1950s Wedding Alteration Project

 As you all know, I love vintage!  So when a bride came to me to ask me to help with her 1950s themed wedding attire, I was so excited! She got her dress from a wonderful consignment store in Phoenix called Almond Tree Weddings.  It is a full-length dress with a train, but I am going to alter it to be a tea-length swing dress, similar to the dresses below.

Because we are going to have so much fabric leftover from the dress alteration, she has asked me to create a bolero jacket from the extra!  I found a vintage 1950s pattern on Etsy that I am going to modify for the jacket.  Isn't it cute?!

  To top it off, she purchased a bright yellow petticoat that will peek out under the dress when she swing dances with her partner.  I am going to also help her make some cute shoe clips and a hair clip!  How fun!

'I will post photos of the alterations process as it comes together!

 

Classic gowns on film

Today I thought I would share a few of my favorite gowns from cinema.  These are designed by some of the most famous and forward thinking fashion designers of the day.  I love classic movies for so many reasons (better dialog, more compelling and well-rounded characters, more interesting cinematography, etc), and one of these reasons is the fabulous costumes!  They just really knew how to put together an amazing gown back then.

The first of these is the classic ostrich feather dress worn by Ginger Rogers in "Top Hat" during the fantastic dance scene "Cheek to Cheek"

You really have to watch the movie to appreciate the grace of this dress.  It is also a really funny movie!


Next, I have always loved this Travella dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes".  Maybe it is because it is orange...maybe it is because Marilyn is so gorgeous...

Last, although the white strapless dress that Grace Kelly wore in "To Catch a Thief" is more famous, I prefer the sky blue one.  Both were designed by Edith Head, one of my favorite designers.

Now I want to go watch a movie...

A sign makes it official!

As you know, I have moved in with Cameron + Kelly Studios in downtown Flagstaff.  But today I think I can say that the move is official because I have a sign!  The very talented Howie Hern, a steel artist in town, made my sign and hung it for me.  Check it out!

I love it!  Howie did such a good job making my sign blend in with the Cameron + Kelly Studio sign.  Come down to Heritage Square and check it out in person!