Bound by Obsession

Even the rain couldn't bring me down today, I had such a fantastic day in the studio!! Main season is still definitely keeping me well and truly on my toes but I feel like I've passed the halfway point.  I have so much to be grateful for and feel truly blessed and honoured to be in the position that I am!

#😊

This cool, wet, mixed up summer we're having has led to a flurry of requests for these wraps to go with boleros. Coordinating layers is the only way to go when there's no knowing what the weather will throw at us next.

Just another quick throwback, I found a few more pictures of my wedding dress on an old hard drive, so strange to think Instagram wasn't even a year old back then

Just before she makes her first debut, I thought I'd introduce my most recently acquired display mannequin, she's not in perfect condition but that's what makes her unique and so much more special! She needs a name but Rose seemed too obvious maybe?

Another package off. Is it wrong that I always feel a little bit emotional when pieces go?

As it's father's day, I thought I'd share a little menswear. It's not something that I normally seem to share even though I do quite a lot of garments and accessories. I will endeavour to feature it more often in the future.

This custom wedding gown felt a little bit like magic to work on. Some dresses are just meant to be and they come together so easily at every stage. I managed to source the most perfect antique pieces to use in the construction, pristine pieces of 1890's lace that were the perfect length and width, almost like they were made all those years ago, just to go on this dress.

I just had to squeeze in a quick throwback to my own wedding dress, I still love it!!

I just had to share another couple of pictures from the photoshoot with and

I couldn't resist buying this absolute treasure. It was expensive for its condition but still so worth it, and amazing from the very first page. Although it's in fairly bad condition this clothing catalogue from 1887 has so much information about mens, women's and children's clothing from the era and the measurement guide is so fascinating, it's interesting to see what has changed in 137 years and what hasn't.

#1887

I found another mystery!! I couldn't help myself. I bought these antique/vintage binoculars to use as a prop in a photoshoot, but if you know me, then you know I need to find out as much of the history of the items as I possibly can. To begin with, I really couldn't find much information, not even enough to work out if they were opera or military. One site said German, another said French, and then I looked closer at the box and saw the 'made in England' stamp, so I decided it was a futile rabbit hole to jump down, but whilst packing them way, I noticed numbers written on the inside of the strap, I thought, at first glance it was 34-9-1906 so it couldn't possibly be a birthday, so I thought maybe it was a military service number but an Internet search bought back absolutely nothing. Having another look in a different light, I realised that the three was more likely a two, which meant that it could be both a birth date or a service number. Still not helpful, but this time, when I searched for the service number, it came back with the surname Upfield, who, according to the search results, enlisted after 1950, which still didn't help with any information on the binoculars as military equipment like that, at that time would most likely have circulated and recirculated until it fell to pieces. However, I was still excited by the name anyway, it adds a personal level to objects that seems to make them feel so much more special somehow, though I really can't explain why. I will continue to try and research the old owner to see if I can find any of his service history. I can't imagine I will find much, but I do enjoy the hunt for details and information!

Yesterday someone asked me if I make wedding dresses that are more simple...I do, I will say that it doesn't come up as often but I will make whatever the bride wants and I have made quite a number of more classic, elegant style gowns that can then be offset with a single dramatic accessory. An ornate lace veil, a piece of statement jewellery, an elaborate lace jacket or even a full, floor length cape for a dramatic winter entrance. Whatever the bride has in mind is the most important point, making someone feel confident, self assured and 100% their best self on their wedding day is absolutely paramount.

This is one of my favourite images from the recent photoshoot, I love how atmospheric it feels, Dave has really managed to capture something in her expression that feels like its a snapshot from a story that we will never know.

A Serendipitous Discovery:

I was on a quest to find an actual, visual historical reference for the more bolero style jackets that I have made countless times to keep arms warm while not hiding the details on the corset. I have come across delicate little jackets a couple of times. Not like the voluminous sleeved, sculpted jackets or the more restrictive tight sleeved, high collared jackets. I have only ever found examples in very poor condition, mostly silk that hasn’t stood the test of time well. I assume these jackets were actually really popular and, when owned, are worn often, as I haven't found one in a good enough condition to learn fully about the intended construction and structure of the garment. Though they looked simple enough, there were secrets hidden in the ones I had found, as it was hard to tell with certainty what these garments were. I embarked on a research journey. After a relatively embarrassing amount of time, to my surprise, the elusive image I sought was already in my possession, thanks to a serendipitous discovery.

