Sloth Togs

For episode eight of season fourteen, the designers were asked to design lingerie for Heidi Klum's intimate line. I wasn't about to make lingerie for my five year old. Instead I made a swimsuit. I took photos of her in it and she was so adorable. But, she isn't a baby anymore and she is very pretty. It just wasn't right to post those photos on the internet. 

You probably don't know this, but I love vintage swimsuits. I have a thing for swimsuits in general actually, being a swimmer and all. But I am not talking about the one's that you can buy at Target, or any other clothing type chain. I love functional swimsuits that fit so that you can move freely in the water without worrying that you might fall out in places. In general, people don't like wearing swimsuits in public. But if you get a good one, you feel totally comfortable and free. Vintage swimsuits were good because they covered up all the problem areas, but still made people feel and look beautiful. The materials were not technologically up to scratch at the time, but the style was pretty great.

I must also say that Esther Williams is a hero of mine. I am not into the modern day synchronized swimming with the fast head tilts and legs flying stuff. Its just ridiculous actually. Don't get me wrong, they are amazing athletes. Its just that it doesn't have soul. But Esther Williams, the mother  of mermaidum, had serious soul. Despite all of her scripted smiles and silly expressions, I can look past it all and think, wow she was an amazing swimmer. I also really admire and relate to her grace because I am a very awkward and clumsy person on land. But in water, I feel totally natural and beautiful.

So I based my designs on these two loves. The bottoms are what is known as a modesty skirt, which I think someone should bring back because they are awesome.  Often, women get boyleg swimsuits because they feel their figure isn't right to wear anything more revealing. But the problem is: "hungry crotch." If you have normal legs and your thighs touch, you are going to have to be pulling those boyleg bottoms down all the time, which make you feel uncomfortable and self conscience. The modesty skirt totally resolves this problem. Any figure can wear it and it will look good. Then, I did kind of a crop top type thing for the top because, as I said before, I am a swimmer. Things that cover you up but expose the good parts, like the upper part of the stomach, and your shoulders are good. It is sporty, like me. The super feminine bottoms with a kind of tom boy top are a good balance. 

The sloth print is from a t-shirt that I ordered from Threadless.com. The fabric was polyester, which felt disgusting as a t-shirt. I held onto it for a couple of years thinking one day that it would make a great swimsuit, because Polyester withstand chlorine really well. I also had that heart fabric stashed away for the day that I would try my hand at making a swimsuit. 

So there you have it. I know a lot about swimsuits and have very particular tastes when it comes to them. I guess you could call me a connoisseur, as I always have at least five stashed away in my top drawer. 

I thought maybe this project would inspire me to make swimsuits to sell. But I actually found this challenge very difficult. The order of operations when constructing swimsuits is so important. And the fabric was a real pain to cut, stretch and sew. It turned out to be a pretty frustrating experience. 

Overall I think the judges would have liked the swimsuit. But upon a closer look, they would have seen where my sewing skills and experience had failed me. I think if there is vision, the judges usually over look that. I remember Heidi once saying, "this is a design competition, not a sewing competition. " Anyway, I am kind of a dork. Hee hee!

Homemade Dyes

What I did for this challenge was nowhere near as exciting as what the actual designers of the show had to do. They were split up into teams and taken to a paintball range. Each team then took turns shooting at each other while they made a run to grab fabric. They thought the fabric that they ran for was the fabric that they were going to use for their challenge. As it turned out, their paintball costumes were going to be the fabric. They wore white jumpsuits that got splattered with paint. As a team they had to make a cohesive collection and could use the fabric that they ran for as supplemental material. The designers were then allowed to play with dyes and paints when they were back at the studio and given more paintballs to smash and do whatever with. I was not going to go out and play paintball by myself or have Morgan shoot me while I ran for fabric. So I chose to experiment with what I had at home. I used an off white muslin as my fabric and dyed it with turmeric to create the textile for the jacket. When I was pressing it, the iron was not quite hot enough so the warm water dripped out and made a really neat splatter effect. As for the skirt, I used some acrylic paint that I had. I mixed it is in hot water. But I purposely left some chunks here and there so that it would make a splotchy effect. Then I had some spare orange cotton that I made into a little tank top to go with the jacket. 

I have actually had this outfit finished for weeks, but Pearl didn't like it and refused to try it on. She really liked the orange Turmeric jacket and very firmly told me that she wanted an Indian dress. She basically wanted me to make her a Sari. But I think there has to be a balance here. That would have been way too much orange. I think the colours together look great. I actually really like this look. I started to feel that my designs were becoming a bit too grown up. So I wanted to have a more full and playful skirt. I think it is a nice balance to the little kimono jacket. I totally love how the textile turned out too. After pearl put it on, she loved it. She said it was her Moana outfit because the skirt looked like water. 

