Tweeds, cowls and dancers

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.

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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 .

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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❤️

Looking back on Summer

It was such a busy summer I haven’t really had time to post, so I am just now transitioning into Fall and wrapping up some projects from the months before.

June was wedding month and I made the wedding dress for my beloved niece (and model!)

The wedding was in Cooperstown New York with a beautiful lake as backdrop on a gorgeous late Spring afternoon. Of course everyone danced and celebrated well into the night.

We worked on the dress for a whole year which was a fabulous luxury.

detail of French Lace (sequined beadwork) on wedding dress

Trunk show in May

My trunk show, given by 2 of my dear clients and friends was a big success and a lot of fun.

2 of my new cardigans in ponté knit with appliqués modeled by the 2 hosts

Yves Klein blue silk and wool suit

African Dutch wax-print dress with kimono sleeve

New Dance Costumes!!

I was invited to design new costumes for an older Trisha Brown work called “Working Title”. With very little time I used as my starting point fabrics I had already in the studio. After receiving a green light from the 2 artistic directors of the company I felt free to compose the costumes by instinct using as reference everything I learned from working with Trisha and her style of movement and playful spirit.

At rehearsal

An Antique Dress

I was asked to work on a dress and revive it as much as possible for inclusion in the beautiful upcoming catalog of Cora Ginsburg

Cora Ginsburg where I worked restoring a dress from the 1800’s

The dress I was asked to restore was a “Fancy dress” most likely worn for a Ball at a private house in England in the 1820’s

I replaced underskirt with tea-dyed silk tafetta, repaired torn net overskirt with silk crepeline and added original silk band to underskirt

Detail of bow on 1820’s dress

In Memoriam

My beloved Father passed away just 10 days after we celebrated his 97 birthday in August. He was able to attend the wedding of his granddaughter and reunite with his 93 year old brother who he hadn’t seen in 20 years. He was my biggest inspiration and fan. A man of boundless heart and imagination. His brother, my uncle passed away just 2 weeks later. we Miss them.

Changing Seasons

Although it may still feel like summer, Fall is here and I am looking back and thinking forward.

Summer was an intense work period of costume reconstruction for the Trisha Brown Company.

I was privileged to work  with the artist Terry Winters in recreating his costumes for Groove and Countermove (debut Sept. 2000) for which he also created the sets.  

checking the pant hems in the rehearsal studio

I found some luxurious bamboo knit in luscious colors for the leotards and then went to Dynemix to have them dye the cotton/lycra twill for the pants to match the tops.  They did an amazing job and were delightful to work with on the short deadline that I gave them.

Bamboo knit jersey

Groove pants ready for fitting

The piece was performed in August at Jacob's Pillow along with another piece for which I  did the reconstruction of my original designs  "L'Amour Au Theatre" 

These pieces will also be performed at the Joyce theatre in NYC in Dec. 2017.  To see the calendar of upcoming events and performances click here

Groove and Countermove photos: Christopher Duggan

L'Amour Au Theâtre set : Trisha Brown photo;: Brooke Trisolini

This past March marked the passing of our beloved Trisha Brown who I have been so honored to work with over the past 15 years and through whom I have met and worked with so many amazing dancers and collaborators.  Through Trisha I was able to create costumes at the  Paris Opera, both the old Garnier and the newer Bastille , and worked in a castle in Germany and the famed Aix-en-Provence Opera as well as creating costumes for Trisha herself in her duets with Steve Paxton and Elizabeth Streb.   

This summer a beautiful memorial was held for Trisha at the Whitney Museum.

A still from the film "Slow Dancing" by David Michalek dress: Elizabeth Cannon

New costumes for "Geometry of Quiet" originally designed by Christophe deMenil

fitting in dance studio of Geometry of Quiet one-piece jumpsuit

Also this summer I created another Batmitzvah Dress, a niche I am happy to say I have been acquiring some experience.  Like wedding Dresses, it is always very touching to be involved in creating an outfit to commemorate an important life milestone.

Bat mitzvah dress in silk and wool

SALE ITEMS 

I have some lovely dresses in my studio from seasons past that are available at reduced prices.  As I work on new designs I invite inquiries about these couture samples.  And I welcome visits to my atelier in Chelsea.  You may contact me on the contact page to make an appointment.

Devourè silk velvet dress - available

Brown silk charmeuse - available

African Poly-print dress - available

Draped Tissue cotton dress - sold

Faux-pearl necklaces

Dutch wax African print with flower appliquès - sold

Dark Brown silk velvet bias-cut dress - sold

Red wool draped dress - available

Flower print silk chiffon bias dress - available

Black silk velvet with appliquè-  sold

20's inspired silk charmeuse and organza dress with beaded lace sleeve detail - available

Beaded back detail of 4-ply silk bias-cut dress - available

summer  

Thank you for visiting.   Please go to my contact page if you would like to be added to my mailing list for studio sales twice a year or upcoming events.