Saturday, October 31, 2009

dare to design contest

Shabby Apple is running a dress design contest. My friend Whitney, approached me about helping her create her drawings for the contest and encouraged me to enter as well. You know how I love creative projects and collaborations so I agreed. It was exciting to watch vague ideas turn into finish concept drawings. (I wanted to do more, but this month has been busy x10 and my creative brain is still preoccupied exploring my domestic painting series and designing my custom couches I ordered this week and hasn't been able to fully devote itself to this task.)

I designed dresses I would like to wear. I am 5ft 10" and what flatters me most are simple clean lines that are classic. I don't go for lots of frills and embellishements.

So here is my dress design for Shabby Apple dresses or well a few designs...


"Black on Black" is my favorite. This versatile day to evening dress has a wide scooped neck, cap sleeves, back zipper, bust darts, true waist, and bias cut gentle a-line skirt. The slightly irregular circles are appliques in a nubby textured black fabric to create interest, detailed with contrasting white top-stitching (double rows). The dress fabric has a touch of spandex for nice fit and gentle give. I also posted it's b-side variation sketch with a higher wider neckiline, slim below the knee trim pencil skirt and ultra narrow sash front tie for a more pillar like sillouhette.

"Atomic Energy"-This retro inspired dress came out of the domestic series of paintings I am working. The series is intended to make a social statement on the generational shifts and devaluation of domestic work by juxtaposing contemporary images with period pieces. I would love to have this dress to wear for one of my painting studies (like the one with pink cake- p.s. 4 more giant paintings are in the works!). It is an atomic era minty green, with a wide fold-over citron/celery colored contrasting shawl collar. Side zippered with seams fitting through the bust a true waist bias cut skirting for gentle A-line hitting just below the knee.

"Lavender Fields"- This dress came out of my love for light cotton summer dresses for everyday wear and my love of light lavender. It is lightweight cotton with a stand up straight collar with button front. with pin tuck detailing, an easy tie back sash and the skirt has gentle tucks for a nice ease out for comfortable fit.
"Tint and Shade"- Maybe it's the artist in me but I love contrast. I love any combination of the crisp essentials, black, white, and gray. This dress has a crisp white stretch shirting top with princess seams, a long generous, fold down shirt collar and cuffed sleeves with keyhole and button detailing. A black slimming wide waistband and 4 panel fitted charcoal gray skirt. Back zippered. Cotton/spandex blend.

"Navy Nicely" This summer dress hits at the base of the knee. It is navy with clean white contrast detailing. It has a back zipper, true circle neckline and opposing arc high waistband in white contrast. The skirt is 5 panel construction pencil style with back slit. It has short sleeves with contrast band and a keyhole and button detailing. Cotton/spandex blend.

18 comments:

Becky said...

You NEVER ceases to amaze me! WOW! Those are beautiful! Keep us updated on how you do. :)

LL said...

FANTASTIC! you're so incredibly talented.
I loved the "Lavender Fields"

Unknown said...

WOW!!!
It's impossible to love just one, but my vote goes to atomic energy, because I'm thinking that's what you must have at this point.
LOVE the dresses.
My fingers are crossed for you!

ellen said...

I'd been wondering what you've been up to! I love your dresses! My faves are Navy Nicely, Atomic Energy and Black on Black. I hope you win!!

Trueman twins said...

SO cute! Is there anything you can't do? Love it!

Company EIGHT said...

I would wear every one of those..they are fantastic!!

Amanda said...

Can you make them for a petite? I'll take one of each! :D

Marcy said...

LOVE the Navy Nicely, althought they are all great! Good job and good luck!!

Andreared said...

Will you come and live with me in Orlando and redecorate my house and redesign all my clothes?

:)
Andrea

Blue said...

i'd buy them all, but you'd have to sew me a new body to make them look hawt.

here's to you! ♥

Angela said...

Congrats on being a finalist!

Anonymous said...

LOVE the outfits!!!!!!
Marissa Burt

Alannah said...

Love your style. Your dress is adorable. =D

Felice said...

I love the way that the dress flows...:)

Tonya said...

These are fabulous. Your dress designs are beautiful, feminine, sophisticated and modest. I love them all. You are a winner!

poochersmoocher :) said...

#15 - I think your dress designs are great! You can never go wrong with "Black on Black" it is classic! Your style and colors are perfect, beleive in yourself and reach for greatness.

Anonymous said...

Just thought I'd say I follow another finalist's blog, went to the shabby apple site to vote for them.......and fell in love with yours instead! Oops.

Makes sense since we're the same height, I suppose. : )

JH said...

I don't wear dresses, primarily because of my gender but also because I suspect dresses would accentuate my skinny ankles; however, were I to ever don such a garment, one of yours, #15, would be my choice. Very nice.