Got Muse???

Definition of MUSE

: a source of inspiration; especially : a guiding genius

For those of you who are fans of Project Runway you'll recall Nick Verreos from season 2 who won the "My Scene Barbie Challenge". Well he designed a outfit for Barbie and credited his muse, his assigned model for the inspiration.

(Photo of Nick Verreos courtesy of Project Runway)

 (Photo of the My Scene Barbie Challenge winning outfit and Nick's model/muse on the right)

At some point during the season he actually lost his model to someone else and it was obvious he struggled with coming up with ideas without the aid of his muse. For some reason that always stuck with me. I didn't really know what a muse was and then I looked it up. What a concept. Can a person really inspire another's fashion design creativity???

I posted about things that inspire my sewing just a few weeks ago. But there was one thing I intentionally left off of the post since I knew I'd be talking more in depth about it later. In the last few months I've made an interesting discovery about myself.  Actually this discovery came on the tail end of me beginning my fashion design sketching earlier this year. I realize that I have a hard time just thinking about design ideas just out of the blue. I mean I could think of random ideas but had a hard time connecting and visualizing them without a face & body to connect them to. Well that was until I got a muse. My muse is actress Megan Good.

(Actress Megan Good)

 She's a very talented and beautiful actress. The funny thing is I never set out to pick her or anyone else for a muse. It just sorta happened. I've seen several of her movies and she's usually very stylish and fashion forward in them. Inadvertently my mind mentally migrated back to some of her fashion choices and then I just began to create new fashion ideas with her in mind. She's like a little Barbie so it's easy to imagine her in different fashion designs. And for some reason it's easier to imagine her in different types of clothing then myself. Hey I'm not going to question it, I'll just go with it. I plan on creating some of these ideas one day and wearing them myself or even sale them. Who knows. I have to admit, I love the idea of having a muse, it makes the fashion design process ALOT easier on me especially since I'm such a visual person.

Also, for the record, my youngest muse just so happens to be my "Wee-One". She always manages me to inspire me to make such pretty "special occasion" dresses for her to wear.

(My Wee-One's Father/Daughter banquet dress from earlier this year)

What about you? Do you have a muse or muses? Who are they and why?

Style Safari--Part II: Eureka Moment!

As I mentioned in my initial Style Safari post, I am on a journey to Really discover my style. I understand our styles are forever evolving but I want to get a good handle on mine so I can sew better clothing options for myself. I have a good idea what my style is (hint: most of what I've sewn reflects it).  I found it interesting that many of you were sorta in the same place and that others of you felt you had a pretty good understanding of what your style is. No matter which "side of the fence" you're on, clothing is a reflection of who we are and gaining perspective and understanding of one's style is a great thing.

The "Style Safari" post came on the eve of my dilemma with the "one hit wonder dresses" in my closet. These are dresses I've made and only wore once and pretty much lost interest in (detailed in this post. ). I was trying to figure why that was the case and which many of you offered some great comments/advice on my dilemma but I think it was Heather who really nailed it. Her comment was....

I know I'm super late to comment on this post, but it actually took your post from today to jog my thought process on it. I think you (and maybe me) look at your projects as art pieces. They're planned for a certain event, they invoke a certain mood, and you love them when you wear them for that event. Then it's over, like the party or Mother's Day, and you don't think of them again because you're on to the next art project. Artists don't paint the same thing twice.

So maybe instead of making an art piece for a special event, you consider making art pieces for Mondays, or Thursdays. That way you can enjoy them more often? Just a thought. I'm trying to apply that to my own way of sewing, too. 

Wow, Heather I think you, as they say, "hit the nail with the hammer".  That's a great explanation and is similar to the conclusion I arrived at, except you thought of the whole "artwork" analogy! Just Brilliant! And it makes sense. I only had this problem with my "special occasion" dresses not all of the other items I've sewn.  I realized that alot of my "special occasion dresses" were just  "too special". I've resolved myself to not "back myself into a corner" so to speak with some of my style options. That's one of the mail reasons I don't like alot of trends. I don't want my work to be easily "dated" but instead I want to create clothes that can "go the distance" and get alot of wear.  You know, create some timeless pieces that really stretch my wardrobe. I think Mary said it best with her comment "I tend to make things which can be worn in a variety of situations-so I don't really have any lonely pieces". 

Great suggestion Mary and that's the direction I want to go more towards. As I investigate further, I'm proud to say that I'm really getting a grasp for my style. Again, I had an idea before but now it's all really coming together. It's amazing what happens when you actually stop and really think through your choices. I've discovered so much so far and am having so much fun. I can't wait to show you what I've discovered.......more later.....

