THE coat: the beginning stages

When I began with the design process this is the coat I fell in love with and decided to make for my senior collection. I want the feel of a swing coat without the hassle of the excess fabric (especially for living in Texas where it does not get too cold to wear a swing coat frequently). After watching "White Christmas" for this first time December 2010 I became inspired by the big coat Betty wore.

She seemed very embraced with this coat. I suppose the way a snuggie makes us feel today, except this one can be worn in public. (PLEASE DON"T GO OUT IN PUBLIC WITH A SNUGGIE! Ofcourse, unless you're Kristen and very sick). This coat kind of describes the feeling. Tell me, do you have a garment that makes you feel all "warm and fuzzy"?
This is the muslin (sample of real coat) for my coat thus far. It has lantern raglan sleeves with a yoke going all around the body. It also has an inverted pleat in the back.

As the design sketch goes to fabric, the design itself changes because what we imagine may not always actually look good in "real life" so stay tuned for the updated design in fashion fabric next week!
Stay fabulous my friends!- liz

I Smell 60s in the Air!

I've been taking a look at the 2011 pre-fall collections and it seems like the 80s are rolling out on skates while the 60s are cycling in with exciting colors and styles. From my research the 60s seem to be a combination of the late 50s and early 70s thus giving us a delightful blend of glamour.

Some trends that really have my wheels turning are: the extremes of rich colors and pastels, fullness in skirts and pants, long lengths in skirts and pants, exaggerated collars, and furr and leather.

Overall, these new collections are fearless when it comes to color. They compel me to go to the dressing room and play with the palettes. A change that I'm noticing from the past few years is cleanliness. Ostentatious embellishments are absent, the focus is on clean lines and good fit. Tell me, what trend will you like to try next fall?
Stay fabulous my friends- Liz