I think the judges would have liked it personally. But this one may have been a design where Heidi might have said, "Personally, this was not one of my favorites" because thats kind of how Pearl felt about it. And on this show, she is my Heidi. But oh well. She is four and very hard to please. I like it and I stand by my design. 

Destination Muse

It has been a little while. I know I would be one of the first designers eliminated if I was on the show because it seems to be taking me forever to finish a challenge. But I think I have a couple of good excuses. An eleven month old that wakes up about four times a night is probably the best excuse. Anyway, I have finished the next challenge and I am very happy with it. For this episode, the designers were taken on to a cruise ship where they were partnered up with another designer and asked to choose a suitcase with a name of a city on it. Inside was fabric that they were asked to use to create a look that was inspired by the city whose name was on their suitcase. It had to be a look that could transition from daywear to eveningwear.

As some of you know, I traveled back to Florida to visit my grandma before she passed away. Instead of a particular city, the entire journey became my inspiration. My son Orion and I traveled on three planes for two and a half days to get to our destination. This made me consider the importance of comfortable clothing while traveling. So I designed these delicately pleated harem pants with this little dance tank top. I was going for something that looks elegant, unique, and comfortable. My grandma was also a dancer, so I wanted to make something that a little girl would want to dance in. I think I achieved this, as Pearl immediately started jumping around and asked if she could keep the clothes on for a while. 

Then, to make this outfit transition into eveningwear, using fabric that I designed, I created a kimono dress coat. There is a website called Spoonflower where you can upload your own designs and have them printed on fabric. When I went to Florida, I had the opportunity to swim with a Manatee! This has been on my bucket list for a very long time and I feel like a more fulfilled person because of it. I love manatees. So I created manatee fabric. Here is where I deviated from the parameters of the challenge. I felt compelled to make a manatee kimono. It just seemed so incredibly perfect. So instead of using what I had, I ordered this special fabric for this challenge.

I chose to make a kimono because if you haven't already gathered, I have a thing for kimonos. I love them. The Japanese have such an exquisite and well designed aesthetic. At the heart of it is this beautiful and perfect piece of clothing. When my grandma was first diagnosed with cancer, I sent her  a really gorgeous kimono to wear as a robe. I felt so horrible for her because she was always such a classy lady, always done up with her makeup and everything. But when she went through chemo, she was so miserable. I wanted to give her something effortless to wear and feel good in. That is why I chose to give her a kimono. And that is why I created this little coat for Pearl. It has a very unique design with pretty little inverted side pleats and little button that looks like bamboo. It is so pretty and elegant, and I love it. 

I really don't know what the judges would say about this challenge. It is possible that they may say that it is a bit pajama like. But I don't think so. There are so many little details that make this outfit look so pretty, interesting, and as Nina Garcia would say, "expensive." I really love this look and would definitely wear it. I think it meets the criteria of the challenge and I feel that the deviation on the manatee fabric was appropriate. Its a very personal design and I love that I used this challenge to reflect on my journey across the world to say goodby to my beautiful and amazing grandmother, Karen Davis Macdonald. 

Classic With a Twist

Things have been crazy here at home. Recently my baby boy Orion and I went to Florida to visit my grandmother who only just passed away. Because of this whirlwind tour and losing my grandmother, I haven't been too motivated, nor have I had the time to sew very much. But now that things have settled, I am back at it. I have decided to jump ahead to the fourth challenge because I have a surprise that I am waiting on for the third. So you will just have to wait. For the fourth challenge, the designers were instructed to take their inspiration from a classic piece of fashion history and put their own personal spin on it. I chose Audrey Hepburn's "little black dress," inspired by Coco Chanel.

Audrey Hepburn is a very feminine and beautiful lady that does well with wearing fitted and sleek things. On the other hand, she has a very, little girl feel to her as well. She is a bit innocent, playful, and has a stick figure. So I thought something like this dress would be fun for a little girl. Most little girl clothes are not form fitted. I thought that would make for a unique silhouette. When I went back to the US, I went to a fabric store and loaded up on some fabric. It is so much cheaper there. I loved this dark pink checkered print. It was playful but tough, and not generic like most pinks used in little girl clothes. I could have done black. But that would have been too literal and I am sure Pearl would never wear it if I did. 

I wanted to have an open back because I think backs are beautiful and it is such a waste of fabric to cover them up, especially on a little person who doesn't need to cover up support for their front. I decided for a higher hem than Audrey's dress so that Pear could still move around, and I used the zip on the outside as a slit too. That splash of colour on the back was to hide a mistake. I wanted to incorporate the yellow somehow but couldn't figure out what to do. When I cut the skirt, I made it too tight. So I needed to either make it over or add fabric. Thats how it came out. The photos aren't the best because Pearl was not in the mood to try on clothes and get her photo taken. But overall it fit nicely and she could still move in it. The judges might have thought the front was boring. I would argue that if it was on an adult model it would be. But because it is on a little girl, it is interesting. They would probably like the back, I would hope. I think I might have played it safe for this challenge. I lost steam and motivation with all that is going on. But I still think the little dress has a bit of edge and is interesting. So there you go.

