Couture

Gala Dressing

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A week before the 2024 election it is safe to say we are suspended in time- holding our breath, or perhaps working like crazy on behalf of our candidate. Personally I say VOTE - VOTE BLUE - and elect Kamala Harris!

n the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Marquis de Lafayette’s visit to George Washington’s home Mt. Vernon- I created this blue ensemble for a very valued client.

silk Matelesé dress and jacket

Jacket with “faux bow” attaches with inside coat hook

Client’s own heirloom pin on moiré ribbon

Jacket and dress cuffs lined in ochre moiré - Bolero follows line of seam in dress

Occasionally a client will find a dress that has been in my studio for a few years and it is love at first sight- with a few revisions the perfect outfit for an upcoming Gala

Silk satin stripe organza gown with beaded detail

back of dress with lace inset

back with lace detail

A visiter to my website wanted an outfit recreated for a nephew’s lavish wedding in Rome. I was able to find the same corded Alençon lace at Gelmore Lace. The swarvoski crystal Buttons are from M & J Trimming- saddly due to close at the end of this year.

Silk chiffon blouse w/ swarvski buttons and sleeve bows - Alençon lace skirt lined in crepe back silk satin

Navy silk chiffon blouse

New addition to the family- grand neice Ayla - daughter of neice Ellie and wife Shy with Ellie in matching couture- never too young❣️

Ellie and Ayla in matching cotton wax print dresses - fabric from Eliebea

stay sane and dont forget to dress up and Vote ! Thank you for visiting ❣️

Lace Calme Et Volupté

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This summer I had several projects which involved lace. A young client wanted a top for a skirt she had bought for a “cottage core” wedding. The wedding was to be held at Babbington House in England. I found the perfect lace at Gelmor Lace - a family owned company dealing exclusively with authentic french lace for 3 generations. They also had the lace trim which I used to finish the neckline and sleeve edges.

french alençon lace with half bralette in silk charmeuse

The bride wanted to incorporate elements from her mother and grandmother’s wedding dresses. The buttons on the back of the top were from her grandmother’s dress. I used eyelet trim from her mother’’s dress to finish the seams on the inside of the top.

back - lace wedding top with satin-covered buttons 

A client came who was to be a guest at her nephew’s lavish wedding in Rome. She wanted me to replicate an outfit from my website. It was from a trunk show 10 years ago which proves that classic design never goes out of style!

Blouse - Silk chiffon with lycra.  crystal buttons - skirt - Aleçon lace with silk crepe-back satin lining in blush

A very dear and loyal client needed a dress for her daughter’s wedding. (I had made her maternity clothes when she had been pregnant!) She wanted to wear a dress she had gotten from one of my sales a few years back which needed some alteration.s. She also needed a jacket to go with it.. The very talented Michael at B&J Fabrics found the flower motif chiffon-embellished net to which I added the blue details to further coordinate the 2 elements.

Silk shantung puff skirt dress with Navy embroidered design -   silk chiffon on net bolero jacket

back view -  silk shantung dress with net and silk jacket

front - silk shantung strapless dress with flower appliqué and silk ric-rac trim

A client who was made princess of 2 Indonesian islands receives many gift from the royal family of fabric and clothing manufactured in their country. It is expected on her return that she will be wearing them incorporated into her wardrobe. I made this lilac ensemble to go with an embroidered vest of a material akin to plastic. (in picture below)

Irredescent cotton voile shirt using fabric selfvage at center front and unraveled edges as decorative elements.  Gimp trim was also applied.  skirt is a vibrant cotton.  Fabrics from B&J.

Detail of cotton voile irridescent cotton blouse.

client wearing the outfit in Indonesia 

Fabric brought back from India by client- Indigo-dyed cotton paisley

Cotton Vlisco fabric brought to me by a client for a dress she wore at the Gordon Parks Foundation Gala. When I held the fabric up and draped it on her she said she wanted a dress with that exact look of casual draping.

