Oz: Glinda The Good Witch - The Gown

Glinda the Good Witch character was such a joy to create. She, along with the Tin Man were the two mist complex costumes for the shoot.

My step-daughter Danica has a similar hair color to the original Glinda, played by actress Billie Burke so no wig was necessary. A few hot rollers, a quick brush out and voila, Glinda 2019.

The makeup was natural and simple as well. 

The perfect Glinda Gloss: Haus Labs gloss in "Le Riot"

So many beautiful details went into producing her look.

The Gown:

Glinda's original gown was designed by famous Hollywood costumer, Adrian. It has been said that he actually re-used/ recycled a gown from a precious production which is not at all uncommon for costumers of large houses to do. Read more about it HERE.

I decided to purchase a base gown in the "Glinda Pink" and use it as the foundation for the creation of her character. It was hard to choose the color as the film stills and actual technicolor film varies so widely. I went with the shade that I felt best represented the character. 

I enlisted the help of my good friend and creative partner in crime, Kate to help construct the sleeves, remove items/embellishments that didn't work, re-configure the neckline and build the undergarment that gave the skirt The Glinda Shape. Her dress has wide hips with a flat appearance in front and back, similar to the 18th century look of a pannier undergarment (Think Marie Antoinette). We didn't have the budget or the time to construct one or purchase one so Kate in her genius improvised with fabric.

We used scrap fabric we had on hand to create the tie on "Pannier" with an exterior of iridescent organza. She chose a tie up method so it could be easily adjusted for my step-daughter on shoot day.

The modifications to the base dress was the neckline, the embellishments/appliques were removed from the top layer of tulle.

The sleeves needed to be constructed from scratch by Kate who referenced Glinda's iconic look and shape for the shoulders.

My daughter as Dorothy and Step-Daughter as Glinda.

 Kate, working her magic. I love designing with her!

Kate used the same method of stuffing the shoulders with fabric. She removed the stiff tulle underskirt in portions under the front of the skirt so it would lay flat and re-used it to create the shoulder volume with a gorgeous shell of pink organza.

The sleeves were constructed from a stretch tulle to ensure they would fit her. We didn't have fittings so Kate decided it was the best way to ensure fit for Danica and whoever else may use/wear this costume.

Glinda's gown is covered with silver stars so instead of doing them by hand we chose a pale pink organza fabric printed with silver stars.

We chose not to continue it all the way around and left the back open and pink tulle exposed so the back bow ribbons could cascade down. 

The butterfly details seen on Glinda's dress were created by hand by me. I used feathered small butterfly clips in white and hand painted them silver. I used them for each wrist and for the vintage pearl necklace.

 The stones needed to be hand removed from the pink butterfly before I could paint it silver. the glitter lines gave great texture to it. Each butterfly can be removed so the dress can be cleaned and to ensure proper placement regardless of what body shape/type wears the gown in its next life.

 vintage faux-pearl choker and butterfly clip combo.

Last but not least, I used a brooch from the 1950's to replicate the feeling of her large bust embellishment. A mix of faux-pearls and rhinestones were the perfect edition.

Tomorrow I will outline the details that went into her iconic accessories; The hat and wand.

A Christmas in OZ

Behold our wonderful family in Oz for our 2019 holiday card!!

My inspiration for the cover was from the 1939 movie poster,

This year marked the 80th anniversary of this iconic film and I felt it was the perfect time to pay tribute!

Also, any theme with a bomb pair of shoes or two always has my vote. We did a tri-fold card again this year and the "poster" was the front and this group shot was the interior image.

I will be writing about my process with costumes, set, props and makeup in the coming days.

The inside was an OZsome inset of image inside golden circles against a beautiful Wizard of Oz background. The graphics were done by Michela Plescia who also did the graphic design work on last years Grinchmas card.

We once again used Kori Savoie to shoot our magical memories!

"Wishing you all an Ozsome holiday season! Enjoy the detours that 2020 will bring and face them with courage and heart. Know you have friends who are there to support your life's adventures. Believe in your dreams as you have had the power to make them come true all along. No matter where those adventures may lead you, remember there is no place like home!"

Love, 

Lisa, David, Kaleigh, Blake, Dylan, Danica and Leo

Click HERE to see our past holiday cards

Gomez & Morticia: DSAM

This is our third Down Syndrome Awareness Month (DSAM) where we have had Blake and Amelia assuming roles of iconic characters. Amelia's mother, Nicole and I feel like it is a creative and unique way to celebrate DSAM! You've seen them as Danny and Sandy and Major Nelson and Jeannie and for 2019 they are SPOOKtacular as Gomez and Morticia Addams.

It is also Halloween Month (I love October) which is full of spooky and scary costumes, parties and events. One thing that isn't scary is Down Syndrome. That said, I was terrified when Blake was born. I was scared for me, for him and what it meant for our future. In the years that have passed I realized how ridiculous I was. My reaction was based on a lifetime of conditioning from a fear based society. A society who strives for generic sameness instead of celebrating differences. A society who would rather be fearful and use it as an excuse for not moving forward and evolving rather than learning, facing their perceived fears and growing. And a society who still segregates people like Blake and Amelia in schools all across the country and won't engage in inclusive practices out of fear.

I was afraid of Down Syndrome, what a gift reflection in hindsight can be. But as Blake grows I have realized a much bigger fear. I fear the world I am leaving him in. I fear the realization that I am not going to live forever and wonder what will happen to him? who will be there for him? who will protect him from this scary, exploitative society?

This community has a serious housing shortage and issues surrounding meaningful employment for fair wages. There are issues with services and supports. We continue to fight for meaningful inclusion in education and in our communities. Advocacy is a long, frustrating road but Blake, Amelia and this community need as many collective voices as possible. We need those voices to speak up to advocate and to educate for respect, and also quality of services and supports. Because let's face it the scariest thing of all is the root cause of these issues, ignorance. I was there once, before my greatest teacher, Blake came into my life.