Knowing my love for history and Victorian/Edwardian icons, my friend had previously sent me a photograph of Arlette Dorgere, a French dancer, singer, actress, and popular poster model born in 1880. As I scrolled through my photo library, I stumbled upon this image, and it was as if time paused for just a second.

There, in all her glory, was Arlette Dorgere, adorned in a cropped jacket that perfectly exemplified the glamour and elegance I was searching for. The intricate details, the elegant cut, and the overall charm packed so much into such a tiny garment. It was the visual reference I had been searching for, and it had been right before my eyes all along.

I found a fabric so similar to this today, I got really excited!! It was discontinued years ago but it was just so nice to work with, one of those fabrics that feels like it could sew itself 😊

One thing on the list for my next antique treasure-hunting adventures is just the right antique/vintage lace to make another pair of these, I'd like to be able to make a selection so it will probably stay on the list for quite a while 😁

I have such a specific set of images that I want to create using something like this and a few other props. Originally I had three separate locations in mind that could have worked really well but the images that are burning a hole in my brain are on an old, slightly run down theatre stage with a single spotlight and a backdrop just like the ones in the Victorian/Edwardian photoshoots. Even then I have two options, find a location to work in or create the space in the studio which would be an amazing asset to have and definitely something that I'm going to have to build but in the short term it may be quicker and more efficient to find a usable location 🤔 I think I have just the place in mind, either way this might take a lot more work than I anticipate, but doesn't it always?

Simply awesome!! After decades of corset wearing, this is still my favourite. It's just so easy to wear and so adaptable to any outfit, any occasion, I don't know if many people would agree or if many people have a favourite corset but I imagine most people would choose something more ornate. My wedding corset is obviously my most precious but I am fairly sure I would get a good few raised eyebrows walking through the supermarket wearing it 🧐

A little something for the warmer weather, the front lacing waspie corset is such a great garment for creating a historic, vintage look without overheating. This one was from a photoshoot back in 2010. Whether they're worn over or under an outfit, they are literally the most versatile garments that can be dressed up or down for any occasion, day or night.

I couldn't resist another behind the scenes shot from the recent photoshoot, I'm so grateful to and ❤️ Thank you so much guys 🥰

Another behind the scenes pic from the shoot, this one is giving me some amazing inspiration 😁 so many new ideas!!

Experimenting again!! What I'm hoping to achieve is recreating the feel of the old photos. Not so much copying them straight off, I want my images to look as if they were taken on the same day.

There are so many jobs behind the scenes that nobody ever really gets to see, and this is one job that is really, really fun and exciting; collecting together samples to send to clients can mean spending a considerable amount of time sifting through extensive collections of colours, textures, cloths, laces and materials to create the perfect ensemble for each unique individual, I think it might be my favourite behind the scenes task 🤔😁

I'm far too impatient to wait for the official photos to come back, so I've been experimenting with the test shots that I took.  Anyone who knows me knows just how obsessed I am with the old photo collection that we have of my ancestors; this picture of my great-great-great-grandmother is so fascinating to me that I wondered if I could try and recreate the feel of the old photo using the new shots from the weekend.

A couple more behind the scenes, sneak peaks from the shoot today, I'm feeling so grateful to the models and the venue, for me that was just such a great day!!

Just a quick sneaky peak at a couple of props for Monday. I think the parasols might be my favourite find from the Ardingly antique fair. Who has two completely separate images of historical items in their mind, in different colours for different outfits and not only finds them both but, first time, at the same time, from the same seller, it just has to be fate right?

Very much a work in progress but still coming together nicely, enough for today though I've still got two days left so plenty of time to get all the little details perfect ☺️

Anticipation is building! I have to say at this point I'm definitely clinging to my electric to get through this volume of work in time, sometimes I wish my ideas weren't quite so big, but only for a second 🤣 and then I'm already planning my next four projects, they'll only get bigger!!

Curating accessories for the photoshoot has given me so much new inspiration!! I sometimes feel that I don't pay enough attention to the smaller items which are also really beautiful and practical and are a great way of making sure no materials get wasted.

It's been a surprisingly busy day but all good fun, including going over some of the more summery dress designs, I can't wait for summer, though today's weather didn't live up to my expectations by any means ☔