Couture Studio
Couture means having your clothes tailored just for you- to your taste, fit and needs. A chic pair of PJ’s for walking the dog? Why not!
Blue cotton flannel with indigo cotton trim Printed in Japan
“Beaton” wool houndstooth tweed fabric made in London from Dashing Tweeds with shell buttons
wool Loden jacket with cashmere details and horn buttons - not shown- matching cashmere pants
Wool Plaid dress with frog details
cashmire suit and silk cravat blouse with client-provided materials
This year has started with lots of work. - outfits for clients’ events near and far - new African fabrics from Vlisco waiting to be cut and some new dance costumes for a piece I designed in 2019.
Trisha Brown dancers in “Working Title” photographed on French tour by Delphine Perrin
There were some new dancers in the company since I made the original costumes- The dancer on the left is the 4th one to wear this costume with a bit of tweaking. The middle costume is entirely new and the fushia orchid pants are a new addition. I didn’t use any stretch in the fabics (all cotton & silk) The pants must accomodate a wide range of movement and stand up to many wearings and washings! The first thing the dancers do when trying on the pants is a deep plié. I am always so relieved when they perform well.
Coming to the Joyce Theater NYC March 26 - 31
I was contacted by someone from my website who wanted to give a gift certificate to his sister. It took about a year for her to contact me, but when we met she ordered a dress and chose fabric of which I had a small piece in my studio. The fabric was a block print from India, I didn’t remember the vendor. After a google image search I was able to find someone in India who printed the exact pattern for me. She was very happy with the dress and buttons that I found . her brother also bought her a mohair coat from my studio as a second gift .
Both of these tweeds were brought to me by the client. I had the double sided silk satin from Paris which matched beautifully. The velvet trims tied it together and the raw edged ruffled collar was the finishing touch!
multi -tweed jacket over silk satin dress
The fabric in this dress actually has strands of tartan cloth woven into it,
Wool tweed with generous pockets and self fringe detail on sleeves
tartan strips woven into fabric
These blue silk fabrics were brought to me by a different client . She had a niece’s bat mitzvah in February. I made her a dress and coat of a fairly simple shape which let the fabrics speak
Ice blue silk and wool sheath dress with cowl neckline
Silk brocade rhinestone embellished fabric in coat over silk & wool cowl dress
35 yards of wax- printed cotton to inspire and play with all washed and waiting. . .
Thank you for visiting! Please check back soon❤️
It’s been a harrowing and unsettling time for many and the future feels uncertain. It is good to connect in person and perhaps indulge in some sartorial fun. My winter sale was the setting for much good cheer and an oasis from the outside world.
Artists Mary Jones in Silk Satin stripe organza dress and Jill Levine in Silk cheongsan dress with flower embellishment.
Caroline wearing silk velvet “Confetti Dress” from 1995 show with Mary Heilmann “Crimson and Clover”
Laurie Eustis Taffetta Coral dress
Joelle Reilly in Wax print skirt with silk paint splatter sash
Mary Jones shopping the rack
Joanne Gair in Fallen Tree dress
The Twi proverb written on this dress says ‘Dua Kur Gye Enum A Obu” which means “A Tree Alone Cannot stand the Wind”
Wishing everyone a Healthy Peacfull and love-filled New Year❣️
I’ve been working on outfits for clients near and far - here is a peak into my studio these first months of 2023 -
a spectacular textured silk and wool from Italy with Fleur de Lys 3-D embellishments -
I made a rosette pin as an embellishment
The complete outfit for an ambassador dinner with Ottoman coat and 4-ply silk splatter lining and scarf
Iridescent silk dress in a color I call Absynthe with puckered details borrowed from the V& A antique costume collection
Tweed jacket with gold trim, silk chiffon blouse and corduroy skirt
Surprise pink silk lining
Lightweight wool challis brought to me by client
blue wool and mohair coat with fabric given to me by above client
Continuing the blue theme- a blue velvet dress I made as a sample
Dark Navy cashmere coat with appliques made for fun as sample - inspiration taken from dear friends I’ve lost and hold near me
This summery chiffon dress came to visit for a touch-up
Anticipating Spring! Fun was had at my Winter sale
Love and good health to all! Keep your heart open
My littlest client and grandniece in her polka-dot Christmas dress with chiffon collar
There’s always something reassuring and thrilling to me as the seasons change - and this year the colors of Fall in New York where I am are gloriously beautiful. One wants to be wrapped up in cozy scarves and lovely wool fabrics. At least I do. And happily my clients agree with me. I’ve been at work on some Fall and winter outfits for several months.