Dear Blake and Amelia, 

We will never stop fighting for you, advocating for you and educating people for you. We will combat the ignorance with education, the misconceptions with accurate information and the fear with love .. cross our hearts!

Nicole's cam

How are you celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month?

Designer Profile: Jack Horwitz

"Born in London, UK, 1 January 1892, Jacob Horwitz immigrated to the U.S. with his family when he was a child. After graduating in 1910 he opened a grocery with a friend in Manhattan. As a member of the National Guard, he was called into service in 1916 to quell Pancho Villa along the Mexican border, but by the time he had returned the grocery business had gone bankrupt. After returning from serving in the U.S. army during World War I, Horwitz went into business again with a partner, this time making shirtwaists (blouses) and shirtwaist dresses. By 1925 they had formed the company Horwitz and Duberman.

Image of the designer and his signature from a 1951 Pattern Package.

In the 1930s, Horwitz became a pioneer in the field of Junior wear (along with department store owner Irving Sorger and French designer Jacques Heim). Until the 1930s teenagers and collegiate aged girls adjusted ready-made adult-sized dresses to fit their smaller frames, but Junior sized clothing was designed in youthful styles specifically for the smaller framed, shorter-waisted younger woman. Horwitz, who considered himself a manufacturer and stylist, not a designer, hired young women to design the clothes. His first label ‘Judy ‘n Jill’, which was in business from the late 1930s to the late 1950s, was carried by stores across the U.S. Another line he launched in 1939 was branded ‘Deanna Durbin’, after the popular teenage singing actress.

New York Times

Horwitz was awarded the Coty Award in 1947 for his role in creating the Junior market.  In the early 1950s Horwitz bought out his partner Duberman, and the company became known as Jack Horwitz Associates. He retired from his own company by 1960, and died in 1992 at the age of 100." - Source: Fashion's Hall of Obscurity.

 The designer Shannon Rodgers worked as a designer for this fashion house, the labels feature "From the Jack Horwitz Custom Collection by Shannon Rodgers.

I have a dress available that I have curated from the 55,000 Dresses Collection.

1950's Jack Horwitz / Shannon Rodgers evening dress. A floral print fabric adorned with gold metallic threading with an overlay of black mesh, it gives the illusion of fish net stockings. The skirt is full and shown with a petticoat (not included)A sexy deep V in the back with a double bow detail, metal zipper and spaghetti straps complete the design.

B = 36"

W = 29"

H = open

L = 48" from top of straps to hem

*Tip: Die to the semi-sheer nature of the floral fabric, add a colored slip and/or petticoat to change the look of the dress to re-style it in a different way.

Jack Horwitz Associated Inc. was active in the 1950s. The designer Shannon Rodgers worked as a designer for this fashion house, the labels feature "From the Jack Horwitz Custom Collection by Shannon Rodgers"

*Dry Cleaned

*Complimentary US Shipping

$180

Click to SHOP

DRESStory: The History Of A Dress

In my many years of buying and selling Vintage clothing I rarely get the full history of a dress that I acquire. I love fashions past for its design details, unique fabrics and sustainability. I am always left wondering about the story behind each dress.

I recently got an email from a lady who had read my post about Designer Emma Domb back in 2012 (which upon recent review could use an update).

She was wanting to part with her prom dress from 1958 and asked if I wanted to acquire it. I am drowning in dresses due to my partnership with Paul Brockmann of the 55,000 Dress Collection and couldn't imaging assuming one more piece of inventory .... until I heard this DRESStory.

The dress was gifted to her on a game show in 1958, "It Could Be You". She was told the dress was created "just for her". She wore it to her prom the same year with her high school sweetheart.

They were married for 54 years. She lost him in 2016 and now it is time for her gorgeous prom dress to have a new life. She was the original owner and the dress was worn once.

The dress has been professionally dry cleaned and is ready to start it's new life! Prom? Cocktail Party? Dinner? Wedding? Dapper Day? Just Because?

 Shown without a petticoat

DRESS DETAILS

Vintage Designer 1950's Emma Domb Pink prom/party dress. This beauty was acquired from it's original owner who wore it once to prom in 1958 with her high school sweetheart (that she subsequently married). The dress was gifted to her on a televised game show "It Could Be You". Now it is your turn to give this dress a new life.

The baby pink chiffon is perfection. The waist has 2 other colors of pink with front bow details. Strapless silhouette with boning in the bodice. Metal zipper and layers of chiffon and tulle in the skirt. The images show the skirt with and without a petticoat.

B = 34"

W = 26"

H = open

Dry Cleaned

Priority Shipping is complimentary in the USA

$250

LINK TO SHOP

Check This Out

I’m back .... again. Blogging and I have a love/hate relationship. Well, more like a I don’t have time to prioritize writing in this space, but I should. 

I was checking out the style at the Cannes film festival and fell in love with this jacket worn by Ashlee Simpson and designed by Antonio Berardi for his Fall 2019 collection. 

 I also love it styled both ways!

The look as presented in the Fall collection.

For those of you who follow my social media I am forever tying to inspire and educate about the fact that fashions past is ALWAYS present and in a cyclical industry how could it not be? Looking back I remembered 2 other  amazing black and white checked jackets I adore.

Gianni Versace Fall/Winter 1992

Also, the jacket that was part of the costumes for the 1953 film “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” worn by Jane Russell’s character. The wardrobe was designed by Travilla. 

It now resides in the Star costume collection at Western Costume company.

When checking out your personal style remember you can look back to the past AND  be stylish in the present. 

Which jacket do you prefer?