Paint my sky "gray" anyday.....

Growing up I usually associated the color gray with rainy days and overcast skys. To me it was kinda like the color of gloom. I noticed that it was used in a lot of business wear. But in my opinion alot of the pieces I saw were boring , too corporate,  and lacked any fashionable flare. I just never really gave the color gray a second glance when it came to clothes. It wasn't until recently that I began really liking the color. It all started with a pair of boots I spotted at the After Thanksgiving Sale. Unfortunately they didn't have my size but I sure was smitten with them.

They looked kinda just like these except they had a buckle and chunkier heel and were super SEXY! Since then I've been obsessed with all things gray and it's been popping at me left and right. But I soon began to realize that I don't really even own any gray garments. Just recently I made this dress.....

and of course I love it and would love to add more gray pieces to my wardrobe. It's definitely my favorite color at the moment and I'm plotting on incorporating it in future pieces. So I got to digging around in my fabric closet to track down the gray fabrics I do have. I think I already have enough to get started with.  I read that Allison is sewing a mini gray collection. I'm already liking where she's going with her idea and can't wait to see the finished wardrobe. So here's some fabric I have.

 I bought this gray sateen the other day with the intention of making the jacket in this pattern (BTW: This is one of the jackets in my queue for the Jacket-A-Month Sew Along). I've been wanting to make this for a while and wanted to pick an "uncommon" color for me that I know I would get good use out of.

The idea of the jacket spurred some ideas of some additional pieces like a dress, top, and/or jumpsuit that could go well with this jacket. Here's some other great fabrics I have that show gray at it's best....

The fabric on the left is a peachskin polyester that has an awesome drape. The sateen is in the middle and a poly charmeuse with grays, and browns is on the right. These fabrics would be great paired with the jacket.

This is a sweater knit fabric that has gray intermingled with lilac and green. I'd love to make this into a cardigan and pair it with a pair of gray slacks.

And if I decided to carry the color over into the spring here's a livelier piece of fabric that could make that possible.

It's really nice to be inspired and I must that the color gray is really serving as my inspiration at the moment. I can't wait until I finish sewing up my current garments so I can get started on a few gray pieces. It's funny it used to be the color of gloom but now it's the color of happiness!!!


So I must ask you----what's your inspirational color(s) at the moment!!!!

Style Inspiration

Thumbing through a friend's old Oprah magazine, I ran across some outfits that were simply gorgeous. The lovely actress, Paula Patton is modeling them. I've included the Oprah magazine descriptions so you can read all the details. I'll definitely add these to my Inspiration and Knock-off file. I'd love to recreate these looks in the future.

I really love this look. This pic doesn't do it justice. Check out http://mythandritualclothing.com/2008fall/07.html to see the different textures & fabrics in these pieces. I love the blending of wool and silk trim in blue and gray below. The New Blue
…is a deep, bright navy, flattering on a whole spectrum of skin tones. Textural contrast is built right in to the easy-fitting wool smock top and skirt, both with silk trim (Myth and Ritual, $224 and $264). Pile on extra gloss with square-toed patent leather flats (Dolce & Gabbana). "I'm really into pieces," Paula says, explaining that when you mix and match, "you can make a dollar out of a dime and a nickel." Earrings, Tiffany & Co. Bracelet, Cartier.

Flowers That
…bloom in...the fall? Here's proof absolute that floral prints aren't just for spring—and that shine can work anytime: A slim pencil skirt with cloudy purple blossoms instantly becomes autumn-friendly when it's warmed up with a camel cashmere crewneck (Michael Kors, $995 and $795). Although this sweater isn't traditional—it's got an exposed zipper in back—you can do the texture-mixing thing with any old solid-color knit. A bow-shaped clutch (Valentino) and discreet gold jewelry (brooch, Rosello S.A.; bangles, Cartier) keep the gleam going. Belt and shoes, Michael Kors.

A Tweed Dress
…(Liz Claiborne, $139) is the perfect work staple—very trendy at this leg-flattering, knee-skimming length. The shine here comes entirely from accessories: diamond studs (Tiffany & Co.), a silver leather belt crawling with gold-plated alligators (Terry Stack), and glossy red heels (Dolce & Gabbana). "You don't have to spend a lot to get something special," says Paula, whose secret weapon is tailoring—the right fit makes an inexpensive piece look terrific. (She also "reinvents" dated clothes with alterations.)

Looking at some of these prices aren't you so glad you can sew!!!!