bone (when I’m not working the part time job, getting the Spring garden up and running, cooking yummy meals, sleeping, or explaining to the kitties I just can’t play right now).

Just popped in to share these two glorious images from my recent runway show.  Chip Kennedy is the photographer.

Here is Mary Andrus:

mary

And here is NancyJane:

nancy

I’m in love!