Monday, June 27, 2011

Winter Dresses



Red Merino knit dress

I've just started making these dresses in the last couple of weeks, as an adaptation of my last season merino knit dresses.

They feature a plain sleeveless bodice and a full circle skirt from the waist, with an asymmetrical hemline.

They're lovely to wear and layer in every season, and are available made-to-order in almost any colour, in pure merino wool jersey, for only $149.

Thin grey and black stripe dress with button detail

Grey marle and green stripe knit dress

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Kiss Me Kate

Kate is this week's feature bride. 
I described the design process for her dress previously,
in "How to Design Your Wedding Dress, Part 2".

Her Lissom Yarn gown is bias-cut, "Natural" silk satin, featuring a cowl back and gathered bodice, and a full train and veil. Lined in silk crepe, finished with self-covered buttons, and twist belt. 

Here are her beautiful photos...thanks to Ben Adams, who did Kate and Cam's photography on the day. 















Thanks Kate, for sharing your gorgeous photos with us!

Monday, June 13, 2011

Thoroughly Modern Maude's Wedding Dress

This week we have the beautiful Maude as our feature bride. 

Maude came to me with a picture of a Celine gown, which she felt was the perfect style for her modern, urban wedding. Its the one below, on the left, in blue; fresh, contemporary and yet still romantic. 

From Aria Blog
Maude of course wanted hers to be a bit more "wedding", in ivory or cream.

Maude's setting was as follows:
1. Season - Late Autumn
2. Setting - Urban, warehouse reception
3. Style - modern and simple.

Maude loved the gathering around the bodice, and the delicate cap sleeves, as well the romantic flowing skirt.
She also loves Japanese prints and fabric, so I used that as a reference point for the aesthetic of the dress: simple, elegant, utilising the inherent beauty of the fabrics we chose

Design sketch

I decided that perhaps a more natural cotton and tulle effect would suit Maude and her wedding, removing any fussy satin, silk or shine from her look.
I really wanted a Japanese silk brocade, a matte white on white jacquard pattern that is usually for kimono, but instead Tessuti provided me with the beautiful option of a seersucker cotton Hana, which is very modern and not too elaborate. 

White Hana Web Seersucker 100% Cotton
This was for the dress proper. Then over the top, I layered silk tulle and some nylon net - a super find from The Fabric Store, in a fleshy colour, just to reduce the whiteness of the cotton; Maude wanted cream, not white. 
This is the first time I've used silk tulle, mostly because it's so gosh-darn expensive - it retails for about $170/m. And when the design is so drape-y and folded, thats an awful lot of money. But it was so very worthwhile this time. 

I made the top and bottom halves in the cotton, and fused the bodice, then gathered the tulle panels and machine tacked them over the cotton. Then sewed the bodice together, and the bodice to the skirt. 


The skirt layering was made by cutting oblique shapes from the tulle and layering and draping them until they looked pretty. Then I lined it with cream silk crepe,and finished the dress.

Maude bought me her chosen Japanese feature print, and I made her belt, her groom's hankercheif and a little purse for her things on the Big Day.
Layered tulle and net over cotton seersucker
Japanese cotton purse w/ strap

I was absolutely in love with this dress, I have to admit. It turned out to be so delicious and modern and restrained, but I'm a sucker for cotton and silk, so it was a joy to make.

As part of the Lissom Yarn Bridal service, all bridal clients receive a framed, original fashion sketch of their unique dress...for the wedding scrapbook, you know :)



And here is the Maude on her wedding day! Enjoy!





Next time, more real brides, and other nice-things-that-I-made-myself.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Sebastian's Sister and Eternal Safari

The Loop Dress, transformable. Available in Black and white knit.
Super Exciting!

I have just received a wonderful shipment of these new items, an exclusive collection from the collaborating designers Sebastian's Sister and Eternal Safari.

These ladies hail from Canberra, and are making incredible, modern, elegant, clever fashion that suits almost every body shape. 
Their signature detailed pattern-making, and focus on transformation in a lot of their garments makes each piece intriguing. They use high quality fabrics such as merino knits, and really interesting textile patterns and textures, to offset your black winter woolies. 

This is a limited edition winter collection, so get in quick to nab one of these awesome Aussie pieces.

Hebrides Wool Jacket: can be worn two ways

The Wim Top, Merino Vest, and No.16 Merino wool Jumper

Bones Medley Stretch Cotton Jacket: can be worn two ways

Bat Macumba Dress

Check out their full range at Sebastian's Sister/Eternal Safari