Party Season: Glamourous Gowns

images from style.com

If you've got an invitation to a Black Tie or a White Tie occasion, lucky you!

 You can pull out all the stops and go for the glitz and glamour.

I like Donna Karan's edgy geometric, Christian Dior's ethnic shocking pink chiffon lace, Bottega Veneta's Old Hollywood glamour, Reem Acra's one-shoulder drape and Elie Saab's bejewelled shoulders offset by soft flowing chiffon

It's Party Season Again!

Cocktail Dresses

images from style.com

3 more days to December and it's Party Season again!

Soon, streets will glow with Christmas lights and shop windows filled with wonderful Christmas displays.

 Christmas is not the time for dull colours.

Bring on the satins, silks, tafettas, velvets and rich, rich jewel colours.

Or be a contrarian and go for icy colours or black.

Here are my favorite cocktail dresses from the Fall Winter 2009 collections.

Jewellery - Ring Designs by Adris

Jewellery Design - Rings by Adris

Notes from the Sewing Studio 2009

From left to right: aquamarine in a baguette-cut, mid-blue sapphire in cushion cut, deep-blue sapphire in oval cut.

This year, I'm giving Mum a special Christmas present.

It's fun popping into our long time jewellers, Adris to discuss designs. Adris is no longer around and his son Chola runs the family business.

Chola scans the gemstones into his design software, then uses the software to simulate the real thing, and sends us a sample of the design. It's a great way to see what the completed piece of jewellery will look like.

The Bias Cut

Photo credit: flippinyank at Flickr.com

In a bias cut, the pattern pieces are cut diagonal to the warp or lengthwise grain of the fabric giving the garment more stretch, drape and “cling”.

The bias cut is ideal for designs requiring a lot of drape or stretch such as grecian draped dresses or gowns and the “tube” dress.

Body curves are emphasized using this cut, so if you’re like me and shaped like a stick, try a bias cut dress and you will be amazed to find you’ve got curves after all!

Peplums, draped frills and edge bindings are some of the items cut to leverage on the drape and stretch of the bias.

The bias cut was first developed by Madeleine Vionnet in the 1920’s. Her highly popular designs catapulted her to fame and set the direction of fashion in the 1930’s. I've posted a brief write-up on Vionnet HERE.

Fashion Competitions - Miami Fashion Week 2010 - Fashion Design and Fashion Photography Competitions

Miami Fashion Week 2009

photo credit: miamitoday.net

Those who aren't in time for the GenArt "Plastics make it Possible" competition, here's another opportunity to enter a Fashion Design competition.

The 2010 Miami Fashion Week Student Designer Competition and Emerging Designer Competition is a great chance for fashion students and emerging designers to showcase your talents on an international platform.

There's also a Fashion Photography Competition for Photography students.

Closing date for all submissions is 15th Jan 2010.

Student Designer Competition:

The competition is an international platform for fashion students anywhere in the world.
You have to be enrolled in a fashion design, fashion mechandising or fashion management course to be eligible for entry.

Here's the link to the Competition rules and instructions for submission:

http://www.miamifashionweek.com/Designer_Competition/Fashion_Student_Competition.html

Emerging Designer Competition:

You have to have been in business for at least 1 year and less than 5 years, and be producing 2 collections a year and be selling in 1 store at the minimum.

Here's the link:
http://www.miamifashionweek.com/Designer_Compe
tition/Emerging_Designer_Competition.html

Student Fashion Photographers:

You have to be enrolled in a photography course at an accredited institute to qualify for entry.

Here's the link:
http://www.miamifashionweek.com/Designer_Competition/Fashion_Photography_Competition.html

Fashion Design Competition: GenArt "Plastics Make It Possible"

image credit: discover.genart.org

Found out about this recently and the deadline for submission is 11:59pm EST 1st Dec 2009.

So if you're quick with the needle........

All themes are acceptable but you must use Approved Materials whch are fabrics derived from plastic material, such as polyester. Embellishments, thread, trims, buttons and embellments need not be plastic based.

There's a list of approved materials in the official rules on the GenArt website. Here's the link:

http://discover.genart.org/contests/plastics-make-it-possible/rules