Cashmere loden coat with orange wool crepe piping and crest buttons for client
detail
I have had the pleasure to work with some wonderful people. It is, at it’s best, a collaboration between designer and client. The more I get to know the client, the more fruitful the relationship becomes. I like to make clothes that are not so trendy that they go out of style in a season. Classics that are well made and well designed can last for years! These were all made recently for one client.
wool plaid dress with self fringe and generous pockets - made for client
cotton flannel Pajamas with novelty wool trim - snap front closure and optional belt - for client
doubleface wool jacket with gold zips and subtle windowpane plaid pants - for client
wool plaid jacket with plaid buttons, wool voile shirt, and wool pants
Japanese cotton jacket with silk lining, self frogs and patterned buttons over Aboriginal cotton dress
frog and button detail - Japanese cotton jacket
Cotton Matelassé dress
Wool coat over linen dress
detail - linen curve dress and wool coat
Linen curve dress withe kantha cloth piping - coordinates with Kantha coat
wishing everyone a positive year ahead in which we stay safe but don’t forget to dream
I am so pleased that this article by Jack Yan, published in his lavish New Zealand magazine, Lucire, has just come out after a year long delay due to covid. It covers quite a bit of my history in his perceptive interview-
Say goodbye to summer and it’s indolent airs , but not to the concept of dressing for pleasure. Dites Bonjour to mixing and layering prints, textures, colors or whatever you like- make dressing an adventure.
Orange Lampas Brocade coat over cotton print dress
The coat is lined in silk charmeuse and has antique filigree buttons collected in Southern Germany concealing hook and eye closures that fasten the coat - shown here also before buttons were added - coat sz 12 - $750. Dress sz 14 - $375.
A cotton wax-print frock coat can be layered over pants or dresses - to stylish effect - Letters and numbers Ankara print is a traditional African pattern - lined in rayon bemberg - sz 6-8 - $650.
Nothing says VIP better than a dress that actually says vip . . Cotton wax print button front dress with semi-belt tie. sz 6-8 - $550.
We got out of the city for the first time since the Pandemic- Had a lovely weekend visit with old friends at the beach.
Back in the studio. . . .
A full cotton print skirt with a belt and dark top has been my wardrobe choice for bicycling along the Hudson River to and from my studio feeling free as a bird!
Continue to stay safe everyone and dress for pleasure! ❤️
detail of Peony - painted by Eve Vaterlaus
I recently asked longtime friend and collaborator Eve Vaterlaus to paint whatever she liked for me on two pieces of silk.. I chose a heavy weight silk charmeuse with a luxurious hand.
Eve Vaterlaus with the fabric pieces she painted
I knew I wanted to drape the dresses directly on the dress form and on the bias without making a pattern.
It is scary, but exhilarating to make the first cut - I ended up using almost every bit of the fabric.
The dresses modeled by my two favorite models - my nieces. . .
Pink Peonies on pale green satin modeled by Ellison Mellor
Yellow silk Poppies
modeled by Lucy Debernardi
Contact me for more info on how to purchase or to make an appointment to visit my NYC Chelsea Atelier
visit my atelier for more !
I’ve enjoyed meeting with clients one-on-one during my sale this month. It’s great to be able to really focus on one person, even though I miss the social interaction of the evening sales. . .There is still time to visit- please contact me through the contact page to make an appointment. Masks worn, of course!
