I Now Have Pinterest!

Thanks to the ever inspiring site pinterest.com I was almost lured away from my blog permanently. Instead of  updating my blog I was continuously logging on Pinterest every day (and sometimes every couple of hours each day) I was absolutely addicted. Although it may just have been a good thing. I came to a point where I was no longer inspired by my old inspirations for my fashion designs. I wanted to create something new, sexy but classy and thanks to Pinterest I found just the thing, a woman's tuxedo.  I designed it as a one piece with a high waist & low neckline & halter neck, sleeveless and shorts, made out of pressed heavy polyester with satin lining, collar, and hems.
I now officially think that Pinterest.com is the Google images for creative people and that's just the brief definition of it.
It's like Facebook/Google images/Polyvore/Twitter its great!

If you notice that I am gone from my blog for a very long time you can normally find me here: http://pinterest.com/sassysarah1990/

Wedding dress designs (Recent & upcoming projects)

Finally after two years of designing, searching and creating I have finally almost completed my own wedding dress. I was inspired by a mix of Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco, Princess Diana of Wales, and Queen Elizabeth of England's wedding apparel.
I was originally gifted the original dress by my employer from my co-op placement at The Crosmaz & Brown Vintage Emporium, soon after I received it I then took it apart and made it into something completely new.
It is now a ballgown wedding dress with a Cathedral length train (Almost as long as princess Diana's was) it also now has a sweet hear neckline trimmed with antique lace (It's original neckline was a Jewel neckline, but I turned it into a more flattering neckline for my figure and I was inspired by Grace Kelly's)
The front of the ballgown skirt still has it's original autumn leaves applique still on it (The applique formerly continued up onto the bodice but I removed that as it was too distracting and looked more elegant just on the skirt)
Something I still need to add to it is the ribbon waist line, there is a medium sized satin bow on the back just below the zipper so I want it to look like I have a thick ribbon tied around my waist to accent it.

I hopefully have an upcoming project coming up, to design a historical wedding dress.
My possible client is interested in something Victorian to go with her themed wedding so it is now in the research and design process. She wants a large ballgown skirt like mine or bigger with an incredibly long train and a corseted sleeveless bodice. I plan to create it a similar way that I did with mine (Although in a much shorter time period) with a base dress that I could alter and use the fabric from and add or remove things to correspond with the intended design as they want it cost effective, and I will probably just rent out or let her borrow the undergarmentry as she wants it similar to the one for mine. To make it cost effective it would be a better option or the undergarments could end up more expensive then the dress itself since she wishes it to be very poufy. Hopefully all goes well and I start creating this soon :)

My first costuming project:Hastings Founders Week

Two years ago this September I would have participated in my first historical costuming/designing project. It took place in my home town Hastings, Ontario. I had worked with the Hastings Historical Society and some friends to put together events and design and make costumes to celebrate the founding of the town of Hastings. It was a weeklong event and not only was I part of the costuming crew I also got to wear most of the costumes I made, although I did make costumes for others and not just myself.

Mourning gown

Most of my gowns were bright and youthful but I also made a mourning gown. (I am modeling my own gown on the left)This gown is not entirely black so it would be intended for semi mourning. I wanted to keep the traditions and beliefs from the Victorian period for my character.

For one of my last appearances in costume I wore this, I was sad to see the festival coming to an end and but I also wanted to portray my character as a young widow as most pioneer women married young and could easily lose a husband in a farming or hunting accident.

Pink Gown

I am modeling my own gown on the far right of this picture with some members of Hastings Founders Week. I did some alterations on it earlier this year but this is a picture of it in its original design.

I really had no set inspiration for this dress it was a whole mix of things but my biggest inspiration was its fabric it is pink with beautiful pink rosebuds printed on it. Since it was to be a pioneer costume I went for a girly country vibe.

My inspiration for its recent alterations is Marie Antoinette I like the split skirt with the underskirt showing at the front, so originally there was a seam at the very front of the dress's skirt, but I cut that and added lace trim and now have a light pink underskirt trimmed with lace to go underneath it.

Rust Colored Riding Habit

The riding habit that I made (Which is modeled by a friend below) was inspired by a similar rust colored riding habit with full skirt also featured below.

I wanted to go for a more regency feel to it so I planned something similar only with a considerably deflated skirt.

I admit it did turn out different than originally planned as do most of my designs I continuously design and work with it until I get a perfect final result, but I had also given up on this costume half way through making it and it was continued by my friend Natalia Tjiang as she was supposed to wear it in The Hastings Founders Week Festival but could no longer participate and this was supposed to be her costume. So by technicality this one was co designed & created.  

The riding habit was supposed to have a duplicate so that there would be matching set only the other one was to be browner with rust colored accents rather than rust colored with brown accents. Natalia & I were to wear them but due to her inability to participate in most of the event these rust colord habits were not featured in the festival. 

Meant to be worn with long black riding gloves like the inspirational photo above this is probably one of my better creations I made for The Hastings Founders Week Festival.

My Second Obsession: Anne Boleyn

A queen mostly known for being the second wife of Henry VIII who was beheaded for a few (probably false) crimes against the king and her country, but thanks to the series The Tudors and the movie and book called The Other Boleyn Girl it started the beginning of a life long obsession, and inspiration. Over time I have collected photo's from the TV series and the movie and have used them to inspire more than a few designs.

I remember my very first design was inspired by a photo of Anne Boleyn from the TV series The Tudors she was walking with Henry VIII in a winter scene and she was wearing a fur cloak, I later bought an old mink fur jacket and ripped the separate pelts apart and reformed it into a new cloak complete with brown satin lining. Thank you Queen Anne Boleyn!

Just like with the Marie Antoinette feature photo's are soon to come including photo's of my designs.

How Marie Antoinette not only affected history but also Haute Couture as we know it

Christian Dior, Chanel, & Oscar de la renta are all well known designers. They are also well known designers that when the movie Marie Antoinette by Sophia Coppola came to theaters they based their creations off of Marie Antoinette's own historical fashion sense. The light luxuriant fabrics, the gathered layers, ruffles, flowers, bows, and of course the curled and fluffed high hair.

Queen Marie Antoinette may have been rumored to say "let them eat cake" which she is more well known for, but her sense fashion has also left a lasting impression. She is one of the most misunderstood Queen's of history and also one of my greatest idols so of course she has also inspired my own designs too and not just Christian Dior's. Available soon will be photo's of modern design in comparison to that of the movie will soon be featured on my main page.

Comparison I

Below is a photo taken by a photographer inspired by the very scene from the movie Marie Antoinette, and the wedding dress designer Ian stuart also featured below.

Comparison II

Below is a photo featured on www.weddinginspirasi.com the wedding dresses featured in the photo are from the collection of designer Ian Stuart , also below is the image (a screen shot) that may have inspired it.