Gala Dressing

October 26, 2024 in Couture, couture clients, Couture Studio, Special Occasion dresses

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.

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

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

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 ❣️

Flowers of Spring

May 15, 2024 in Couture, Couture Studio, couture clients, Dance, Dance Costumes, Drawings, Special Occasion dresses

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

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

Central Park Conservancy Garden in April

New Grandniece - Elizabeth - born in April

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

Making a Couture wardrobe

April 09, 2024 in couture clients, 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

cashmire suit and silk cravat blouse with client-provided materials

Tweeds, cowls and dancers

February 11, 2024 in Couture Studio, couture clients, inspiration, Special Occasion dresses

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

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❤️

Earth Day - Spring - Art - Couture - Flowers

April 22, 2023 in couture clients, Art, Couture

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! 🌸

Working with Couture Fabrics

March 11, 2023 in Couture Studio, couture clients

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

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

Fall in all it's beauty

October 30, 2022 in Couture, couture clients, Couture Studio

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

Weddings!

July 21, 2022 in Couture, couture clients, Special Occasion dresses, Weddings

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.

Fresh Blue and White for summer!

June 23, 2022 in Couture, couture clients

Recently made as part of a wardrobe for client

Embroidered Cotton/ Poly Duster coat with bias edging over white cotton pants and cotton stripe fil coupé shirt with knot buttons

Working with clients

January 22, 2022 in Couture, Couture Studio, dresses, couture clients

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.