Wednesday, September 30, 2009

And now for my next project...

A few months ago, I posted a blog entry called My Inner Suzy Homemaker Confessed, where I divulged my secret desire to become a fabulous maker of dresses.

Not just any dresses either. I wanted to make my own couture.

For any of you males out there who think couture is a funky foreign way to say "culture" (like Will thought), here is what couture actually means:

cou⋅ture  /kuˈtʊər; Fr. kuˈtür/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [koo-toor; Fr. koo-tyr]
noun 1. the occupation of a couturier; dressmaking and designing.
2. fashion designers or couturiers collectively.
3. the clothes and related articles designed by such designers.
4. the business establishments of such designers, esp. where clothes are made to order.

adjective 5. created or produced by a fashion designer: couture clothes.
6. being, having, or suggesting the style, quality, etc., of a fashion designer; very fashionable: the couture look.

So yes I do realize that my goal is sort of like someone waking up one day and deciding they want to be a concert pianist without ever having played the piano before.

But you see, I only want to make these dresses for myself, for the purpose of having my dream-dresses to wear for my concerts. So the only person with expectations will be myself.

I have myself a nifty little Amazon gift certificate by winning a little 1st place prize for a song I wrote, and so with said gift cert., I have ordered the following book as part of my master plan to design my own couture dresses.

The next thing on my wish list is this busty looking lady:

She is fully adjustable for different sizes, and pin-able. She doesn't even say ouch.

I don't want to sew quilts, pants, blankies (okay maybe for Preston), or shirts. I just want to sew dresses.

I have very little experience, so this project of mine is me starting from scratch, basically. (I did sew myself a midevil Halloween costume a few years ago, and when I was 18 I designed and sewed a dress with the help of my Mom, who, um, did most of the work).

I have however, sketched dress ideas since I was a little girl, am constantly thinking of dresses I wish I could find in the store (but never can), am constantly wishing that modest also meant classy and fashionable without looking stuffy or homely. So I think with my ideas and willing to learn, I might be able to catch on. Hopefully.

I do need to get a sewing machine too, that might help I think.

And no JoAnn Fabrics for me here. I want to find a fabric warehouse in Seattle with lots of options.

My first project is to design my own version of a Valentino Red dress. The style of dresses that I think of are a mixture of his detail, with the Regency era (Jane Austen).

If only Valentino designed dresses with modesty in mind. *sigh* I. Love. His. Dresses.

So I'll post again when I do more with my project!

7 comments:

Dan Thomas said...

if you can't find the time to sow like you would like maybe Will could sow some for you.

Unknown said...

I was looking up fabric online yesterday and I found this amazing site with beautiful (I mean BEAUTIFUL) fabric. Too bad it was about 49.00 a yard on sale compared to the normal 89.00 a yard. So sad :(
Anyway, I need to bring you my machine sometime. We might be in Seattle on Saturday and if so I'll let you know and we can try to workout bring you the machine.

Chelle said...

That's so cool, Jenni! Keep us posted on your budding fashion passion - and I love Valentino dresses too. If you make a modest version of his designs, I just might have to beg you to make me one for my very own!

Unknown said...

YAAAAAY! Jenni!!!! DO! DO! DO! I think it is FABULOUS! I am ALL about designing your own and making it BEAUTIFUL, CLASSY and , ehem... not flashy. classy actually IS modest, but there is such a tendency to all-the-same-we've-seen-it-a-thousand-times styles, so i am ALL for your dream!
BTW, you want to INVEST into a good sawing machine. Viking makes some good ones. AND they have payment plan options. There is nothing like a bad ( CHEAP - and that means under $500 BUT there are always SALES) machine to ruin your creation. AND cheap machines require WAAAAY more maintaining.
There is another book that you may like - if you are into designing " the gospel according to Coco Chanel". It is her biography. I found it simply fascinating and inspiring. I am even more Chanel's fan now.

Definitely keep me posted! I am going to dig through my bookmarked archives , I have some fabric sites somewhere.

Awesome! I am excited to see what you do!

Heather Matthews said...

I just got a new sewing machine and you can have my old one! It's really old but it works great. It would be a good starter one. It's a Singer machine.

Kate said...

What a cool idea! I love your concert dresses, so I can't wait to see what you'll come up with!

Melissa said...

I have so had the sewing bug lately! But I've only made boring things like a Bob the Tomato Halloween costume, baby-legs (adorable and so much cheaper then at the baby boutiques) and cloth diapers and training pants. I would love to make beautiful dresses, but alas, I have no where to wear them. Maybe someday. . . Are you going to take a sewing class?