Wingin' It

First, I should totally highlight the fact that this month I celebrate my girls’ third birthday. Exactly 3 years ago I received my gorgeous Erika, Blanca, Rosalind and Jaime as a graduation gift from a treasured friend Lin. Happy Birthday, girls! I love you all!

Anyway, to business:

Last week I hit rock bottom at one point with Sugarplum (seriously, is there some equivalent of writers’ block in design?), so I decided to take a break, and going back to tie up a few loose ends I left. I hadn’t yet made the key fairy feature for my girls Lilac and Tinkerbell; wings! 

With Tink, I wanted to add size range to the collection. I thought of her appendages seeming to be part of her vest, subtly indicated protruding from her shoulders. I started with some cardboard as a base for each wing shape, then layered the remains of the chiffon and linen fabric onto it, even tossing some of the leftover bling into the look.

Literally, the second I finished these, I wondered what the heck I was thinking! The size was way too big, threw off the balance of the upper part of the costume. I scratched that pair and started at once on a simpler version, instead with a smaller more flexible paper base and holding back on the bling. Now the wings are clearly there, but not overbearing the whole ensemble. And anyway, who said wings have to be functional?

For Lilac, I didn’t like where the mask idea was heading. It looked too much like those commedia d’ell arte looks. However, I still liked the idea of hiding the eyes, as if suggesting them being closed for sleep. I then remembered the image of the Greek Goddess Nemesis, with half of her mysteriously covered by this black cloth that hides her eyes. The effect is so simple yet subtle, it’s perfect for Lilac’s narcolepsy theme.

Her wings I’ve always envisioned being long, sleek and flowing down on the ground, more like a heavy cloak with frayed ‘moth eaten’ edges. This makes her walk have this amazing train behind her, like how she drags the sleeping curse everywhere with her.

Sugar Plum Fairy, so sticky n' sweet...

It feels weird, designing an outfit for what I think of as the Poster Girl for the Holiday season in the beginning of May. But I’ve got so many ideas for it, I can’t resist!

The Sugar Plum Fairy from the Nutcracker ballet has always been viewed as graceful, gorgeous, the epitome of the magical sugar world Clara finds herself in. So I was intrigued by Matthew Bourne’s vision, where Candyland is this toxically alluring realm, and the Sugar Princess is actually Clara’s rival. Here the Sugar Plum Fairy represents the dark side of sweets, it’s grosser aspects (it’s sticky texture, it’s artificial coloring in her hot pink gown.) It’s all so brilliantly reincarnated!

I’ve been listening to the soundtrack for the film Hansel and Gretel; Witch Hunters. The track ‘Don’t Eat the Candy’ is very chilling yet amusing with the sound effects of kids licking their fingertips. 

Nikki Minaj is another inspiration for this character, with her vibrant color choices and girly rock frocks. When putting together my moodboard, I researched ‘Nikki Minaj Prom Dresses’, and was amazed with the results that came up! Pink was always the foundation shade for this look, and not that magenta shade I love, but a tackier pink-think that Barbie birthday cake you had when you were six. However, the ‘Plum’ aspect of the character calls for purple, which would add to the artificial coloring palette I want to invoke, suggesting all the food coloring used in the candy industry.

For my first sketch, I’d always envisioned using a lollipop swirl strip, looping around the bodice as if the dress is oozing off of the doll. But in the transition to the full length skirt, I remembered this Monster High dress design for Snow bite, how the top layer of the dress having this acidic dripping effect. That dripping effect would really present that sticky element. For the skirt, I’ve got a couple of things in mind, along the lines of candy wrappers being stuck on. Also I’ll be using pink and purple rhinestones to suggest that glittery detail in iced sugar. 

I can’t wait to get started! It’s gaudy, tacky, yet whimsical and bright. 

Tinkerbell Hits the Stage...

Three fairies down, four to go!

It was really refreshing to work with a colour other than black. The 'petal' layered look I created, inspired by the dress designed on Project Runway, Season 7 in the episode 'the Fashion Farm'. It has lots of fluffy bounce to it, something I've loved so far in all this Fairy couture. I was amused when I first stitched on the olive green sequins onto the pointed sections of each layered, when I first looked at it, a voice in my head screamed 'NOT GLITTERY ENOUGH'. Sometimes, there just ain't enough rhinestones, ha?

This week, I went through three different ‘swagger vests’ for this Tinkerbell look, and was on the verge of totally tossing the idea aside. Almost.

The problem was that the design in my original sketch never came out the way I imagined it. So instead of fighting a loosing battle with the original pattern, I went and made a fresh start on a new vest, this time covering it in sequins. But after stitching a bunch of the plastic stones on, I felt the garment just looked tacky, like a cheap magician’s costume. However, it did give me the idea of making a bejewelled neckpiece that really strikes the eye and beautifully compliments the simplicity of the bodice.

By at this point, even though I was pleased with the overall look at that point, I longed for those broadened shoulders and impact the vest would ultimately make. So yesterday afternoon I gave it one last shot, making a third template. Only this time, I decided to create that furry flare draped effect by applying the same layered patterns I’d used on the skirt. The end result wasn’t as bold and Beyonce as I was hoping it would be, but it looks amazing against the sequined necklace!

This completed look is as close to my original sketch as I could wish for. This whole Fairy project has enlightened me to the process of multiple attempts to get the results you want. The process is still frustrating, and when you spend so much time on one piece it can drive you artistically insane. But I’m still proud of what I accomplished in the end, but I’m more than ready to be done with the Tinkerbell dress.