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.
Dressmaker
Studio Notes
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.
Harris Tweed Wool suit returning for a nip and tuck
Custom decorator wool fabric / outfit for client
Rothko Paintings at Pace Gallery, Chelsea
Amber velvet silk and Rayon dress draped and made from leftover pieces
Amber velvet Dress with a lace Bolero (unfinished) modeled as a tunic by Mary Jones
Mary Heilmann table on New Year's Eve
Taro Suzuki Tantric painting
Red Wool Draped Dress with asymmetrical hem
Red Flowers Silk Gazar Skirt for client
The colors in these Ron Gorchov Paintings at Cheim and Read Gallery in Chelsea are so lucious
Ponté knit Jacket with snap closure for client - painting by Taro Suzuki
Vilsco Wax print
work in progress
Appliqué cotton dress, draped wax-print, wool jacket, silk charmeuse skirt
detail / cotton wax prints
Liberty cotton blouse, Ponté knit jacket, camel wool crepe dress
watercolor after a Pompeii fresco
More to come soon. . .