Cotton wax print Vlisco fabric- printed in Holland 

Wax print dress from studio - now in client collection - I found the same floral motif in a tablecloth my husband’s mother made in the 60’s

Vlisco wax print dress with pockets in traditional pattern

in client's collection - vlisco print of hand holding flowers - I found the pattern more appealing and less obvious when placed upside down and at an angle on the body.

vlisco wax print cotton one shoulder dress - hands holding a bunch of flowers

Vlisco wax print skirt with designer's own blouse - japanese cotton with selvage detail- after Matisse-

moving into early fall- a 2-tone denim jacket with antique Austrian buttons over a linen dress-in-progress for client - jacket also has coordinating brown denim trousers.

Cotton denim jacket with zip front  - linen dress with front buttons

The summer went by fast! Lots of work and also new grand nieces, visits with friends and family and lots of bike rides

Thanks for stopping by - Remember to Dress for pleasure❣️

Flowers of Spring

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I can’t help but be inspired by the growth and renewal all around us- even as the world feels uncertain and brutal in so many ways, Spring has always been a symbol of hope and new life-

Fil Coupé silk organza blouse w/ flowers and butterflies

Silk tweed skirt and vest with gold trim and Oscar (de La Renta) buttons

detail

I looked everywhere for the buttons to tie this outfit together and finally found these perfect cloisonné ones at Mood. The silk organza blouse fabric is from B&J fabrics. Tweed was brought to me by client

Found this incredible cotton print a few years ago at Beckenstein Fabrics and not sure what we would do with it. .

Elephants on orange clouds among multi-colored plaid and decorative motifs

The idea coalesced when we looked at this Kantha print- also bought a few years ago during Covid- and decided the two were meant for each other!

Short Kantha cotton quilted jacket over Elephant print dress.

Mother of the Groom - wedding in Germany

Cotton print dress with silk and wool coat

Around town

Joan Jonas at Moma

My costumes at the Joyce

Central Park Conservancy Garden in April

New Grandniece - Elizabeth - born in April

Another Grandniece on the way!

Riding through Central Park

Thank you so much for visiting! Please stay safe and be kind ❤️

Archipelago

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I came upon these notes I wrote 13 years ago and also the photos that accompany them which popped up as a memory on Facebook. It turns out that I also met the artist, Jerelyn Hanrahan, who created the Pearl sculpture through Facebook quite a few years after taking these pictures.

Alaina Ferris modeling in front of Jereyln Hanrahan’s pearl sculpture

Archipelago

Black silk with large ecru polka- dots. Saw fabric in Dec and kept swatch; romancing it, lusting after it- afraid of it. Polka-dots- such a polarizing statement. very loaded iconography. Spanish roots? Society women wouldn’t be caught dead in a large polka-dot dress. Gilles from Paris (James Lord’s companion and adopted son) declaring them to be gauche- only hookers would wear them. An irredeemably clownish aspect- Flamenco flamboyance, so seductive and dangerous, yet verging on the silly and laughable. July 6- could not resist. Having sketched a design for Paris trunk show- bought 3 yards. Fantasized about buying 6 more perhaps. . .to have enough. Immediately deçu! Not right- too regular, vulgar- no one would be caught dead in it! Left the roll of fabric sitting in a corner for 2 days- glancing at it, only unfurling it once part way to ascertain the hand of it. doubts about skirt- needs to be on the bias, broken up a bit- given more life. July 8 - Unfurl it. Quickly decide to cut off one length - 44”, not realizng I am making a square. cut the 2nd 44” and have 12”left over. Good. Begin draping a skirt. Not on bias, but with a sarong-like fold in front. Move it to the bust on dress form. Loving it! loving the way the folds fall over the bust- tuck the excess over and sew into place before I don’t lose it. Impossible to replicate! Begin in back- try the same thing- pin - try on - lose pins - pin on straps - keep losing it. Decide to take in fullness in top back. Yes! It is working. . . try on many times - pinning, re-pinning, testing. It works! Fabric feels luscious- Billows, moves like a sail with a breeze.

