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! 🌸

detail Peonie 1.JPEG — detail of Peony - painted by Eve Vaterlaus

Peonies on Silk

September 01, 2021 in Art, Couture, Couture Studio, dresses, Special Occasion dresses

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

Lu fountain yellow dress.jpeg — Yellow silk Poppies

modeled by Lucy Debernardi

A visit to my studio

May 07, 2020 in Couture Studio, Couture, dresses

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.♥️

Colors! Prints! Openings!

July 18, 2017 in Art Dance Couture

Beautiful Joseph Franck fabric in dress for client

Mary Heilmann wearing Elizabeth Cannon blouse at her opening at the Dia Dan Flavin Art Institute in Bridgehamptonphoto: Jill Levine — Mary Heilmann wearing Elizabeth Cannon blouse at her opening at the Dia Dan Flavin Art Institute in Bridgehampton
photo: Jill Levine

Devin Dougherty in Elizabeth Cannon Wax-print dress in front of Josh Abelow paintingphoto: Taro Suzuki — Devin Dougherty in Elizabeth Cannon Wax-print dress in front of Josh Abelow painting
photo: Taro Suzuki

Mother and Daughter bat mitzvah Dresses

April 24, 2017 in Couture, Special Occasion dresses, Couture Studio

I had a wonderful project to work on this winter - dresses for a travel-themed bat mitzvah for a mother and daughter. They had very developed ideas about what they wanted and had thought through every detail. I helped them execute their ideas and guide them through the process. We were delighted with the results and had a great time working together on this important milestone.

The "world" fabric was printed at Spoonflower who does both custom and stock printing on fabric and paper.

Sadie was born in China and we used a red embroidered line to mark her  journey from her birthplace to her new home in New York city.  Tiny crystals mark all the places mother and daughter  have visited together. — Sadie was born in China and we used a red embroidered line to mark her journey from her birthplace to her new home in New York city. Tiny crystals mark all the places mother and daughter have visited together.

Her Mother also wanted her own dress to represent all the places they had traveled together. She collected travel patches from as many of these cities as she could find and gave them to me to sew on her dress.

Navy Silk Faille with Travel patches and continents

We also showed the two continents representing Sadie's birthplace and her adoptive home cut out in wool felt and connected with a red stitched line.

The day of the bat mitzvah was one of the rare sunny days in a week of cold and rainy weather

Otherwise happening in the studio this month

Swatching for clients- choosing silk linings

Placement of print is always crucial- here it is gracefully figure-enhancing

I love texture and design- this piece is reminiscent of decorative stonework

A corner of the studio with blue and orange

Stripe silk pants, cotton shirt w/ embroidery, ponté knit camisole-  silk charmeuse top and skirt w/ barbed wire tie — Stripe silk pants, cotton shirt w/ embroidery, ponté knit camisole- silk charmeuse top and skirt w/ barbed wire tie

Book page from "Love in Venice" at the New York Public Library-  flaps lift up to show the courtesans' undergarments — Book page from "Love in Venice" at the New York Public Library- flaps lift up to show the courtesans' undergarments

Subway mosaic near the Museum of Natural History at 81 street

Studio Notes

March 11, 2017 in Art, Couture, dresses

I haven't posted for the last few months, but am excited to share some of what I've been working on. My studio and work have been a refuge. As always, art has been a part of my life and directly inspiring to my couture. Clients have brought me exciting fabrics to work with and some older pieces have returned for a brief visit. Color is always an important factor.