Poison Ivy for the Rose

The amazing Drea Rose Deville requested a custom order from Missing James to feature in the first issue of JYNX Alt Lifestyle Magazine coming out this North American summer. A while back she died her gorgeous locks blood red and was inspired to do a poison ivy shoot, so requested a Missing James take on the Batman Vixen. The result - an underbust long line corset dress with matching pasties in an emerald green Chinese brocade with satin panels, velvet boning channels and sequin vine detailing.

The Chinese brocade was bought from a vintage fabric seller off Etsy to create a one of a kind piece. Carefully, I cut out all the panels of the corset - alternating in brocade and plain emerald satin.

Two layers of thick calico in each panel make the corset really strong and a final satin lining keeps it smooth on the skin. The panels are all cut and ready to be assembled.

The first step of assembly is to sew in the busk. Because the corset is a long line corset dress, I used the longest busk available - only 16 inches! There are an extra 4 inches of hem along the bottom under the busk, but this allows the wearer to sit down. For instructions on how to insert a split busk, review an old post from 2010 - http://missingjames.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/inserting-split-busk.html .

A zipper foot makes it easier to sew in the busk.

To make it easier to sew so many layers together, I basted each of the panels so they wouldn't slip and slide while I was making the boning channels.

One all of the panels are sewn together, the boning channels can then be stitched into place.

The corset then begins to take shape:

To be able to tie up the back of the corset, eyelets need to be punched along the back 2 panels for the lacing. I was lucky to have just received my new eyelet punch, so this step of the process was much easier than it has been in the past. 

The corset can now be placed onto a model for a fitting and only a few minor changes had to be made.

After hours of hand finishing the inside seams and sewing on the velvet boning channels, the final sequin details and velvet bias binding could be added to finish the corset.

The finished product!

To top off this gorgeous underbust and make it slightly more modest - a pair of handmade custom pasties to match!

Voila! A burlesque take on the vixen, Poison Ivy.

dancing in the dark

Below are photos from my recent photo shoot with Alex from Hoi Images. It's our take on "20s fetish burlesque" with make up by the amazing Nick Plummer.

I'm wearing the classic Black Beaded Fringe Waist Cincher by Missing James. Custom orders for this corset are available at the Etsy store.

Bigger than Bells

I'm currently working on some amazingly LARGE bell bottoms. Research for this project has just been mind blowing - how much fabric can really go into a pair of pants!?!? Just type in Wide Led Large Bell Bottoms in Google Images and the most extravagant pants appear.

It's amazing what you can do with a pair of pants! They can be so big you can make a skirt out of them, or the bell is so large they wing out, or you cross the front and back over to create the most amazing slit up the side of the leg!

On my travels through cyber space I came across this handy little blog post on how to make your own Bell Bottom yoga pant! It's easy to follow and the results look fantastic! My bells are quite larger than this and a teeny weeny bit more sparkly, but it's a good place to start!

Check out Me Sew Crazy and cute tutorial on DIY Bell Bottom Yoga Pants!

Below is a collection of my image research. It was a blast looking at all of these - some are amazing and some are just hideous!

Wish me luck on my time travelling trip back to the 70s!

Prom Time

Over in North America (my home land), young high school graduates are preparing themselves for the most important night in their short lives - their Prom. I had a prom, I was actually the organizer of my Prom and I did it old school style. We decked out our school gym in large curtains, fairy lights, and a massive dance floor, with 20 tables to seat all the grade 11s and 12s. Caterers and photographers were brought in to make the night rememberable, and every girl got a white rose when she walked through the door (my touch). It was a gorgeous night, although I don't remember much. We had hidden a bottle of vodka in the girls bathroom and kept swigging it. By the time I had to make my speech I had to cut it short in hopes that I wouldn't have to stand for too long.

My prom dress was a beautiful dress from 1910 that was given to me by my Mother's best friend. It was a GORGEOUS dress, and very different. Black chiffon with a high neck, empire waist line, a slit down the back and a fish tail. I had to wear nipple covers because it was see-through. Ooh, scandalous! My favourite bit of the dress was the fishtail, but by the end of the night my steel heeled stilletos had made a nice gash through the hem. Darnit! Easy fish, though - it was through the seam.

I was so particular about having this event be a TRUE PROM that I even held a fashion show a few months before hand to inform girls what was "formal attire" and what was "semi-formal attire". It always bugged me that girls wore semi-formal dresses to their formal! They're too different things! Boys dress differently, why don't girls! arg...

So here I go again, informing y'all what a perfect prom dress should be. My idea of the perfect prom dress are those gorgeous 1960s full skirted dresses. They're classic, beautiful and incredibly flattering on any shape. There is an amazing store on Etsy that sells the most perfect examples of these dresses called VintageVortex. Please check it out - the skirts on those babies are the biggest I've ever seen!!! I love them and wish I had a reason to buy one and wear it.

Vintage 1950's 50s Strapless PINK Embroidered Tulle Lace Party Prom Wedding DRESS

Image from Listing:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/63940307/vintage-1950s-50s-strapless-pink

girls with leopard print coats always get rides in cool cars

I can't wait for winter, as I can't wait to bring out my leopard coat again! Every girl needs a leopard print coat.  This gorgeous version from Wheels & Doll Baby has made me jealous. But I really have no reason to be, as I bought this stunning vintage number last year! Remember? I wore it all across Canada this Christmas, and everyone was jealous of it! I got so many compliments. It was a miraculous find for only $50! Leopard coats, because they are rare and incredibly in style (and sought after), normally go for an unexplainable amount of money! But I got an amazing deal off of ebay.