This is the first dress I made (this time around) which began my fascination, or re-infatuation, with African wax-print fabrics. I first encountered these fabrics in Paris sometime in the 1980’s in one of the fabric shops at the base of Sacrè -Cœur. I hadn’t really thought about them for a while, when a few years ago I was given a salesmans’ swatch book from AK Fabrics, one of my favorite fabric stores. This was comprised of square pieces of various sizes. One day I decided to open it up and I just began to pin each one onto a dress form in the order that they came in. It was entirely serendipitous, and became the dress you see here. Each side is so different, I wanted to show them all and the pieced-together patchwork, born of necessity. Underneath it all I added a structure of a cotton dress with boned bodice and horsehair hem skirt. Though this dress has been sold, you can view other dresses for sale here.
This year is obviously different, so I will be seeing people individually, by appointment or in small family units of 2. . . I’ve been working hard and have lots of new items as well as older ones very enticingly priced! Come have a look, or a peek online. Please reach out to me with any questions-
Stay safe, healthy, and hope to see you!.
I ventured out last weekend to make a citibike trip to my studio where I haven’t been since early March. I was greeted by a lovely sunny view of everything in place just as I left it. I collected some fabric and things I could use to work from home. I am making a limited edition of masks and samples. To this end I have set up a page called “Shop” where you can view items that I have for purchase. In the spirit of couture, you may contact me directly to inquire about any items that you are interested in. I can send additional information/ photos on most items and answer questions as to fit and construction. I take many forms of payment including PayPal, Venmo, Zelle and regular credit cards. I hope you are all well and manginging to stay safe in our altered reality.♥️
Stay Safe !
Like many of you whose professions do not require you to be on the front lines helping to fight the corona virus, or feeding and caring for the population- I am working as best as possible from home. I’ve been doing some drawings which I hope you find diverting. I will be back to work on my client’s projects as soon as it is safe. in the meantime I am creating a page on this site for items I have currently available- Inquiries are always welcome!
Thank you for taking the time to visit and stay safe!
with love, Elizabeth
4-ply silk crepe is a beautiful fabric with a luxurious hand that can be worn year round
engraving - jean-jaques lequeu - living room at Hotel le Montholon - 1786 -
Dress - 4-ply silk with silk chiffon sleeve and lining - size 6 -$950.
I will be having my Winter Sale on Tuesday, Dec 10 - there will be new items as well as older couture stock at greatly reduced prices- if you cannot attend on the day of the sale, please get in touch to make an appointment in the following days until Dec 30. Happy Holidays to All!
The Chelsea Galleries are full of color and inspiration this month. I only have to leave my studio and walk a few steps to enter whole other worlds .
Nicolas Party has transformed the Flag Art Foundation into a stage set for pastel works by various artists including Degas and Mary Cassatt. His Rococo- inspired murals cover whole rooms in the lavishly colored 2 floor space.
Pastel wall painting by Nicolas Party with painting by Edgar degas
pearl silk and wool suit w/ cloisonné buttons
green silk jersey, wool Pierre Cardin -inspired Mom’s bat mitzvah dress, black chiffon, japanese cotton ikat dresses, white silk and wool jacket over silk shantung - chantilly lace overlay skirt
Elisabeth Kley has teamed up with Tabboo! to create an enchanting environment of wall-painting and ceramic fountains at the Gordon Robichaux Gallery in Union Square reminiscent of a Roman Courtyard.
Verdant Green silk Jersey top with African cotton wax print skirt
Black English wool jacket with flower and lace adorned silk shantung skirt
Karen Kilimnik’s French-inspired small paintings and sculptures at 303 Gallery
Indian Kantha quilt made into a Frock coat
Draped cotton wax -print dress
Philip Taaffe at Luhring augustine Gallery
Japanese Cotton double-sided coat and dress ensemble made for client