Unconventional Materials Challenge

For the second challenge of Project Runway Season 14, the designers were taken to a Hallmark Gift Card store and told to gather as many cards as they could in two minutes to use to create their next look. The only requirement was that it had to be mostly made from the cards. I was not about to go out and spend a bunch of money on cards to cut up. So I used some of my beloved Frankie Magazines.

I have a lot of these magazines, not only because I have a subscription but because whenever someone is giving them away, I grab them. They are beautiful magazines filled with quirky artwork and a lovely matte finish. I just love holding them. The articles don't impress me, but the look of the magazine is total eye candy to me. So I decided to use them for my paper. I have used them for other projects and they turn out so well because of the fine paper quality, colours, and matte finish. I decided to go for a flapper look and started making lots and lots of paper sequin.

Please excuse my toes!

Originally I was going to cover the entire dress with them. But it was taking forever and I wasn't happy with how it looked. I thought it looked too gimmicky really. Not sure what to do, I kind of just left it there, doing a couple of pieces of sequin at a time, feeling stumped. I thought about the design process and how the first thing a person notices is the silhouette, then the structure, then the technique. So I went back and looked at it and tried to figure out how to make the silhouette and structure more interesting. I looked at different references and all the sudden became very inspired. I cut up my favorite Frankie Magazine poster with this cat on it, and splayed it out like a fan, then made a drop ruffle waist with a sequin skirt. I thought I would just have fun with the back and put these pink and black stripes on them.

Lots of flapper dresses have low backs so I put that on there too. I am really happy with how this looks and I think the judges would have smiled when they saw it coming down the runway. I think Heidi Klum would have said that it was fun, flirty, and that she would want one for herself. I know if it was made out of fabric I would want one for me. Too bad Pearl can only really wear it once!

First Challenge!

For the first challenge of Project Runway, season 14, the designers are taken to a large sports arena where they have to run around grabbing fabric that has been laid out prior to the start of the show. They then take the fabric back to the workroom and are told to create something that represents them as a designer. The guidelines were very open. But it was meant to be something that made the judges want to see more. So for me, I went into my closet, looked at the fabric I already had, as well as my clothes, and felt that this beautiful kimono that I have been stashing away for the right occasion would be perfect.

I love this kimono. It is a stiff cotton fabric with the most beautiful print. I wanted to make something with  a real vintage feel and I wanted it to be classic little girl. In the show they always ask who you are designing for. In my head I came up with this whole story about it being post ww2, after the bombing of Pearl Harbour and one of the jet fighters brought back a bundle of kimonos for his wife to make into clothes. So that was kind of the idea I was running with. The fabric has a real island feel, which reminded me of when we went to Tonga and these beautiful little school girls ran to us when we were walking along the road so they could have a look at our little blue eyed baby Pearl as well as practice some of their english. 

 So I started to cut.  It was a great learning experience. For Christmas, Morgan got me a French curve, a tool used for architecture and pattern design. I had no idea how to use it until youtube taught me what I needed to know. I came up with my own design and pattern, which I am very proud of. It is a sweet little dress with red buttons and a red bow in the back. It even has pockets, because all dresses should actually have pockets. Its meant to be playful, easy, and classic. Maybe if I was on the show the judges would say they have seen this silhouette before and it is a bit dated. I don't really care because I am not on the show. And I think that little girl clothes these days are too commercial. They all look kind of cheap. Just stick a disney princess on them and they are good to go. I don't like that. I think it is nice when a little dress comes along that has a bit of nostalgia wrapped up in it, and it is something that, instead of taking to the thrift shop when your daughter grows out of it, you hold onto it for many, many years. Thats what I tried to make, and I am happy with it.

Welcome to the Runway!

For those of you that don't know, I have a bit of an obsession with the show Project Runway. I love seeing what people create in such a short period of time and often wonder what I would make if I were on the show. I am pretty sure I would be eliminated on the first challenge due to the fact that I am inexperienced and slow. Another great love in my life is my daughter, Pearl. She is what her kindy teachers call a "fashion plate." Her sense of style is very unique and she has rigid rules about fashion. I enjoy seeing what she will pick out to wear and why. I also love making clothes for her. Often she will draw designs for me and we will go down to the little variety store and pick out some fabric so I can make her something fun to wear. Pearl is also very particular about pretty much all aspects of life; what she eats, when she eats, what voices we use when we are reading a book to her, how we play with her. This year, as a stay at home mom, I have decided I need a project. So I am going to try to complete all the challenges from Project Runway Season 14 with Pearl as my muse, model, and judge. Being that I have children, I am going to give myself as much time as I need to complete each design. There will be some other slight modifications to the challenges as well. I will obviously have a smaller budget, and instead of shopping at Mood, I will purchase fabric at Geoff's Emporium in Warkworth NZ. So Lets start the show!