Moving to FineFabrics.com

Today, we added a new clients' creations page to FineFabrics.com. In so doing, I decided that it makes the most sense to concentrate our efforts in sharing, educating and offering in one place. So please, join us there, where you will find all that we might have offered here.

When A Flight to New York Was Fun and Exciting

There was a time when jumping on a commercial airplane was a big deal. I had done it once before. A flight from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City in an attempt to learn to ski and to visit my friend, Lisa, who was attending the University of Utah. My long distance childhood travels were generally made in convertibles in which we followed Route 66 from California to Detroit to visit family and buy a new convertible.

My husband, Bob made his first trip on an airplane in 1959 when he and his family boarded a Lockheed Constellation travelling from Los Angeles to New York. They then boarded a ship for the trans-Atlantic journey and lived in Europe for a time. He recalls as a child watching the flames behind the engines, an experience which led to a lifetime of travel.

It was no wonder that within a month of our moving in together, he flies off on a business trip, but before he leaves, he handed me a ticket to meet him in New York. Nowadays one can find designer fashion just about everywhere. At that time, 5th Avenue was one of the few places one could find a collection of designer boutiques in one place. While Bob was conducting his business, I made my way there.

I have learned more about couture construction from turning designer garments inside out while in the dressing room. This method of education took on a new meaning moving in and out of the high fashion boutiques of New York. (Will have more on elastic casing later, as I recently used the technique I learned from within the Ralph Lauren dressing room on that trip.) My sole purchase was a red leather belt from Gucci that perfectly matched the silk dress I had made to wear to my 10-year high school reunion, that same year. It may have been the only time I entered a Gucci Store, although I did covet through a window recently a Gucci handbag.

Its no wonder that I couldn't resist adding to FineFabrics.com a collection of fabrics made for Gucci.

Leave it to Gucci to keep their logo subtly embedded in the design.

We'll be adding more new designer fabrics to FineFabrics.com from this collection and others.

Moulin Rouge for the Holidays

More on the opening of 5th Annual World's Finest Lace Show.

M.F. of Santa Barbara, California and Ms. 

Fine Fabrics are inspecting Cindy's 

perfectly matching zipper insertion 

and back seam.

Cindy wowed everyone with her 30's inspired black beaded number, made using Solstiss' Black Beaded Lace, and lined with Red Silk Duchesse. Full pictures of this beauty will be posted to the clients' creation pages of FineFabrics.com later.

L.G., of Letizia Alta Moda, Santa Barbara, California wowed and inspired everyone with her expert draping skills. Wouldn't you love to show up for holiday festivities wearing a dress made using this embellished flame patterned lace, with red silk duchesse train.

Stay tuned for more on the variety of interpretations available from Solstiss in this flame patterned lace, and others. 

Royal Couturier Visits Fine Fabrics

Fine Fabrics is honored to host its 5th Annual World's Finest Lace Show, featuring the haute couture collections from Solsitss, August 2 - 31. Our opening reception was Saturday, July 30, when a steady stream of oohs and aahs sang through the store throughout the day. Fashionistas from around the State attended, and toward the end of the day, C.M. of Santa Barbara, California brought her friend and fashion confidante, J.S to have a look. 


J.S. had been a couturier for Queen Elizabeth and her sister when they were children. When C.M. asked J.S. if this outing to Fine Fabrics World's Finest Lace Show opening made her day, J.S. responded, "You've made my life."

More pictures from the opening reception of Fine Fabrics 5th Annual World's Finest Lace Show to be posted later and within the client creations section of FineFabrics.com


Please join us for Fine Fabrics 5th Annual Lace Show, open Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm, August 2 through 31. You'll be surprised as to who you might me there.

Overwhelmed!

Its hard to believe that I left the last post up for so long without moving on. I could use the excuse that I've been overwhelmed with a lot on my deck, but anyone who knows me would say, "yeah."
In answer this week, I can say, "yeah. I am overwhelmed and you just wait to see what's coming down the pike to prove that this round of overwhelmed tops all others."


First on the list is July 30, 2011, opens Fine Fabrics 5th Annual Worlds' Finest Lace Show.


Cindy has been busy making a dress for the opening using:

with the same red duchess satin lining.

Pips is going to show some funk using a piece of rose tone and gold lace, a pair of jeans and coordinating with the finest piece of designer silk charmeuse:

And, well, my selection is understated this year. My favorite, a pair of palazzo pants using our very finest designer silk and wool blend paisley print:

and a shirt of my own design using a Solstiss mostly cotton lace:

In a peach that matches the paisley.

D&G eat your heart out. If I'm not mistaken they did use this pattern in one of their dresses.

Let's Hear it for the Maxi Dress Becoming a Classic

I just discovered Facebook. Well, I didn't just discover Facebook, but I did call in the youth brigade, my niece's daughter Sarah to help work me through the set up and intricacies of Facebook so that we can most effectively work with it in sharing our couture adventures there as well. Please link through that you like  Fine Fabrics on Facebook. It seems we need 25 likes to go live. 


Within 24 hours of consumption, and I do see how Facebook can become a consumption this picture appeared, posted by my nephew:

Yes. That is a very young Ms. FineFabrics in her made for the senior prom at 14 years old maxi-dress. How appropriate that this picture should appear when maxi dresses are at their most popular since.


I was invited to the prom the day before by the friend, of the boyfriend of a friend, who needed a date.  I ran home from school and popped out this maxi dress from fabric in my stash. I remember cutting out Simplicity Pattern 9944 on the living room floor, with the afternoon session of Felix the Cat playing in the background.

Found today at

http://pattern-world.com/images/Simplicity9446.jpg

My date was in an Elton John emulation phase and wore a top hat, tuxedo jacket, striped shirt and patched jeans du jour. Well it was 1971.

I've made one maxi dress since. I wore it to a "festive" birthday party. It was perfect for the occassion, and I have no idea why maxi-dresses are not classics within our wardrobes. They are so much fun and when in style, so appropriate.

In celebration of the maxi-dress revival we have added to our offerings the following maxi-dress perfect fabrics:

  

 

  

  

   

  

Let's hear it for the maxi dress becoming a classic this time around!

Print Dominance

My first sewing blog post covered how studying a print before cutting can make a big difference in the results. I cannot under emphasize the importance of doing this when working with lively, bold prints, such as I used for my first project of 2011 - a jersey dress.

I learned this axiom the hard way. I had made a pair of pants and cardigan coat using an African print inspired fabric. The pattern was so busy I thought there no need to concern myself with matching. I didn't think about the importance of not matching. When the ensemble was complete, there were 2 big black Superman logo looking "S" patterns, one on each of my buns. We called them my super suzzy pants. I could only wear them with their matching coat. 

So, when looking at this fabulous matte jersey print, you see that the royal blue swath of color is dominant. I was careful to lay the pattern pieces so that this dominant blue feature of the fabric was placed:

1. Along the right collar - to bring one's eyes to my face
2. Upper left shoulder - for balance
3. Center front hemline - to bring the eye down and offer a perception of length
4. On the left hip - to move the eye away from my belly.

And, nowhere near my buns!

More great lively matte jersey prints available at FineFabrics.com: