Part Two: With the arrival of each new season comes new energy and ideas. A new optimism and hope develops, praying that this season's collection will be better than the last......beauty, design and $ALES! So with the freshness of new inspiration and directional trends comes the colors, embellishments and ultimately the FABRIC! Oh yes, the glorious, luxurious fabrics. Imported taffetas, laces customed dyed and beaded, Chantilly, embroidered tulles, drapey chiffons, structured silk satins and weighted satin faced organzas. Pondering the shapes and silhouettes for the new season we are to begin the design process. The mannequin, positioned there, boldly waiting to be manipulated by the artists hands and intruded upon by the army of pins.
....approaching this like a sculptor to his medium. Gently puffing the fabric, pinning, releasing it, wrapping it. Adding crinoline for volume. Minimizing when necessary. Reaching for the embellishment. The feathers, the beads, the fur. Tightening the asymmetric drape. Pin. Pin. Pin.
As draping is reactionary, impulsive and EXTREMELY allusive it is pertinent to capture the design exactly where, when, and how the folds and drape exist. CLICK. CLICK. The camera is indespensible for these transient moments capable of changing with the release of just ONE pin! Leaving no indecisiveness or uncertainty of shape, design and placement of style lines or embellishment, the photos are taken. One from this angle. The other capturing a particular fold. The image, accompanied by the sketch becomes the blueprint for our intrusted patternmaker.
Go ahead. Purchase some fabric. Get a mannequin, pins and a scissors and don't forget to have your camera at your fingertips. You are now ready to begin designing your stairway to heaven! Oh, and if you need some help, just call me.