Dressing Up for the New Year

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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❣️

Earth Day - Spring - Art - Couture - Flowers

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Lots going on in NYC. I do love flowers, so this is one of my favorite times of year! It is also the month my grand niece Charlotte was born 1 year ago and the month my brother died 3 years ago. I always think of T.S. Eliot in April. There is a cycle to everything. It is a bittersweet time and a time for connecting after a long winter (not so cold here in the Northeast) and a very delicate time for our planet. My guiding principle: be kind, be curious and strive for beauty.

Embroidered linen coat lined in cornflower silk charmeuse, cotton blouse with silk covered buttons and accents, orange silk linen pants for client

Stripe and bubble print cotton blouse, silk covered buttons and accents- part of ensemble for client

2 of my favorite artists wearing my clothes : Mary Heilmann at Mark Bradford show NYC and Judith Linhares at her own opening - Massimo deCarlo Gallery, London - Judith’s pictures by #amandamarieimages last image: me at Mary Heilmann’s recent show at 303 Gallery NYC

raw silk shirtwaist dress for client

Cotton plaid jacket , cotton silk blend pants for client

At my husband, Taro Suzuki’s studio with one of his new paintings “Blue Cheer”

1 year birthday party!

in my studio surrounded by what I love! pic by Amanda Marie Mason #amandamarieimages

🌷Thank you for stopping by! 🌸

Fall in all it's beauty

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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

Weddings!

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Over the last few months I have been working on several projects for weddings. I was lucky to design 3 Mother of the Bride/Groom dresses, a wedding dress for a Cathedral wedding and a wedding reception dress for my lovely niece and model. The last was a fairy tale wedding in Sintra Portugal which I also attended.

Sintra wedding - Ellie is wearing green silk peony dress- hand-painted by Eve Vaterlaus

The large floral print silk was chosen for it’s vibrant greens for a wedding in Ireland.

Mother of the Bride dress in silk shantung - with half cummerbund belt.

Large flower print bursting with vitality, as is it’s owner - for a wedding in Bermuda - the body and weight of the fabric leant itself to a simple figure-flattering shape.

Mother of the Bride dress in 6-ply organza

This wedding dress was a challenge to construct. The Bride was inspired by a Halston dress designed for Liza Minnelli. I love the contrast between the shimmering silver sequins and the fragile slightly irridescent silk chiffon. Luckily, Michael at B and J Fabrics was able to find the gorgeous chiffon which was super light, yet able to bear the weight of the dress.

virtual wedding at St John the Divine - silver metal sequins on silk chiffon with silk chiffon bodice/sleeve

This dress was draped on the client out of a single length of silk chiffon

Silk Chiffon burnout Mother of the Groom dress

The wedding of my niece was held in a fairytale castle on a perfect moonlit night in Sintra , Portugal.

Working with clients

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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

Dressing for pleasure

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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! ❤️

Almost Summer

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It was a busy and productive couple of months. I always love this time of year and especially this year, with covid numbers declining and some activity returning. I was encouraged that people bought lots of dresses at my Spring Sale, which indicates that they see a future in dressing up and going out again.

Sophie in Peacock blue silk draped gown photo: Liz Hafter

Sophie in Peacock blue silk draped gown photo: Liz Hafter

I made this dress in 2005 originally as a costume for Trisha Brown to wear in a duet in Lyon, France. We decided on something simpler and I then sold it to a dear client. Some years later this client recommended me to Sophie and her Mom, one of her best friends, to design a Bat mitzvah dress. Now- Sophie is graduating from high school and the friend leant her the gown to wear to her prom. She chose to wear Doc Martins as footwear, (not pictured) which I love!

SALE was the entire month of may, by appointment, at my atelier

The city was gorgeous and provided much inspiration!

I went to the first art shows I had seen in 15 months- Lee Krasner collages at Paul Kasmin Gallery and Terry Winters Paintings and drawings at Matthew Marks Gallery

Wax Print Swatch dress - working outside-in

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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.

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lft side.jpeg
rgt side.jpeg
bk side.jpeg

A visit to my studio

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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.♥️

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Stay Safe !

Stay Safe !

Life in the time of social distancing

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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