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.