Made By Lex » thistle in the kiss

Fashion Show Looks 1-5

Alexis — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:08:33 +0000

When Stripe first approached me about the idea of the fashion show, I was thrilled and intimidated all at the same time. We had about 2 month to put it together. Maybe 2 month for a designer with no children would have been feasible, but since I’m a stay at home mom of three with tons of summer activities looming around the corner, I didn’t know how I could put together a 10 look show. The cost was also daunting! Think about all the fabric it takes for one dress then think about 10 looks! So the solution we came up was to reuse pieces to help with time and money. So you’ll see that as I describe each look.

As I’ve said before, the concept was “The Thistle in the Kiss”. We wanted portray pure beauty, then have each look progress to a more roughed up look, yet still beautiful. So each model came down 3 times and the looks were styled progressively to display that concept. The hair and makeup also changed each time down. You should have seen the madness backstage!

Look1:

Round 1- Tina wore a thrifted white leather skirt with a black top I made. It was heavily textured in the front and back. She also wore one of Nuala’s black leather cuffs with vintage jewels on it and a pair of grey suede wedges.

Round 2- we reversed the shirt so the back was low and added these chains draping the back.

Round 3- we added a clutch, boots, and a ruffled bustle.

Look2:

I found this amazing dress at the thrift store. I liked the bottom of it. So I took apart the top and redid with different fabrics so it gathered to one side. Then I added the piece I made at the shoulder, then altered the bottom to add more fabric and shape. It’s paired with wood heels.

Round 2- We added one of Nuala’s leather cuffs, an AMAZING bag she made and boots.

Round 3- Added a suede vest, lace and chain sleeve and thick wool socks.

Look 3:

Round 1- Distressed Jeans, clutch bu Nuala and this grey top I made. It had ruffles down one side and a rouching detail in the back, which you can’t see

Round 2- Switched to shorts, added a black ruffle and black heels

Round 3- Torn tights, and another voluminous ruffle.

Look 4:

I had to show a closeup of the top of this dress I made. I used a technique I had played with before where you get lots of fabric then flatten and stitch it. It creates this really textured top. I LOVE the look of this!

Round 1- Just as is.

Round 2- We pinned it up to create a shorter, flounce dress, added this leather pack by Nuala and chain straps.

Round 3- Big gold necklace, leather jacket and leather boots.

For the record, I’d wear ALL of these looks. It’s my favorite one

Look 5 (one of my sister’s modeling )

Round 1- I had found this gorgeous long wool dress at a thrift store about a year ago and bought it knowing I’d do SOMETHING with it. I got to use it for the show and what I did was make this layered white train from all sorts of different fabrics. Here’s a closeup of the back before it was finished. I used silk, tulle, lace, satin and silk.

Round 2- We tied the back up, added a chain belt and heels.

Round 3- Added two layers of torn tights and boots.

I’m seriously going to do a post where I show you just the hair and makeup. It was mindblowing!! For know, here are all the credits for the show:

All Hair and Makeup by L’Atelier Salon

Shoes provided by Bunny’s Shoes

Jewelry by at Stripe

Leather bags, jewelry and accessories by Terry McInerey of Nuala Leather

Organized and styled by Julianne Castro

Food by Anna St. John and Breanna Greene

Photographer Tim Cattera, Ferradas Photography

Success

Alexis — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 23:49:01 +0000

The show was amazing!! I can’t wait to tell you all about it. But I”m so tired today I can barely type. So here are a couple photos to share with LOTS more to come. I can’t wait to tell you about all the amazing people that put it together. But for now, visuals.

(All photos by Tim Cattera Photography)

Fashion Show Feelings

Alexis — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:56:21 +0000

Tomorrow is the fashion show at Stripe that I’m doing with Terry of Nuala Leather. I can’t beleive after a couple months of planning it’s finally here. I thought I’d share with you a little collage of some of the pieces I’ve done.

There’s lots of texture in the palette shown above. The Thistle in the Kiss is a very artistic show, not a traditional fashion show.. The way it’s working is there are 10 looks. Each model will walk down once with their original looks. Then there will be pieces added and evolution in hair and makeup to progress the look. Each model will have 3 different looks, all based off of the original garment.

With one day left, my thoughts are racing.In all honesty, I am nitpicking each piece, wishing I would have done more on one, less on the other. With only a couple months to put this together and with 3 children to care for, time was very limited for me. So I’m filled with ‘what ifs” on certain pieces. But I’m feeling today the need to let it go, to stand behind what I did and to be thankful for where I am. I feel like the thing I am most proud of is that almost a year ago I was sitting at vacation with my family and they were saying I should get some labels made for the kids clothes I had made for the girls. We were coming up with all these names and I realized they just weren’t me. “Lex” was simple and not over thought. So it was then I came up with my name. Here I am a year later, selling my own designs and having my first local show. I’m just really grateful.

I believe that God gives us each talents, avenues of creativity to bring us joy and bring glory to Him. I’m so grateful that He’s placed this in my life and I’m happy that I’ve been able to embrace it and grow from it. It’s brought me immeasurable joy. In my life as a stay at home mom, the day in day out of things aren’t rewarding. It’s an unglorified job. It’s hard and taxing. And I love it. But using your creative outlet to find small joys that are just your own has so much value. They’re small gems in life. So I just encourage you all to find your gift, embrace it, and love it. It doesn’t have to be big. If tomorrow was the height of what I’m supposed to do with this gift, I’d be just as happy. I could go back to just sewing clothes for the girls and be thrilled. I’m just enjoying each step.

Because to me, “Everything I am is for Your glory. Everything I am, for You alone.”