Reworked Clothing and Accessories - Fashion Design

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Masking The Problem

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What do you do when all your art shows are cancelled, the client commissions have all but dried up and earnings from your work looks uncertain for the foreseeable future?  You switch gears and create something that every single person has a need for right at the moment – masks.  But, you do it YOUR way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After many early prototypes, I came up with final patterns sized for a child, woman and man, compete with appropriate elastic lengths for the ear loops.  After that was finalized, the sky was the limit for fabric prints, imagery, trims, embellishments etc. to create custom, one of a kind masks to keep people safe and to allow them the ability to still self-express as they saw fit.  I posted the first few and waited to see what would happen.  Success!  People loved my masks as much as they loved my garments.  One customer and loyal follower of my work told me it enabled her to have a Bombshell Revival piece for now in a practical and affordable way.  She felt the mask she purchased was very much my esthetic and was proud to have a mask that was one of a kind and that no one else could buy just anywhere.  It seemed I was on the right track.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have received many compliments on the various designs I have come up with, the excellent and comfortable fit of the masks as well as the quality in the construction of them.  I have also been told that wearing one of my masks is a bright spot for the wearer in an otherwise sometimes gloomy time.  The comments I have received over and over are – if we have to wear them, we might as well enjoy it – and – I’m not adding to my wardrobe at the moment so this will be my new accessory to express myself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have had customers purchase masks for everyday wear, as gifts for others and for wearing to special events such as a wedding.  My poppies line of masks was especially popular and all the monies earned from the sale of those masks were donated by me to The Royal Canadian Legion.  Christmas 2020 was a busy time of year for me as the Christmas and angel themed masks I made flew off my work table, including needing to make more of certain designs that were in high demand.  I have tried to come up with and produce new designs for every new season or holiday that we have experienced since the start of the pandemic to give myself a creative outlet as well as to provide people with a fresh spin on mask wearing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am glad that I decided to jump on the mask making bandwagon and take it in my own direction.  It has kept me busy, kept my mind active and it has also given me much needed human connections and warm fuzzy feelings.  I am not sure how many more of these I will want or need to make but am willing to keep imagining and creating as long as there is a demand and maybe most importantly, as long as it keeps giving people good vibes and something to smile about.

Party Girl!

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Silver metallic polka dots on sheer white netting.  How could I not think party dress when I found this fabulous fabric on sale for a steal after Halloween?  I had the perfect white strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline in my raw materials just waiting to be upcycled into something special.  Let’s go!

I put the dress on one of my dress forms and commenced draping the bodice right from the polka dot fabric.  Once the bodice was completed to my satisfaction, it was time to start on the fun and flirty skirt.  I tried something new with this dress – a horsehair hem.  I used a fairly wide horsehair trim in white and it gave some added swing and volume to the skirt.  I also intentionally made the overskirt of the dress a bit longer and fuller than the dress underneath to really highlight the polka dot fabric. Depending on the wearer’s height, the intended finished length of this dress is at or just below the knee.

Once the skirt was finished and attached to the dress, the waistline was trimmed and accented with a white satin fabric.  The waist of the dress has also been embellished with a large side bow created from the same white satin fabric with an overlay of the metallic polka dot fabric.  I used a few layers of netting inside the bow to ensure that it retains its fullness and pouf.  A smaller white bow in the center of the larger one is unexpected and a nice finishing detail.  Nothing adds instant party and femininity to a dress like a good sized bow!

While this dress has a definite retro appeal and vibe, there is something timeless about it as well.  Now that she is ready for a twirl on the dance floor, I defy anyone not to have a good time while wearing this dress!

A Different Approach

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As many of you who follow me and my work know by now, I am an artist who primarily produces wearable art through various upcycling techniques.  Occasionally, I decide to go back to the basics and create a piece from the ground up using paper patterns and various fabric and trim yardages.  Producing a garment this way allows me the opportunity to apply my pattern making skills, learned construction techniques and sometimes gives me greater freedom of design than working with and altering an already finished garment.  Such is the case with this wedding dress that I recently created.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of my favourite parts of the design process, is shopping and hunting for fabrics, trims, embellishments and other supplies.  Once I have selected and gathered together all the needed materials, the juices really start flowing and I can’t wait to get started and see the vision in my head come to life.  I was very happy with my finds for this dress.  It is elegant, romantic and has a lightness and ethereal quality to it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I find doing beadwork and other couture embellishing very meditative and relaxing.  It does require patience and commitment but the end results are so satisfying and add so much visual interest, texture and uniqueness to a finished piece.  This dress has over 400 beads, pearls and crystals in total, which were each sewn onto the lace appliques work on the dress by hand.  All of the prong set jewels were also hand sewn.  I am also quickly becoming known for my fine attention to detail, such as beadwork and other hand worked techniques.  I am proud of this growing distinction as it sets my work apart from others’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The other investment time wise that went into this design was the cutting apart, placement and sewing of each lace applique on the bodice, skirt and train.  It is more economical but more labour intensive to purchase a piece of lace where you can cut apart individual appliques rather than purchase ready to place and sew lace appliques.  The train’s edge was formed by piecing together lace parts of various sizes to give the illusion of one large applique and then sewing it all down bit by bit.  The beadwork was added to the train’s lacework after it was fully formed.  As you have also probably gleaned by now, it is also a crazy amount of work to hand bead lace pieces rather than purchasing lace that have already been factory beaded and embellished but, again, can be more cost effective.  You are also able to produce beaded pieces that are exactly what you envisioned rather than be at the mercy of what is offered to you ready made.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All in all, this dress turned out to be a good reminder of all the skills I possess and that when called upon, I can still put them to fruitful and satisfying use.  Upcycling is still my true passion and calling but a good start with nothing design idea still has its place in my heart and portfolio.