                             Image from Doll Baby Girls            

                             http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lhsijjlHyA1qhna51o1_400.jpg

Scrimpton Couture Sale: Judy and Jane Aldrige

One of my favourite blogs is Sea of Shoes, and that's because this girl has the most AMAZING vintage designer wardrobe. So it's unreal that some of her collection is up for sale at Shrimpton Couture. Not like I can afford it, but at least some of the items can be inspiring, and I can dream about them. Here are some of my favourite items that were/are for sale. Some were snapped up quickly, and I can't blame anybody.

1970s Tiger Print & Feather Chiffon Dress

1990s Moschino Couture Venice Jacket

1980s Studded Shoulder Thierry Mugler

Spring 2009 RTW Gold Foil Prada Runway

1970s Bill Blass Feather & Silk Dress

Dreaming of Dior

My mother's best friend gave me this beautiful book over the weekend. It's titled "Dreaming of Dior" by Charlotte Smith. Ms. Smith is a socialite of the world having lived in London, France, New York, Hong Kong, etc., and finally settling in Australia. She's the grand-daughter of a rich American Quaker, Doris Darnell, who bequethed to Charlotte her whole vintage clothing collection. Now, this clothing collection is not like my vintage clothing collection. This collection has THOUSANDS of items in it, all given to her. Doris didn't buy a thing. This is a wardrobe to envy.

Charlotte decided to create a book about the adventures of all these garments. "Every dress tells a story." Each page is devoted to the story behind the dress, with illustrations done by Grant Cowan. Most of them I envy, but in the end it's a great book for inspiration.

That is SO 80s

I'm obsessed with this book of photographs by Patrick McMullan. So 80s is a 'photographic diary of a decade' and is FULL of inspiration and amazing photos. People like Anna Nicole Smith, Madonnna, Betsey Johnson, Patricia Field, Debby Harry, and much more are represented in this photo collection from parties and events. Some are even dirty and disgusting, and remind me of the type of facebook photos we all regret the day after. I highly recommend y'all take a look at this book. Everything that they're wearing is now in high fashion, and its' great inspiration to make interesting outfits.

Desmond Caddgan at Area (3/10/1984), Guest at Peri Lister's Birthday Party at the Cat Club (10/04/1984), Club Boy at the Palladium (1985), "Bat Boy" at the Pyramid Club, (20/05/1984)

Stephen Saban and Ellen Kinnally with friends at Danceteria, December 1983

Andrea Bouzwa at the Cat Club (20/08/1985), Peter Quendo and Miriam Bendahan at the XTC Party at the Sensory Evolution Gallery (20/08/1985), Martin Burgone and Maripol at the John "Jellybean" Benitez Party at Private Eyes (29/09/1985)

Linda Lust and Tommy Gun at Area, July 1984

James St. James as Leigh Bowery, 1986

Perri Lister at the Milk Bar, November 1985

I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this cute polka dot outfit. I think it's one for the sewing table.

I love my Job

I love my job because it lets me go op shopping ALL THE TIME. Sometimes it's annoying because I know I can't afford clothes for myself and need to get costumes, but when I can afford things for me too - the experience is 1 MILLION times better.

Here are a few new finds for me on my hunts for costumes. Some are even hand-me-downs from a friend who left a bucket full of stuff on my bedroom floor, and I've stolen some clothes for myself and used others for costume bits and pieces.

Black Lace-up heels - $8

I can't WAIT to wear these with my sock garters! What an adorable 40's get-up. The heel on these is perfect for day, and I can even run around in them while doing my hectic job. So simple.

Plain white floaty Blouse - $5

With high waisted shorts or jeans, this blouse is so easy and classy. 

Blue and Pink Blouse - $5

Adorable with jeans or high waisted shorts. Just simple and easy.

80's Ken Done-esque Jumper - $7

I think Ken Done clothes are incredibly daggy, but something attracted me to this "awful" jumper. I just think with the type of work I do where clothes get trashed - this is something I can wear that will still have a bit of personality and yet destroy. At the moment I'm incredibly sick of wearing a tank with jeans because I get paint all over things, but this will camouflage paint.

Fushia Blouse with Asymmetrical button and neck - Free

I just love love LOVE this blouse. It's just so different. The colour is so bright, the buttons are asymmetrical and the collar is so intricate! With jeans, or a high waisted skirt.

Blue Striped Blouse - $6

Adorable! With jeans it will be an easy outfit.

White Dress - $5

An amazing picnic dress. I can't wait to wear this with my black lace up heels, white socks and sock garters.

Boyfriend Blazer - $12

This boyfriend blazer would be great with jeans and a t-shirt, or a simple shift dress. Just another layering piece. You can never go wrong with blazers and beige (except in an apartment).

Baby Blue Summer Dress - Free

My new favourite summer dress. It's so easy just to chuck on, and looks great. I love a cinched in waist - it really suits my body type and shows off my waist. I adore this dress, and I think it adores me too.